Keep It Going

Last month I shared I was emotionally struggling with writing; I hope my post encouraged others to keep pressing on.

Since it’s the beginning of the year and everyone is focusing on health goals after the holidays, I want to address how it affects the writing community: We need to be physically healthy to do what we do.

A drained body can suck the creativity out of us as easily as a rejection letter. Living with a traumatic brain injury shapes every facet of my life, from what I eat and drink to how and when I sleep.

• Too much caffeine can overload my nervous system and cause a stroke or I may become dehydrated and have seizures.
• Not enough sleep leaves me foggy or I can possibly blackout.

One of the biggest risks for TBI survivors is atrophy.  This is a wasting away of a body part or tissue – it results from lack of use or movement due to complications of a brain injury.

For me, the entire left side of my body is numb and has a lack of sensation. I’ve lost all fine-tuned motor skills in my left hand. Perhaps you’ve noticed stroke survivors not using limbs or leaning to one side. That is because part of the brain has been affected, which in turn affects that side or limb.

This is where Newton’s law of inertia comes into play. The basic idea is objects and people will stay at rest until something or someone causes movement and as long as there’s movement the item or person will keep moving.

Keep it going!

Now that the holidays are over and we are trying to stir from our winter slumber, even writing can seem problematic, no matter how disciplined we are in the craft.

We’ve tried to write every day. But the beginning of the year is an uphill battle. So let’s try applying some of the counter tactics to fight atrophy in our writing lives.

1. Exercise regularly: walking is okay, but cardio is better. Cardiovascular exercise works our heart and makes it stronger for when we’re not able to work out or take a break from our computers.
2. Schedule breaks to rest your brain (literally) and spur creativity: I have a daybed in my home office so I can lie down when I can’t focus on my writing. I also try to do physical activities after I eat. This helps to keep my body from storing food as fat and helps it break food down for energy.
3. Never eat at your computer: we’ll be tempted to sit long periods of time mindlessly eating and racking up calories.
4. Never skip meals: coffee is a quick fix, not the long-term nourishment our bodies and minds need.
5. Drink plenty of water: coffee does not count; it actually counters the benefits of water since it is a diuretic; water helps nourish our brains and hydrates our organs. Imagine water being the conduit that helps move our creativity. I shoot for a minimum of 1 gallon/day.
6. Get a good office chair with support: We sit a lot and need good posture.

One of the first lessons I learned through the Christian Writers Guild was to invest in a good desk and chair. I was taught that “carpal tunnel syndrome is the bane of writers.”[i] 

And “Keep the  90-90-90 rule: keep your elbows, hips, and knees at 90° angles.” [ii]

The right stuff!

At some point this year it will be time for me to once again purchase an office chair.  I decided to do some research on what to look for in an ideal office chair for writers. Below are a few factors to consider for committing to a key the only tool writers physically depend on to be productive.

• Seat height: an office chair should be easily adjustable, pneumatic levers are the easiest. Height ranges from 16 to 21 inches work for most people. You should be able to have both feet flat on the floor with your thighs horizontal and your arms even with the height of the desk, without bending over.
• Seat width and depth: you should have enough width and depth to support you comfortably, typically 17 to 20 inches wide.
• Lumbar support: lower back support is key to optimal spine support and keeps it from curving.
• Backrest: 12 to 19 inches and also adjustable.
• Seat material: there should be enough padding to keep you comfortable during long periods of sitting. Cloth fabric that breathes is better than hard surfaces.
• Adjustable armrests: your arms should be able to rest comfortably with your shoulders relaxed.
• Swivel: I used to consider this a luxury, but swivel chairs allow users more freedom in moving without having to strain to reach high areas of a work desk.

And moving is the name of the game for staying healthy and keeping our hearts strong. During my research for this article, I discovered a new product endorsed by the Mayo Clinic to help sedative workers be more active while at work. Both Apple and Orbitz have utilized the HOVR system in their offices.

I am planning on purchasing the product this year myself as I spend more time working from home and doing what I enjoy, hopefully, this should help keep it going.

[i] Jenkins, Jerry Writing Essentials (2010) p 6.

[ii] Jenkins, Jerry Writing Essentials (2010) p 6.

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Truamatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.