Overcoming Adversity: How to Keep Writing in Times of Crisis

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.”

Nelson Mandela

When our personal life suffers, it affects our lives as writers. 

Suddenly, we don’t feel inspired to write. All we want to do is lay down and do nothing.  

But don’t lose hope. There are some ways you can do to continue writing in times of crisis and uncertainty. 

WHAT IS CRISIS

The meaning of crisis varies, but I’ll introduce the definitions that are closer to what we are going to discuss: 

• a time of great disagreement, confusion or suffering. – cambridge dictionary
• a dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person’s life –dictionary.com

TYPES OF CRISIS

Here are some common types:

1. Psychiatric emergencies are rapid changes in behavior, thought, or mood of a person that affects his/her judgment and the way he/she reacts or functions in life. 
   (Examples: depression, substance abuse, attempted suicide)

2. Developmental crises are connected to our life cycle. As we undergo the process of growth and development, we face several adversities. 
   (Examples: puberty, marriage, pregnancy)

3. Existential crises are inner conflicts. It’s when we start asking questions about our life’s purpose and meaning.
   (Examples: quarter-life, mid-life, spiritual crisis)

4. Traumatic crises include accidents and natural disasters. These setbacks are sudden or unexpected. 
   (Examples: car accident, earthquake, grief and loss)

HOW TO KEEP WRITING IN TIMES OF CRISIS

1. Condition your mind

We can’t control the situation, but we have the power to decide what to do. Whether you can or can’t write depends on how you think. 

When somebody wants to hire you during a tough time, take a moment to think. Ask yourself, “Can I really do this project?”

• If YES. 
  -> start with a can-do attitude. You can get it done.

• If MAYBE 
  -> ask for help or outsource from other writers as a backup.

• If NO
  -> tell your client or decline future projects.

If your answer is no, don’t feel guilty. Learn to respect your emotions and decisions. 

2. Practice self-talk and remind yourself why you need to write.

Did you know that positive self-talk can help improve your health and well-being? 

When life gets tough, and you feel ready to give up, schedule a pep talk with yourself and ask these questions: 

• Why do I need to do this? 
• What will happen if I don’t write? 
• Why did I pursue writing in the first place?

Sometimes, you just need to remind yourself of your why. Don’t forget to shower yourself with love and affirmations during your self-talk. 

3. Use writing as your therapy

Some studies show that expressive writing can help you cope with the traumas and challenges in life. 

Many people also struggle with past traumas and setbacks, so you can also use writing to connect with them. They might find comfort in knowing that they are not alone. 

4. Schedule hours when you are least distracted

There are two ways to approach this. It’s either you manage your time or your energy. 

If you choose the former, it’s better to schedule writing in the morning, when your mind is still fresh. 

As for the latter, you need to find the time when you are most productive and make the most out of it. It may be after doing exercise or taking a nap, or even before going to bed. 

You may also consider these complimentary tips when you schedule your writing hours:

• Choose a corner where you can focus on writing.
• Play soft music in the background.  
• Break down your tasks into smaller pieces. 

5. Regain your confidence by getting the job done

Done is better than perfect. 

Maybe you’ve heard about this sentence many times already, but it’s applicable in many areas of our life, including writing. 

When you don’t feel inspired to write, especially when facing some challenges, you often feel like your outputs are all bad. It’s like no matter how hard you try to create something high-quality or unique, you can’t just do it. 

Don’t beat yourself up. Instead, use all of your energy to get it done. No matter how terrible you think your writing is, submit it.  It might not be the best, but you’ll earn some self-respect in the process. 

CONCLUSION

As long as we are breathing, we will continue to face failures and setbacks. But everything will get better. Remember to not give up and just do your best. 

WATCH THIS VIDEO

SOURCES

Cherry, K. (2020, January 23). The different types of psychological reactions to a crisis. Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-crisis-2795061 

Self-talk. (2019, September). Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/self-talk

C. (n.d.). Types of crisis. Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://www.cedars.hku.hk/cope/cps/types-of-crisis 

Caplan, G. (1964) Principles of Preventive Psychiatry. Basic Books: New York, N