Writing As An Outlet
My resolution for this year, as always, was to find more time to relax. I know I go on about work and freelancing unrelentlessly but that’s because it makes up a large portion of my life. I work, I come home, and I work some more. I love what I do, but after a while anything can give you burnout. So to try and quell the fatigue, I’ve been looking for outlets and ways to find some time to switch off.
Over the years I’ve spoken about burnout, wobbles, and writers block thousands of times on my personal site. But as anyone who works knows, the problem never really goes away. Unless you’re able to maintain a healthy balance of work, sleep, healthy eating, and exercise, then it’s guaranteed to hit you at one point or another.
Let’s be honest, the “perfect balance” is harder to achieve than ever before, with the unspoken pressures of working from home, cost of living, and daily stresses all combined — there’s a plethora of issues stopping us from unwinding.
So with that in mind, I thought I’d share some of the methods I’ve tried to unwind.
Bullet journaling
Bullet journaling can help you unwind in a few ways. First, it can provide a sense of organization and control over your thoughts and tasks, which can reduce stress and anxiety. Additionally, the act of physically writing things down can have a meditative and therapeutic effect. Finally, setting aside dedicated time each day to review and plan your schedule can give you a sense of purpose and accomplishment, which can also contribute to a sense of relaxation.
Exploring
“Take a walk” — sounds like a basic bit of advice from anyone. But you never know what you’ll find if you take an hour to go explore you’re local area. I’m pretty lucky to live in a place where I’m always discovering something new. But even when I lived in a smaller town I loved taking times to appreciate where I lived.
Writing
It sounds a bit counterproductive for me, but It’s something I’m trying at the moment. I spend too much time working on writing to briefs, specs, and stuff I have no interest in. Writing for me, about what I want, is actually very theraputic.
Writing can help you relax by providing an outlet for your thoughts and emotions. It can also be a form of self-expression, which can be cathartic and help you process and understand your feelings.
Additionally, the physical act of writing can have a meditative effect and can be a form of mindfulness practice, which can help you focus on the present moment and let go of stress and anxiety. Keeping a journal or writing down your thoughts and feelings can also help you organize your thoughts and gain a better understanding of yourself and your emotions. It can also be a way to track your progress, set goals and reflect on your day and life.
All in all, your outlet is yours alone. Whatever works for you is completely different to what might work for someone else.
