Don’t Stress About Stress

 

By Larry Leech

 

Here we are … again in October. With fun times ahead. A kids’ holiday now celebrated by adults as well. Falling back in November. Thanksgiving. Christmas. New Year’s.

Lots of laughs. Lots of food. And hopefully lots of memories that will last a lifetime.

But let’s not forget the stress that comes with some of the aforementioned. For some reason or another, writers almost always seem to carry a certain level of stress. Maybe because some of us put a lot of pressure on ourselves to deliver top-notch material. Maybe because we’ve waited until the last minute to make deadline. Or maybe because we don’t know how to live without stress.

No matter the reason, the extra stress could suffocate one’s creativity. Unless, of course, you have the rare gift of excelling under pressure.

Decades ago when I was a younger man, I never worried much about stress. Being an older man now, I do worry about stress. A lot. Ironic that I stress about stress.

To help relieve that stress, I’ve learned a few things:

1.     It’s okay to say no.

2.     No one receives a “hero badge” for being emotionally tough.

3.     Taking a “brain break” in the middle of the day is okay.

The first one took some time to incorporate into my life. Always one to offer help, I rarely said no. With that word absent in my vocabulary, I often overbooked my time—which stressed me out and took a toll on my mental and physical health. Trust me, so not worth it. Saying no now seems as natural as breathing. Which is easier without all the self-inflicted stress.

As for number two, a friend said that to me when I tried to stuff my feelings about an unsettling family crisis. Those words have stuck with me for years, and I often remind myself it’s okay to be honest with myself. And others. Wasn’t easy at first because I was taught, as a male, to never show emotion. Needless to say, one of the worst things someone ever instilled in me.

The last one, the brain break, has become an important aspect of my self-care. So, sometimes in the middle of the day, I will take a break and watch a Star Wars movie (who would have guessed?) or read or sit outside on our deck to get fresh air. After spending decades sitting in front of computer for hours on end, I actually enjoy taking a break.

Now the stress of writing this blog has passed, I’m curious to know what you do to relieve your stress.

Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash

 

A veteran of forty-plus years in publishing, Larry J. Leech II almost always has a hot chai latte within reach. Between sips, Larry loves to work with words as the writing coach of award-winning authors, a freelance editor, and Associate Publisher for Morgan James Publishing. During his first 23 years in the business at daily newspapers, he wrote more than 2,300 articles. Since moving into book publishing in the early 2000s, he has ghostwritten 35 books, edited more than 500 manuscripts, and coached hundreds of authors through the writing and publication process. For more than two decades Larry has taught at more than 100 general market and inspirational conferences nationwide. When he has a minute, Larry enjoys anything Star Wars. He and his wife, Wendy, live in Upstate South Carolina near their son and his family. You can learn more about Larry on Facebook, Instagram, and his website: larryleech.com.