So far, this year has been pretty great for me and my craft: I had a successful event in January, I’m meeting with my workshop group again, I’m working on my fiction almost daily and I have a decent amount of appearances scheduled through April. I’m feeling really confident about something getting published this year. I can feel it.
Unfortunately, this is not very good news for my health and fitness. See, my writerly brain (yes, I made that up, but go with it) is accustomed to writing at night while snacking on salty things and indulging in bad TV dramas and situation comedies. It feels that this is the recipe that helps to create our fantastic tales, and doesn’t respond to “You have to stop eating at least three hours before bed to curb your acid reflux” or “Why not have some tea instead of potato chips right now?” or “Hey. It’s 3AM and you have to be up in four hours. Maybe you want to call it a night?” I cannot get my writerly brain to obey the parameters I’ve set up to keep me on a healthy path. All it knows is there’s a story that needs to get out and get done and SCREW EVERYTHING ELSE!
Normally I’d agree. I made many sacrifices in order to call myself a writer, so anything that adds to that prestige is king. Still, I have certain health issues that require sleep and a proper diet and regular visits to a place where physical activity takes place (and while we all need this, I ABSOLUTELY need this or there will be surgery in my future, and I don’t want that).
Perhaps you all have tricks to help appease your creative side and still maintain some semblance of a healthy and fit life? I could use all the help you can offer. I feel as if a life of beer and nachos are just three more late-night writing sessions away. And no one wants that!
Suggestions?
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse