What to do when you’re too tired to think… [REPOST]

~ By Susan Meier

Note: This post originally appeared here. 

I have two proposals due this month, a story to write and … well, there’s a major holiday in here too. So as I mentioned last week, I skimmed all my blogs and came up with some short, but helpful things I’d said this year that bear repeating…

When you are too tired to think, you can do your manuscript a great disservice. You can delete good stuff and keep bad stuff…and not even know you’re doing it.

So what do you do when you’re too tired to think?

1. Step away. Get so far away from the computer that you can’t even see it! Don’t tempt yourself to work when you’re too tired.
2. Give yourself options of ways to rest your brain. Normally housekeeping is my go-to mundane activity to heal my brain. Yesterday, it wasn’t cutting it. Why? I think because it was still part of a routine. And my brain wanted something different. My something different and your something different could be two totally different things. Some people like bubble baths. Some people shop. Some people eat out. There are lots of things you can do to rest your brain. Write a list of 20, give yourself choices so you really will rest your brain.
3. Once you’ve decided what you’re going to do…throw yourself into it. Forget your book. (Buy the popcorn!)
4. Remember to move. My trainer is a very smart woman. She can take one look at me and know when I need to push physically to help myself mentally. If you don’t belong to a gym and/or don’t have lots of workout tapes, ride your bike, take a walk, run up and down your stairs! LOL Do something to get the blood flowing.

And most of all #5…don’t be mad at yourself for needing a day off. I usually work six days a week. Lately, I’ve been working seven. How fair is that to my poor brain?

Taking a day off rather than pushing can usually reap the reward of a fully cooperative brain the next morning. It worked for me.  Don’t push yourself so much that you hit that wall that totally stops you…maybe for a long time.

Happy reading…