February 15, 2010

I spent much of last week sick in bed, but it gave me a chance to read more than usual. I got a couple of “aha!” moments from the book I was reading (Who Switched Off My Brain?) mentioned last week.

The book deals with what the author calls “the Dirty Dozen” areas in our lives where we create our own problems, often by well-meaning efforts. This toxic behavior can derail our purpose in life and steal our dreams–including our writing dreams.

Two of the dirty dozen that hit me between the eyes was “toxic seriousness” and “toxic schedules.” And I knew that I’d stumbled across two of the reasons I was sick instead of fighting off common viruses.

AHA! #1

I’ve known for years that negative emotions like anger and unforgiveness can literally make you physically sick. But did you know that an absence of fun in your life can make you sick too?

Laughter IS the Best medicine!

For a lot of reasons, I grew up with the firmly entrenched idea that “life is a serious matter.” People who didn’t take life seriously annoyed me. I thought they simply didn’t understand the situation!

Well sometimes life is no laughing matter, but you still need to incorporate more fun in your life. [I finally understood why I felt so much better physically after spending time with my grandkids, despite being tired. I laugh a lot more on those days!]

Did you know this? Studies show that “a really good belly laugh can make cortisol drop by 39% and adrenalin by 70%, while the ‘feel-good hormone,’ endorphin, increases by 29%…Laughter boosts your immune system by increasing immunity levels and disease-figthing cells.”

Another medical study showed that humor gets both sides of your brain working together, which is so necessary to writers. We need to be both creative and editor-minded (left-brained and right-brained) in order to do our best writing.

So take time to bring fun into your life today–and every day. Look for the humor in situations–or even yourself. Watch a funny video. Read something that tickles your funny bone. Tell a joke!

AHA! #2

In my case, I realized over the weekend that my “toxic seriousness” went hand-in-hand with what the author called “toxic schedules.” One had a direct impact on the other. My overly serious attitude about life leads to an over-scheduled week that doesn’t work unless I invent a 48-hour day. And, of course, a packed schedule adds pressure and just reinforces an overly serious attitude.

Current brain research shows that there’s a lot more at risk than just being tired when you over-schedule yourself. Of particular interest to writers, without sufficient relaxation in your lifestyle, “you will become a less effective thinker, defeating your ability to accomplish the mental tasks that stole our relaxation in the first place. In fact, for the brain to function like it should, it needs regroup/consolidation time. If it doesn’t get this, it will send out signals in the form of high-level stress hormones, some of which are epinephrine, norepinephine and cortisol. If these chemicals constantly flow, they create a ‘white noise’ that increases anxiety and blocks clear thinking and the processing of information.”

To put it another way, relaxation is NOT a waste of your time. You’re doing your brain–and all of your writing processes–a big favor.

Live–and LEARN

So how did that impact my weekend? I spent Saturday with my grandkids (ages 4 and 7), guaranteed to produce the belly laughs I needed. And I took off Sunday with my husband to visit some family, go to a movie, window shop a bit, and eat out. I slept like a rock last night and feel like a million bucks today.

And now to make this a guilt-free habit!

11 Comments »

1. 

   Kristi, thanks for this timely message. I’ve been recuperating from my broken elbow, all the while trying to keep up the house, stay on top of homeschooling (and extra drilling in preparation for our upcoming achievement tests), keep up my writing assignments (also editing some chapters of a book my friend is writing), digging out of snow, teaching a class at church … no wonder I have a cold and feel like a potato head. ugh!!! My creativity feels like a candle that’s been blown out! It DOES feel SO good to do something different. It is so refreshing to get out (change my environment) and go somewhere with friends, to do something fun. The only problem is making myself do it! It is hard to tear myself away from the house, because all the undone things are calling to me, and having three young kids involves a babysitter … unless I bring them with me, which isn’t always refreshing.

   Comment by Selena — February 15, 2010 @ 12:47 pm

2. 

   Oh, Selena, you have SUCH a full plate these days! Adding snow to shovel and your broken elbow would unhinge anyone! It helped me read all that brain research though and see that there were actual physical reasons to take rest breaks, reasons that went way beyond being tired. Sounds like you have a toxic schedule too–with all the best of intentions to help people. (Now turn a tiny bit of that helpfulness back on yourself. )

   Comment by Kristi Holl — February 15, 2010 @ 12:50 pm

3. 

   Whew! I relate with this one, Kristi! I blogged about the same thing today. God has a way of grabbing our attention, doesn’t He? Great post!

   Comment by Amy Tate — February 15, 2010 @ 12:59 pm

4. 

   Yes, Amy, and I wish I listened sooner! My husband and kids all warn me when they see it coming, but I don’t listen or do ENOUGH to off-set the schedule. A five-minute bathroom break no longer will qualify as “resting” or “fun” for me!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — February 15, 2010 @ 2:43 pm

5. 

   What a great reminder, Kristi. I’ve somehow always known that I need down-time, time to daydream to be creative. This goes for my children as well, so although we are busy with sports, I make sure we have time to just be …

   Comment by Vijaya — February 15, 2010 @ 7:18 pm

6. 

   Vijaya, I think I’ve known this all along too, but for some reason, seeing the actual brain research and what happens to our brains when we DON’T get that down time was eye-opening. We aren’t imagining this! It takes some of the guilt out of resting, I think.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — February 15, 2010 @ 8:02 pm

7. 

   I’m glad you’re feeling better! It’s way too easy to get into the doldrums this time of year, too, even without being sick. Thanks for the reminder!

   Comment by Yvette — February 15, 2010 @ 9:32 pm

8. 

   Yvette, I’m usually preaching to the choir, as they say. I need to remind myself of this over and over, even if no one else needs to hear it. Writer-moms are often the ones who need to hear this message the most.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — February 15, 2010 @ 10:54 pm

9. 

   Very wise words, kristi. Thanks for sharing! Please let me know the magic formula when you do figure out how to make it a guilt-free habit:-)

   Karin Larson
   http://www.karin-larson.blogspot.com

   Comment by Karin Larson — February 16, 2010 @ 7:02 am

10. 

    Karin, when I figure that out, I will write a book and make a million dollars!

    Comment by Kristi Holl — February 16, 2010 @ 4:55 pm

11. 

    That you will, indeed!

    Karin

    Comment by Karin Larson — February 17, 2010 @ 10:28 am

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