sleep

A Hardworking Loser

And you can too!!!

What’s up reader?

This year, I’ve been working on both my writing and my life. I’ve been dealing with constant stress and anxiety. I have little to show for it except two final grades and the bags beneath my eyes. Who needs sleep anyway?!

I can only hope that taking about 10 days’ vacation (holiday) later this month will be sufficient in reversing the strain from seven months of hard work (not that I haven’t been working hard before this). That all sound like a stretch to anyone else? All I know is that it can’t hurt!

Afterward, because I haven’t found a house to buy, despite initially being reassured that it would only take two to three months at the start of the year, I’ll be moving back in with my parents. Rent is too damn high! That’s an old school meme. That’s not all of the reason. Looking for another apartment, a roommate(s), and signing a yearlong lease doesn’t make much sense when you’re looking to purchase your own place, right? Right.

I’m still working on writing a book too while working full time and going back to school. Although this is a different book than mentioned previously. I’ve ventured off into fantasy with a story that’s been in my head for a while. I’m reading a lot of fantasy too, which is something I never really got into before now. I think that, given current events, this is not that surprising a departure, even for a Nonfiction writer.

How do I do it? Isn’t it obvious?

I am a hardworking loser.

There’s nothing easy about taking on/being in the arts. This is truer than ever. Especially in the U.S, acceptance has taken an all-time low despite it being needed more than ever. I.E. Every company needs a design and marketing strategy, websites need copy, television and movies need scripts, publications need articles (also sometimes referred to as copy), and people, in general, need escape.

The good news is:

If you’re struggling, you just might be doing it right.

Some people get lucky, know just the right people, write just the right thing at just the right time. But for the rest of us, it’s the grind or it’s nothing.

If you thought breaking into it was going to be simple, not wrought with drudgery and disappointment, I also have some bad news for you…

It might never get any better.

That’s not to say it will be bad, but that you’re never guaranteed any form of success and/or satisfaction. If you’re like me, creating is its own enjoyment. I’ve been told I light up when I talk about writing (incidentally, been told the same when I recant fishing stories). Sometimes that’s enough. Sometimes it has to be enough. We all have to learn and change. If you didn’t, how can you call yourself creative? Stagnation is the alternative. Sounds boring.

Look at me: Single, about to be 30, overworked, an abundance of debt, about to move back with parents despite a paying job that just covers the costs of living. I find it very frustrating and often depressing, but I still manage to find happiness in life, occasionally. Not to be a downer or anything.

Life is strange.

It’s hard and it’s unpredictable. It can be terrible, but it can also be awesome. It’s part perspective and part how much shit is thrown your way. And the other part is how you choose to deal with it. That’s three parts. I’m so good at math(s).

How to deal?

Might I recommend taking up a creative hobby, besides the one you might already have? Or maybe getting exercise and trying to eat healthily? Sometimes working hard and finishing something is helpful. Have you tried fishing?

I do all of the above. Except fishing, I don’t do that very often anymore.

It’s important to find an outlet. And it can be extremely necessary to find more than one. That can be tricky due to time restrictions, but it’s still good to prioritize yourself.

Are you a hardworking loser? What do you do to get by? How are you doing? Let me know.

Seriously, I hope anyone reading this is doing well or trying to do well.

Feel free to leave a comment, like this post, and, please, share it. Suggestions for future topics are always welcome.

 

Sincerely yours,

Nathan

A Time to Create

When I am writing this, it is 3AM.

I cannot sleep.

Despite my prescribed sleeping medication, not actually prescribed to help remedy a sleep issue, funny enough, I am awake. What makes this great is that the internet is currently down as well. It’s really the perfect combination.

Although, in a way, I’m grateful. I wouldn’t be writing right now if the scenario were different. I’d be watching a video on YouTube or Netflix. We all know that most of writing on a computer is comprised of a page here followed by 40 minutes of Internet access, rinse and repeat. Maybe looking up a recipe or googling symptoms to a disease that I swear I’ve just contracted within the time I was asleep. Because it’s probably not really insomnia if I was asleep moments ago, right?

The thing is I’m writing. I’m creating. Everyone has different cycles when it comes to their ability to create. You may have noticed that you perform better at certain points in the day. A lot of writers, for instance, are cursed with the inane ability to write proficiently around 3AM and not really any other time. And this can be a tricky thing to figure out unless you’re in my scenario or a similar one, because distractions lay everywhere in the Modern or Postmodern world, depending on who you ask.

I normally create during the day. I like the sun being out and birds flying overhead. I’ll even go to the park when I’m not at work, watch the birds hop along the sidewalk, heads tilted with goofy expressions. I’ll take out a notebook from my back pocket and a pen from my front one and write whatever comes to mind or what I need to. I’ll feel a breeze roll over me.

Do you know when and where the best time and place to create is for you? It can be a pivotal moment. If you figure it out, you can set a schedule to work specifically during that time and/or place. It can be unfortunate if you find it’s during late hours, but that can also give you a reason to work late shifts or stay up on weekends, if you weren’t already.

Most of us discover this by accident. Case in point. I had an inkling I might be good for writing in the early hours, but I wouldn’t have known without my brain keeping me up like it is now. Of course, I’m well content with my day writing. I’m less tired that way. I don’t want nor intend for this to become habitual. I say that if it works for your, fits into your routine, then go for it. Otherwise, do test other times of day and/or night. Despite what I just said about it usually being found by accident, you can still intentionally seek it out, I promise. It’s just a lot of guess and check type stuff. But you’ll never know unless you try. I highly encourage, if you want to create, you try.

I also hope that you never find yourself in this situation, but it happens.

 

All the best and lots of love,

Nathan

Taking Breaks

Eventually we all reach this point. You’ve been working every day for months, if not years. Dark marks lay below your eyes, and that tired feeling claws behind them. You might find yourself lacking that drive and ambition which got you started and where you are now.

Q: So, what do you do?

A: Nothing.

That’s what I do anyway. Well, sort of…

I know. I have probably said something about this before a couple of times. In fact, I know that I have. That’s why I said that I know right off the bat.

Before anyone jumps to any conclusions, no, I’m not stopping the blog. I’m not going to stop writing either. Well, not altogether. That is, I’m taking about a week to have fun and/or sleep. The two actions are synonymous. And I’ll still write. Habits, even good ones, are hard to break.

This month, as in June, I’ll be returning to a place I was happy to call home once, Block Island, Rhode Island. If you’ve never heard of it that’s pretty common. I’m pleasantly surprised when someone says they have. It’s an island about 12 miles off the coast of Rhode Island. They have less than a thousand year round residents who live at or below the impoverished line, statistically speaking.

The population has a tendency to increase about 1000% during tourism season. Yes, that’s hyperbolic, but tourism brings in a lot of people, some of whom have money to spend. Like a lot of money. As in, something I doubt I’ll ever experience. The people who don’t have a lot of money like that can either come for a day trip, leaving on the last ferry of  the day, or visit someone who lives there, which is what I do. Basically, I’m a moocher who likes to visit my family on a wonderful place where I can recoup because I probably couldn’t afford to be there any other way. Woo! Go me!

Currently, a lot is happening and also not happening there. July is a little wilder for them. The 4th of July floods the beaches with people. In the past, most of them would stand shoulder-to-shoulder, beneath the sun, drunk. Some of them would have to be air lifted, if emergency crews could get to them. Although that has changed over the years. I picked a good time to come down when I can choose to do something or choose to go into the wilderness and search for peace.

There are lots of underdeveloped, protected lands to traverse and beaches to enjoy. I probably won’t sun too long since I could double as a piece of copy paper. Anyway, it’s a good time. And, frankly, I’m exhausted. Also, repetition can be a double edged sword… I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining, especially since I’m only leaving to return stronger into the fray.

I love writing. But it’s not all I do. It’s important, though, regardless of what you’re doing, creative or otherwise, to take a break. It’s healthy. We’re probably only human. So, don’t let anyone tell you differently. Seriously, you’re not a machine, and if you don’t take a break every now and then, you risk exhausting yourself, which could have bad consequences for your physical and/or mental health.

Although, I would never advise an indefinite break. It’s a mistake. Unless you want to do something else and work hard on doing that for the rest of your life, that is. A skill unused is a skill lost. You’ll metaphorically oxidize and disintegrate. What I mean is, if you don’t keep practicing, then you’ll only get worse. That hard work to better yourself will be for naught. Eventually you won’t be able to do the thing you were doing at all.

Still, take your time. Return when you’re ready. Regain your energy, your creative juices which, admittedly, sounds dirty haha, or whatever. Be aware of yourself and how much you can do before taking any sort of time off.  Know how burned out you are before deciding this is the best way to go. If you feel you want to abandon your craft, use a couple days, if possible, to not do participate in creating in that way. Instead, do something else or do nothing at all. Return to it when you’re feeling better, not stressing about it, and see how you feel. This is all person-by-person. I take a week off here and there after a couple months, and then I’m good to go for a couple more months. You may be different. In fact, you most likely are, and that’s a wonderful thing.

In the end, work hard, live a lot, and take care of yourself.

Sincerely yours,

 

Nathan

 

 

P.S. IMPORTANT! I need your help! If you would like me to discuss anything, please let me know in the comments! I’ll be reading them.