Writing full time for a living can be unhealthy. And a writer’s health is paramount to their productivity and sustainability. Yet, it is a must and over the years, I have reluctantly exercised with various levels of success. As I get older, I need to focus on my health even more. I finally found an approach that works for me and improves, not diminishes, my productivity! Voice recording while hiking is providing the answer.
Writing Health
Me? I hate exercise! There are two reasons I despise it. First, it is painful and flares up my inflammation, and I would rather do cerebral work instead. Second, it affects my near-term productivity. An hour exercising means an hour not writing, or researching, or editing.
At least, I am fortunate that I live on a vineyard and have lovely walking trails by stepping out of the front door. I do not need to drive anywhere else to get my daily walk in.
Avoiding exercise is not sustainable, and sooner or later, my energy falls off, my back hurts, and it becomes too difficult to write continuously. And I have proved by being in shape in the past that an hour of daily exercise will provide more than an hour of increased productivity in return! Yet, I still hate it for the pain reason!
I have fortunately found a synergistic approach to writing and exercise that is now working for me.
Voice Recording
Previously (before I started writing), when out hiking, I would do anything I could to distract myself from the exercise part of things. I would stop and take photos, or listen to music on my phone. I would often listen to a musical or some great music from the ’60s and ’70s (you know, when music was great and not the crap the kids listen to today!). Listening to music helped to alleviate the time spent. But I was still spending the time not writing, and the pain in my knees was still evident when I finished.
There is nothing I can do about the pain except to take some anti-inflammatory substance, such as Advil. I also found wearing compression pants helps to support my knees and reduce the wear and tear.
But I have solved the productivity issue and use the time much more effectively. I am writing a series of books so always plotting the current or next books. And being outside and hiking has the benefit of helping me think differently, and in many instances, being more creative. Therefore, I have given up listening to music, and now plot in my head. Sometimes, though, the ideas are manifesting fast and furious and if I just try to remember them, I often fail to do so.
So, now I use my phone to record any thoughts that pop into my head and when I return to my office, I enter the points into Plottr and Scrivener to help flesh out my story and plot lines. Knowing how much writing (really story ideation and plotting) I can get done while hiking has encouraged me to make a more concentrated effort to get out more often.
I tried slowing or stopping to write notes into Evernote on my phone, but that disrupted the walk and was sometimes unintelligible when I reviewed the notes after returning to the office. That has not a problem when using the voice recorder and I do not miss a step!
Summary
Avoiding exercise long term is a losing proposition – one that can ultimately disable or kill you. In the past, I have always chosen to work and write instead of exercise. Now, by voice recording my thoughts on my phone, I am able to accomplish both. And the payback has been huge!
If you liked this post, then check out my other posts on my author journey and my book reviews for highly recommended reads on my Blog.
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