The bare minimum

Sometimes a minimal effort is all you can do.

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Last week felt like an energetic gut punch. There is no other way I can describe it. It seemed as if the wind was knocked out of my sails, and suddenly, I was rudderless. Usually, I’m highly disciplined, but I found myself in an almost catatonic state. Deadlines were staring me in the face, yet I resisted until I had no choice but to white-knuckle my way through them. 

I’m not the only metaphysical writer who felt this way. Online spaces were filled with mystical friends in a collective state of despair. Many of us were barely able to tap out a few words. 

But this week, my energy began to shift from despondent to rage. I work much better when I’m mad. Needless to say, I’m back in the saddle and knee-deep in catch-up. I’ll meet those deadlines by hook or crook, even if it kills me.

You're not alone if you felt too down to work last week. In fact, there may be many times when your output is minuscule. Family drama, a death in the family, illness…sometimes life hits you like a bag of bricks. 

Here’s what I want you to know:

:: It’s okay to write less. When the world burns, it’s hard to churn words.

:: Bare minimum is acceptable when life hands you a box of rubber chickens.

:: Give yourself permission to scale back until you can get back at it. 

:: If you have deadlines, ask for extra time if necessary. You may be grieving, but you don’t want to leave folks hanging. 

:: Say no to extras, focus on what has to be done.

Lastly, be kind to yourself. You don’t need to be a writing superstar every day. Heck, sometimes just showing up to the desk is a boss move. So, let’s dust ourselves off together and get back to the work. We can do this (slowly)!

xo

Theresa

image from stock photography Roman Samborskyi

Good reads:

From

Kathleen Schmidt

: What Publishing Can Learn From the Election

Randi Buckley

always says the right thing: Not letting despair become your gravity

A great post from

Amanda Montei

: It’s not the economy. It’s the misogyny.

Anne Helen Petersen

sums up the way so many of us feel: I’m Just So Mad