Every day this week, I sat down to write the week’s newsletter, despite not feeling that inspired. My tactic when faced with writers’s block is usually to write something, anything, and then edit what comes from that. This time, even what I had on the page wasn’t worth saving.
Ultimately, I decided that battling with brain fog was a battle I wasn’t going to win this week. It’s been sneaking up on me all month, reflected in my lower-than-usual number of pitches:
I’ve decided to lean into the fog, rather than continue to fight with it. I’ve made a VIP list of tasks that absolutely need to be done this week and am going to leave it at that. Sometimes, we just need to give ourselves the excuse to stop trying for a bit.
I move house next week and I’m sure there’ll be enough stress involved in that. I don’t think adding to the pressure by forcing out work and content that just isn’t flowing will help the situation at all.
The beauty of being a freelancer is that I control my own time, mostly. I’m making the most of that freedom this week, in the hopes that my brain will lighten up and let me work soon enough.
I almost didn’t send out any newsletter this week, but I saw on Twitter and via group chats that other people are also feeling this way. Maybe something’s in the air, or maybe I was just keeping an ear out for other people feeling like I do. Whatever it is, if anyone else is battling with writer’s block, low motivation, brain fog - this is a PSA to give yourself a break if you can.
Maybe that little bit of breathing room is just what you’ll need to feel better soon. You are more than your work, so spend a little time reminding yourself of that. Do some hobbies just for the hell of it, watch trash TV, and listen to what your body wants to do.
For my part, I’m going to be watching obscene amounts of The Originals, packing boxes, and making absurd meals out of what food we need to get rid of before the move. It’s going to be great.
Thanks for your patience with the delayed newsletter this week, and for the shorter post today. Here’s to my brain cooperating better next week!