Mental Health Tips for Australian Authors and Writers

Mental Health Tips for Australian Authors and Writers

Tips for managing your mental health in a highly demanding profession.

 

Mental health for Australian authors and writers isn’t something we can all ignore, and it isn’t something you need to deal with alone. Being a writer or author can be highly rewarding, but that doesn’t mean it’s immune to the ups and downs faced by other professions. One miss-click, a computer crash, a bad review, or a failed book launch, and just the pressure of creating your book can leave you feeling like a failure.

Sometimes, we just need to put the computer, tablet, or laptop down and walk away from our desks for a while, get outside, go for a walk, or catch up with friends and reality.

In the following article on mental health for authors and writers, we’ll cover some tips for authors and writers to help them manage their mental health. Remember, you’re not alone; there’s always someone available to talk to, 24/7, 365 days a year. Organizations such as Lifeline, the Black Dog Institute, and Beyond Blue all offer 24/7 support to anyone in crisis.

 

Mental Health Tips for Writers and Authors

Embracing Nature and Getting Outdoors

There’s nothing like getting outside, walking, and breathing fresh air to clear your mind of negative thoughts and feelings. Take a walk, swim, hike, bike, jog, or sit outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Take Time Out for Social Activities

Writing can be extraordinarily anti-social and lonely, but it’s not always intentional. It’s easy to get involved in your work, but people are social creatures. Connecting with other authors and writers, other people, friends, and family are all effective ways to keep us grounded. It’s okay to skip something to finish that next chapter or social media post. However, don’t let it turn into a habit.

Structure and Routines

Being a writer or author often allows us to be more flexible with our schedules. However, waking up extremely early, staying up late, or missing sleep can be harmful to your mental health. Inspiration can strike at the most inconvenient times. Getting up to work on your book at 3 or 4 am isn’t a good habit. If you find yourself jumping onto the computer at all hours, try recording an audio message for yourself. Later, you can review it in the morning instead.

Taking Breaks

Staring at a computer screen all day without a break can lead to eye strain. It’s essential to take breaks! Get up from your chair. Do a lap around the block. Get a glass of water, or eat a piece of fruit. Make coffee, do stretching exercises, or do an errand. Set yourself breaks and stick to them.

Reviewers and Reviews

Great reviews are great, but bad reviews or feedback criticizing your hard work can feel devastating. If you get a bad review, review it. Did they offer any constructive criticism that you could implement? Was there practical advice? Did they pick up on something you missed, and is there something you could do better? At the end of the day, what you write isn’t going to be for everyone. You will never, ever please everyone, regardless of how good of an author or writer you are. The temptation to respond to bad reviews can be strong, but don’t. If there’s something to be learned from the review, great, take it on board. If they didn’t like your book, that’s okay, too. You won’t please everyone, and if you think you can, you’ll be disappointed.

Seeking Help

If you’re getting overwhelmed or starting to spiral, seek help. Reach out to a friend or family member or speak to a professional. If you feel like you need support but you’re not spiraling, then reach out to author and writer support groups. Sometimes, just talking or venting to people within the same industry and facing the same problems can lighten the load. Remember, you’re not alone.

The Australian Government Department of Health has a complete list of Australian mental health groups on its website.

 

Mental Health Tips for Australian Authors and Writers | Conclusion

While writing or being an author can be one of the most rewarding professions or careers in the world, it’s not immune to its ups and downs.  Often, it leaves you feeling alone. Mental health for authors and writers is something we should all focus more attention on. It’s essential sometimes to walk away, take a break, touch grass, or enjoy a coffee, beer, or glass of wine with friends and family.

If you have any questions about the self-publishing process, please don’t hesitate to contact us

At Author Services Australia, we support Australian and New Zealand self-published authors and writers with a full range of affordable self-publishing services, including ghostwriting, copyediting, developmental editing, proofreading, ebook and paperback formatting, book cover design, children’s book illustrations, graphic design services, manuscript uploading assistance, and social media and marketing.

mental health for authors and writers

If you’ve been dealing with mental health as a writer or author and have any tips or suggestions for other authors and writers, drop a comment below. We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback, and your advice could just make someone’s life a whole lot easier.

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