Finding Balance
October 19, 2018

Earlier this week, I took an entire day away from writing. This may sound
surprising coming from Mr. I-always-wish-I-was-writing-more, but I'd let things
pile up around the house to the point where I could no longer stand it. Dust
bunnies were evolving into dust rhinos under the furniture. There were multiple
stacks of books that had yet to be sorted into donate and sell piles. And I
couldn't find anything in the pantry, since I'd just been sticking cans and jars
and boxes wherever I could find room. I was beginning to feel guilty about
neglecting my domestic duties. So I "downed tools" and knocked those (and
several other) tasks out, then went back to writing the next day with a much
lighter mind.

It's easy to lose the balance between the writing life and ordinary life. We not
only need to be writers, we need to be healthy human beings who maintain our
relationships and fulfill our duties to our families and communities. Writing is
full of dichotomies: we're both artists and businesspeople; we spend a lot of
time alone in our heads and write in private, but then send our stories out in
the hopes they'll be seen by the largest possible audience.

Take some time to think about yourself as a whole person and not just as a
writer. Exercise and eat well and go to the doctor to keep yourself healthy. Get
up from the computer (or notebook) to spend time with your family and friends.
Get out and be active in your greater community. Pay it forward by helping other
writers. Take as long as you need--the muse will still be waiting for you when
you get back.

(c) 2018 by Andrew Gudgel 
email: contact [at] andrewgudgel.com