You wouldn’t. And yet that is what you essentially do on social media. With every like, comment, and post, you are slicing yourself into small pieces shared with relative strangers. I’ve found myself doing exactly this. When I get comments days later on posts I responded to, I often can’t recall what I wrote. This makes me feel inauthentic, almost glib. That isn’t like me and I’m sure it’s not like many of you in this community. Not only is this a personality conflict, it fragments your energy and focus.

There are two sides of social media. One is consuming content. The other is posting content. Both actions use energy but in different ways. Following are my tips on how to engage with social media without draining your mental bank account and staying true to your authentic self.

Where your mind goes, your energy goes

When you bounce from topic to topic your energy likewise gets jumbled. In one session on Instagram I liked an author’s book reveal, bookmarked another post, and then went down a rabbit hole of looking up the address for the perfect lobster roll in Maine while responding to another post that wasn’t even someone I follow. By the time I posted this tidbit from memories of my East Coast trip, I’d gotten completely off track of my writing goal for the day.

Another way to think of this is to imagine eating your favorite treats all at the same time. Would you take a bite of chocolate and before swallowing chew a stick of gum while also licking a lollipop? You are asking your brain to do the same thing as its reward center gets pinged with each post, like, or comment.

One strategy I’ve found helpful is to go to the profile page of the person I’m following. Then I can get a better sense of what they are promoting or sharing without having my focus fragmented by random suggested posts. I am focused on one thing at a time so my brain isn’t trying to process one piece of information while looking at another.

I check on updates by grouping topics along a theme such as writing conferences, authors, or cute cat videos. Some platforms let you group topics. With other platforms I flick through to what I want to read or bookmark others to read later.

I’ve also found it helpful to bookmark posts and set a time for reading these posts in their own time. It helps me take in what that one person has to say in an easy-to-digest way. And it helps me engage with that post to craft an authentic response. Which leads me to posting content.

Budget Your Posts Like Film Photos

Have you ever run outside just to take a photo to post online? Me too. I’ve also staged plenty of photos. Some posts have turned out better than others, but they all take time and energy in the staging process. The question to ask yourself is, why am I posting this?

In the days of film cameras we were careful with what we photographed. Printing pictures was expensive, not to mention the cost of film, and there were no previews. People only took photos they were fairly sure would turn out. Waste film documenting your breakfast? I don’t think so.

Budget the energy you put into posts like film photos. Is it worth your time and effort? Also consider the space these photos occupy. Do you want to pay for the storage? And later have to clean out 500 photos that you took just for posts? Really think through what you are posting and why.

One measuring stick for what you post is your target audience. How do they benefit? Posts can give your readers insight into your process. You can share information on related topics, such as gardening tips if your book has plants in the plot. Another possibility is posting on things that fill the same need in their lives as your writing. The key is to have a clear intent when you spend energy this way.

Another way to feel centered while posting is to think back on your origin story. This is something you reflect on for yourself on why you started writing or the reason behind a particular book’s story. Your origin story will help keep you anchored when deciding what to post for your audience.

Be mindful of how you consume content and share with your audience. With balance and moderation you can have a healthy relationship with social media. Just don’t eat an ice cream cone while your mouth is full of frosting!

Ambre Dawn Leffler is a Tai Chi instructor, gardener, and weather geek who writes about vegetables, seasons, communing with nature, and the interconnections of mind/body. She loves trees and cherishes time in their presence. Learn more about her tree time, garden residents, and wellness practices at her website ambredawnleffler.com and seasonal inspiration from her newsletter Sky Earth Water. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The post Have Your Cake (And Eat It, Too) With Social Media appeared first on DIY MFA.

As defined by the World Health Organization, wellness is not an absence of illness. It is a practice that invests in the well-being of your body, mind, and spirit. There is an entire industry that wants you to believe you need large investments of time and money to achieve this goal.

Writer wellness is not expensive, time-consuming, or possible only with special equipment. You do not need a meditation room with incense and tufted cushions. You only need ten minutes. If you don’t have ten minutes, you can still nurture your body and mind with just ten breaths. Daily practice is what counts. Consistency is more important than length of time. And with a few small exercises you can care for your spirit.

I used to go to a yoga studio three or four times a week. It was something I needed and was given space for. I don’t have the same kind of time now. I have to find ten minutes wherever I am, whether it’s in my office, at a conference, or in the short time to myself while brewing coffee in the morning.

Writer wellness encompasses body, mind, and spirit

Body

Taking care of your eyes is very important. Long hours staring at the screen not only fatigue the muscles around your eyes but are stressful to your brain. Blue screen time disrupts your circadian rhythm, leading to health issues. Spend a few moments looking away from the computer screen. Boost your relaxation by focusing on something green, such as the plant in your writing space or a tree outside.

Likewise, it is counterproductive to sit for long sessions without stretching. The more tense your muscles become, the less oxygen circulates to your brain. Muscle spasms and compressed spines are results of sitting too long in a chair. Equally important is opening up circulation to your wrists so you can keep typing for years to come. Stretching can be as simple as wiggling your toes or standing and extending your arms above your head.

Mind

Your brain can only process so much information in an hour. Take breaks and give your brain a rest, ideally ten minutes every hour. Our brains love to problem solve, so focusing on something else lets your subconscious mind do the work. This is why I recommend listening to birdsong or going for a walk. Studies show that spending time in nature boosts creativity.

The other aspect to taking care of the body is mindful breathing. This simply means focusing on your breathing for a set amount of time. Where your mind goes, your energy goes. When your mind is scattered across several tasks, your energy is equally scattered. Taking time to focus only on breathing brings energy back to yourself. It also relaxes the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing your brain to hum in the background and come up with creative solutions.

To learn a ten-second breathing meditation click here. I use this to focus in the morning and between projects to shift my creative mindset.

Spirit

Creativity is a deeply personal act. Writers make themselves vulnerable when putting their work out there. In your writing journey there will be critical reviews, critiques that may not always be helpful, and people who will put roadblocks in your path. This is why taking care of your spirit is equally important as taking care of your body and mind. Setting boundaries to ward off energy vampires and taking steps to protect the inner bark of your creative tree are key to keeping things positive.

Be a champion of your own well-being with these simple practices

Writing doesn’t come with a coach, trainer, or physiotherapist. But you can be a champion of your own well-being with these simple practices. Choose one thing and try it for a few weeks. When it becomes routine add another technique. You will feel a subtle but powerful change in your approach to writing.

These practices for body, mind, and spirit all create steps on the path to a happy and healthy writing life.

Ambre Dawn Leffler is a Tai Chi instructor, gardener, and weather geek who writes about vegetables, seasons, communing with nature, and the interconnections of mind/body. She loves trees and cherishes time in their presence. Learn more with her free Wellness Kit for Writers and on her website ambredawnleffler.com. You can also follow her on Instagram.

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After quiet reflection during the water energy of winter, spring is the time to transform the ideas that were nourished in the water element of winter into the wood element of spring. It is the season to expand on the vision you experienced during the slow pace of winter.

I enjoyed sitting quietly during the winter months. There were moments when gazing into the fire or reading a book while everyone was rushing to start on goals for the new year felt counterproductive. I had to trust in water’s superpower of creative flow. But that time of listening instead of doing helped me see clearly what I want to accomplish with my writing in the right season.

Water energy feeds wood. With the transition from winter to spring, my vision is solid and I am ready now to take action. With this clear view, I am not distracted by the next shiny object. My energy is humming and ready to fuel my next writing project.

This is the time to take the seed of your ideas and let it grow into a tree.

The element of spring is wood. Wood is the power of thinking, plans, and growth. The professions of writers and poets are aligned with wood energy. Spring is the season for writers to grow personally and professionally. In this season, we have a clear mind and sharp focus.

The energy system of spring is the nervous system. Like wood, the nervous system grows endlessly. This growth is similar to the process of mastering a skill. It is said in Tai Chi that there is no perfection because the process is endless, much like writing a book. But be mindful to take breaks. The nervous system doesn’t like repetitive and constant activity. The Pomodoro technique of 5-minute breaks every 25 minutes can help break up long sessions of writing.

When working to the point of fatigue on a project, it is important to rest not by lying down and doing nothing but instead by moving your energy to a different type of creativity. When you abruptly stop work, your mind will continue to think about the project. With the creative fuel supply cut off, your mind will not be able to generate new ideas. Keep your brain engaged with things like listening to music, knitting, or playing a game.

Take care of your nervous system and eyes in the spring season.

Spring is the season associated with wood energy. It is also the season of allergies. Tired eyes, sinus pressure, and jangled nerves can all make it difficult to focus on writing. Imbalances in wood energy during the spring season also affect the eyes and nervous system. This is an important time of year to be kind to your eyes. Adjusting lighting settings, taking breaks to look away from the computer, and sending energy back to your eyes all helps.

Here is a quick way to nourish your eyes. Rub the palms of your hands briskly together until they warm up. Face your palms about an inch in front of your eyes. Close your eyes and let the heat energy from your hands radiate to your eyes, softening them. When you feel rested, open your eyes.

To calm the nervous system, try tapping. Lightly tap with the fingertips of your right hand from the top of your left wrist up to your shoulder and back down. Repeat with the fingertips of your left hand on the right side. Tapping is also helpful in opening up sinuses. Tap lightly on the top of your head, across your forehead, along the bridge of your nose, and across your upper jaw. Use tapping anywhere you feel tension.

My favorite technique for getting tension out of the top of my head is called Tigers in the Forest. I use this at night before going to sleep. The ten tigers are your fingers and the forest is your hair. Face your palms toward you and make claws with both hands. Place your fingers on your crown and with light pressure run them through your hair from your forehead, across the top of your head, and down the back of your head. When you get to the spot where your head meets your neck, separate your hands and lightly rub your hands on either side of your neck back around to the front toward your chin. Repeat as often as needed.

When your wood energy is healthy and balanced, you will have a clear mind and powerful focus in the spring season. Let your creativity grow unhindered, like a majestic oak tree.

Ambre Dawn Leffler is a Tai Chi instructor, gardener, and weather geek who writes about vegetables, seasons, communing with nature, and the interconnections of mind/body. She loves trees and cherishes time in their presence. Learn more about her tree time, garden residents, and wellness practices at her website ambredawnleffler.com and seasonal inspiration from her newsletter Sky Earth Water. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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At this time of year, we should be conserving energy. Instead, artificial lights give us a false sense of the day’s energy. We are burning the midnight oil as we jump into action. While we are busy like ants on the hunt for a sugar source, nature is the opposite. Trees and plants go dormant. Animals burrow to conserve energy. Water in many places is frozen, suspended in time.

In the Five Element Theory of Chinese Traditional Medicine, water is the element that pairs with the winter season. Yin water is the deepest manifestation of the thinking process. It is the force of creation, the power of originality and creativity. Water moves with effortless progress. Winter is our best season as creative beings.

When you are in harmony with the energy of the season, your path will be clear for success. Each small step with the right intent will open the door to the next. You will effortlessly flow along the river of your creative journey. But if you jump from one thing to the next without slowing down, your energy will swirl in circles like an eddy in a stream.

In winter, take time to listen.

It is important to take this time and be crystal clear in your mind about what you want to say, who you want to reach with your writing, and what publishing options are best for you. Strengthening your will is a key component of Zhi, the spirit of the water element. When you clearly see your vision as a writer, every decision or project that crosses your path throughout the year will be the right one.

Give yourself creative space in the winter months for deep quiet. Winter is the season to nurture your vital essence. Take this time to nurture ideas for future projects. A dormant seed in winter stores everything it needs to become a strong tree in the growing season. Like trees, we need time to slow down, focus inward, and conserve resources for the right season to branch out and grow.

I love the quiet of a pre-dawn morning in winter. I use this precious slice of time to let ideas percolate. They appear effortlessly in these dark morning hours. As tempting as it is to rush to the keyboard, I quietly listen instead, storing these ideas for later.

Go with the creative flow

Water’s superpower is flow. Water sinks naturally without being forced. It is gentle but all powerful. It flows around obstacles. Let your creativity be fluid during the winter.

Water is all-powerful, but be careful with this energy. Using too much energy when you feel constricted leads to problems, much like water bursting a pipe. When the pipes at my house backed up, the plumber used water at high pressure to blast out a root ball in the main line. Water now moves freely through the pipe, and I am free from worry that the plumbing will back up again.

Winter is not the season to blast through a root ball, metaphorically speaking. Be mindful of your energy flow. If you feel a strong resistance to a writing project, move on to something where the words appear easily. Work on aspects of your writing that go at a slower pace. This is the time to work on outlines and world building.

This season is tough for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Shifts in barometric pressure can be a trigger for migraines. When the pressure drops, so does my blood pressure and I have to go lie down. If you aren’t feeling up to a project, don’t worry about it. Tuck in, rest, then find what works best for your energy.  

Slow down your creative energy during the winter. Take the time to listen. Be clear with your vision. Like a smoothly flowing river, your creative work will find its own way in harmony with the season.

Ambre Dawn Leffler is a Tai Chi instructor, gardener, and weather geek who writes about vegetables, seasons, communing with nature, and the interconnections of mind/body. She loves trees and cherishes time in their presence. Learn more about her tree time, garden residents, and wellness practices at her website ambredawnleffler.com and seasonal inspiration from her newsletter Sky Earth Water. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The post Use Water’s Superpower of Creative Flow in Winter appeared first on DIY MFA.

Casper-the-Friendly-Ghost Kind of Vampire

These are well-meaning people who ask how your writing is going. Some are genuinely interested. Others are being polite. Spend energy on those who are sincerely interested. Their eyes will stay focused as you are talking. Most people don’t know the publication process, so be prepared for them to not understand how long it takes for a book to be published, or that getting a short story accepted for an anthology is an equal win to a book contract.

One way to deflect well-meaning energy vampires is to have your signature story ready. This is a story of a few short sentences about why you write, or what inspired your book. Be mindful of how you state things so that you aren’t sharing more than you intended or are stepping outside of your emotional boundaries. When you practice your signature story, you are in control of the conversation.

Other friendly vampires are people close to you who subconsciously sabotage your writing time. Recognize that this is really a fear of change on their part. They want you to be happy and succeed, but they also fear what may be altered in your relationship or in your daily routine. Establish boundaries by setting office hours to help with things they need or spending quality time together on a schedule that works for you.

Not-So-Friendly Vampires

These will be people intent on taking away your positive energy. When around true vampires, put your tongue on the roof of your mouth. This protects your energy boundary. Deflect as much as possible. When they ask about your work to dig for a soft spot, turn the conversation back to them. Ask how their writing is going. But don’t spend too much time listening. Scan the room for an opportunity to walk away.

After an encounter with a true energy vampire, ground yourself. Go for a walk barefoot in the grass. Work with your hands in the soil. Create a mood board with images of your goals or box of treasures as a touchstone to anchor you. It also helps to write a list of your allies who are cheerleading for your writing success. If this person’s words or actions stay with you, mentally visualize hanging up the phone on them. You can even say, “I am disconnecting this phone call now.”

Vampires of Your Own Creation

It is easy to get caught up in chasing the next shiny thing, whether it is a new writing project or a volunteer opportunity to grow your audience. Scattering your attention in too many directions drains your energy. And I’ve found that without a singular focus, it takes me longer to complete one project. Celebrate each writing win in the moment without raising the bar for the next one.

Another technique is counting to five before leaping into an opportunity. I read about this practice in the book Essentialism by Greg McKeown and it has been a game changer for me. Consider whether this project is in line with your writing goals and daily routine. Watch for Fear of Missing Out, or reactions that start with “I should…” The right project will be there at a time and place that is best for you.

A word about clutter… Seeing stacks of magazines you intend to read actually drags you down. I confess that I have a storage tub filled with past issues of Writer’s Digest. The craft content is relevant, but the publishing industry changes so quickly that much of the information is obsolete. Your writing space doesn’t need to be perfectly organized. But if there are stacks of things that have been gathering dust for a year, send them to the recycle bin.

Electricity Vampires

For measurable energy vampires, invest in a plugging strip. Appliances that are plugged in continue to draw energy, known as vampire energy. Turning off the power strip when you shut down your computer and other office equipment saves a measurable amount of energy. I experimented with using plugging strips for everything except major appliances. My electric bill one mild-weather month was only $24. Be kind to the earth and your bank account by warding off electricity vampires.

With these techniques, you can create a positive environment for yourself and your writing space. No garlic needed! 

Ambre Dawn Leffler is a Tai Chi instructor, gardener, and weather geek who writes about vegetables, seasons, communing with nature, and the interconnections of mind/body. She loves trees and cherishes time in their presence. Learn more about her tree time, garden residents, and wellness practices at her website ambredawnleffler.com and seasonal inspiration from her newsletter Sky Earth Water. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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Writers are often set up with an improper balance of light. For those of us with a day job, we use borrowed space on public transportation or a spare bedroom to squeeze in writing time. For those who write full-time, it is easy to lose track of the hours while churning out a chapter. Reading is sometimes crammed in before bed, either with an e-reader or by lamplight. My compact fluorescent bulb is woefully underpowered for reading.

Improper lighting not only affects your eyes, it also directly impacts your overall health.

Writers would benefit greatly in learning to synchronize with the sun like a cat. My cat maps out her day according to the sun. She knows exactly which spot gets the best sunlight throughout the day. Your circadian rhythm synchronizes your body with the external world relative to light. This rhythm is a 24-hour cycle of each organ’s optimum time to function.

Photoreceptor cells in your eyes that are sensitive to blue light relay environmental light levels to your brain. This process sets your central circadian clock, which then synchronizes the local clocks in the rest of your body. Think of the clock tower in the village square, and how clocks in the village shops synchronize to this one clock for the entire village.

Cortisol levels are also controlled by the circadian rhythm in a 24-hour cycle. They rise in the early morning, then increase toward waking time. The brain gradually wakes up, a process that can take up to four hours. This sleep inertia varies from person to person. I know I am not able to eat breakfast until I have been awake for two hours.

Circadian rhythm, cortisol, and melatonin all directly impact your quality of sleep. Chronic sleep disorders elevate the risk of diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack, hypertension, and stroke.

Lighting During the Day

A healthy lighting plan starts at waking time. If possible, go outside first thing in the morning for 15 minutes. Natural daylight is needed to process vitamin D, set your internal clock, and cue melatonin. Melatonin is the biochemical signal of darkness that tells the brain it is night time. Seeing daylight early in the morning sets your melatonin clock for sleep later.

It is important to work in a brightly-lit space during the day. If your work environment is poorly lit during the day, you are more sensitive to light exposure at night. Take sunlight breaks. Use one 15-minute block from the Pomodoro technique to get some natural light. It is also important to keep computers 14” from your face and use a lower brightness setting with your screen to reduce melatonin disruption.

Lighting After Dusk

Light after dusk resets your circadian clock, suppresses melatonin, elevates heart rate and body temperature, and directly stimulates your brain. The blue light from computers, phones, and tablets tells your brain it is daylight. This disrupts your circadian rhythm and with it, your sleep cycle. In the evening, gradually dim and redden the light.

Apps such as f.lux warm up the color temperature of your screen in sync with the sunset for your location, time of year, and when you wake up. It will also coordinate with your home smart lighting system. Windows has a nightlight setting that adjusts the monitor to warmer colors after dusk. You can also try blue light-blocking reading glasses. Start shutting down your computer at least 30 minutes before bed. If you prefer a bedside alarm clock, pick one with red digital numbers, not blue or green.

Lighting for Your Writing Space

Not sure how to light your space? I have put together a guide to proper lighting for your workspace which you can access here. In it you will find an explanation of lighting terms and recommendations for lighting levels. Print it to take with you to the lighting store or for reference when shopping online.

With the right lighting you will have a healthy and productive writing life.

Ambre Dawn Leffler is a Tai Chi instructor, gardener, and weather geek who writes about vegetables, seasons, communing with nature, and the interconnections of mind/body. She loves trees and cherishes time in their presence. Learn more about her tree time, garden residents, and wellness practices at her website ambredawnleffler.com and seasonal inspiration from her newsletter Sky Earth Water. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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If you are like me, you end the day wondering why you didn’t get as much writing done as you’d intended. There isn’t one right or wrong answer to how our daily energy should be spent. We all need to prepare food, take care of ourselves, our kids or fur babies, and keep things somewhat clean. The online world entices us to spend time and energy there, whether checking email or browsing the Internet.

Building an author career is a juggling act. It takes practice and iteration to strike a balance between writing, reading, and community. It takes even more dedication and flexibility to build a writing career in between family responsibilities, day jobs, or volunteering. No one lives in a vacuum where the entire day is spent writing.

When your energy is scattered among several tasks, it is difficult to do one task with full strength. In my Breath Qigong Yoga class, I teach several techniques to gather scattered energy back to your core. With focused energy, you can work toward your true purpose.

Think of energy as water moving through a garden hose. When water moves through the hose and out a power washer nozzle, the water is focused, concentrated. There is a lot of power in the way the water moves. When water moves through the hose and out a fan spray nozzle, the water is scattered, not as strong. The power is dispersed in many directions. 

Both are ways to move water through a hose. Concentrating the water flow in one direction, though, is more powerful.

It feels like there aren’t enough hours to get everything done. But I’ve realized it isn’t the quantity of hours. It is the way I’m spending my hours. 

There are distinct peaks and valleys to my energy levels during the day. With an awareness of how I’m spending energy, I can make adjustments to create a sustainable writing routine in balance with other demands on my energy.

Introducing… the Marble Jar Experiment

Instead of tracking time, I track how I’m spending my energy. One marble represents a unit of energy. One jar represents a category of how you spend your energy. 

You can track how you are spending your energy with this marble jar experiment in 7 simple steps:

1. Write down 5-10 categories of ways you spend your time.

Everyone will have a different answer. For my categories I have:

• Checking Email and Text Messages
• Online Time (social media/websites/author community platforms)
• Writing/Creative Work
• Reading
• Wellness (going for a walk/Tai Chi/stretching)
• Daily Tasks (cooking/cleaning)

2. Label a glass or jar with each category.

3. Get a number of identical objects such as marbles.

4. Every time you spend energy on one of the categories, put a marble in the jar. 

Be honest!

5. At the end of the day, tally up how many marbles are in each jar.

I’m a visual person, so seeing a quantity helps me along with the tally. Remember, you’re not tracking time. You are tracking how many times you spend energy on this category.

6. Repeat for as many days as it takes to see a pattern (but not so many that it takes away from your writing project).

7. Analyze the results.

Write down ways you can tweak your daily routine to balance the energy spent in each category.

The results are in…

After three days, I tallied up my results. I was not surprised to see that 20 marbles were in the email jar, the most of any category. I’m so overwhelmed whenever I check email that I actually freeze up. And most of it isn’t even messages personally addressed to me that I need to answer.

I have two easy solutions. Part one is to unsubscribe from emails that have information I can get another way on my own time. This digital clutter drains both my creative energy and fossil fuel energy. I recently wrote about digital spring cleaning in my newsletter. It is a good first step in reclaiming creative energy.

Part two is to set specific times for checking email instead of every hour. I have a colleague who only responds to phone calls and text messages while he is out in the field. He answers emails when he is back at the office at 4:00. His clients know their emails will get answered at that time.

The next fullest jar was daily tasks. Cooking or getting something to eat takes a chunk of energy. My plan is to start batch cooking on the weekends. This way I can reheat a dish during the week instead of spending energy each day figuring out what to eat, which often results in choices that aren’t beneficial to my body or brain.

The wellness jar had only 3 marbles and the reading jar had only 1 lonely marble. These important parts of my wellbeing often get crammed in at the end of the day or neglected altogether. Cutting back on email frees up time for reading a book. Batching tasks such as prepping vegetables one day a week frees up time for afternoon walks. I am confident just a few changes will move the marbles into the right jars for a balanced day.

Are you ready to make significant healthy changes to your writing life? Taking a few minutes for a few days to do this easy experiment will give you clarity on what is out of balance in your energy account. You will be surprised at the results!

Tell us in the comments: Have you tried the marble jar experiment? How did it go?

Ambre Dawn Leffler is a Tai Chi instructor, gardener, and weather geek who writes about vegetables, seasons, communing with nature, and the interconnections of mind/body. She loves trees and cherishes time in their presence. Learn more about her tree time, garden residents, and wellness practices at her website ambredawnleffler.com and seasonal inspiration from her newsletter Sky Earth Water. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The post The Marble Jar Experiment: Balance Your Energy Account appeared first on DIY MFA.

Hygge (pronounced hue-gah or hoo-gah, depending on where you live) is a feeling of coziness and contentment in the present moment. The word first appeared in old Norwegian and is a way of life in Denmark. Creating a ritual around brewing a cup of tea, lighting a candle, or gathering near a fire to enjoy a treat are all ways to embrace hygge.

Cozy Up to Research

Canadian author Louise Penny was asked at a book signing if she created the recipes for the bed and breakfast in her series. She described how she sits in front of the fireplace, blanket across her lap, with a stack of cookbooks. She pulls one from the stack, asks herself “What would I like to eat today?” and types up a menu.

Create a cozy space for writing and research. Pile up the soft blankets and pull on your fuzzy socks or warmest slippers. Light the fireplace or a favorite candle to brighten your spirits and your workspace.

Bring the Outdoors In

During the dormant season, there are few visual cues from nature to mark the progression of time. But you can grow some plants indoors to bring in cheer. It is rewarding to see a plant grow from the beginning, a process similar to writing. At first, it looks like nothing is happening. But then a little sprout appears. With encouragement and the right nutrients, it will grow leaves and branches. Seemingly overnight, it becomes a fully-formed plant, but the process has been happening all along.

Amaryllis plants are my favorite for watching a plant’s progress every day, and their color adds a spark of life to any space. Or pick up a pine cone on a walk in the forest. Sprinkle some water on it each day. In time, you will see the sprouts of baby pine trees grow from your pine cone.

Create Your Own Sunny Scene

In the movie Christmas in Connecticut, Elizabeth Lane writes a column for a women’s housekeeping magazine. She describes the good cedar logs crackling in the fire while looking out at the landscape of her farm. In reality, she looks out at the clothes flapping on the clothesline from her New York apartment while the steam radiator hisses under the window.

Imagine a scene for your character where they are relaxing in warm weather. Or use a flash fiction prompt to conjure a setting that creates a feeling of contentment.

Treat Yourself

Part of hygge is enjoying a treat and sharing with others. I love cooking with citrus this time of year. I can taste the sunshine in the lemons from their months of growing during the summer. Friends love the baked treats from lemons in my backyard.

Get creative in the kitchen and try ingredients or a cooking technique from the era of your book. Or invent something new (butterbeer, anyone?). Emerge from your writing bubble to share what you’ve created with others.

Take a Tea Break

Tea time is perfect for hygge. The warmth, fragrance, and ritual of brewing tea all bring a feeling of coziness and contentment. When selecting a tea, choose spices and scents from nature to suit the day’s mood. Chai and peppermint energize, while lemon and ginger create a soothing blend of uplifting and calm.

Before taking a sip, close your eyes and inhale the fragrance. Feel the warmth of the steam on your face and the cup between your hands. As you sip your tea, create a narrative of the journey the tea leaves made on the way to your cup. Picture the source of water that nourished its roots, the sun exposure, and the other plants that influenced the leaves or flowers. Enjoy the revitalization of your well-being and creativity on a chilly day.

Try one of these simple ways to bring in hygge and you will be inspired to write. Embrace the opportunity to be tucked in, focused on your work. Every season has a purpose, and winter allows us to quietly recharge. Bring in some cheer and you will be surprised at how much you have accomplished when spring returns.

Tell us in the comments: How did these hygge practices work for you?

Ambre Dawn Leffler is a Tai Chi instructor, gardener, and weather geek who writes about vegetables, seasons, communing with nature, and the interconnections of mind/body. She loves trees and cherishes time in their presence. Learn more about her tree time, garden residents, and wellness practices at her website ambredawnleffler.com and seasonal inspiration from her newsletter https://ambredawn.ck.page/newsletter-page

The post Bring Coziness to Winter Writing with Hygge appeared first on DIY MFA.

Anyway, this year, I thought we could go around the DIY MFA family table and share something genuine—what book we are most thankful for. When I set this assignment, I didn’t give any parameters to guide their answers. This is off the cuff what some of our Team Awesome members had to say about the book they are most thankful for. 

Happy Thanksgiving.

Gabriela Pereira

Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat by Bill Watterson

The Calvin and Hobbes comics were game-changing for me. They made me realize that I wasn’t weird for talking to the weird characters inside my head or imagining epic space battles while walking around the neighborhood. While all the books in the collection are excellent, I love this one in particular because it includes the sequence in which Stupendous Man goes to school and also the storyline where Hobbes sends Calvin encoded messages with a cool skull and crossbones insignia for the return address.

Lori Walker

Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris

Talk about coming down to the wire! I kept putting off scheduling this post, in part, because I had no idea what to say. Really, I put it off until the last responsible moment. Fortunately, a throwaway comment last night when talking with a friend led me to my answer. This collection of stories and essays opened so many doors for me. It introduced me to one of my favorite writers. It introduced me to a genre that I love and have decided to devote my time to writing. This, in turn, led me to many other writers and books that have become favorites. So I’d say this slim little volume, which I reread every year, has had a pretty big impact on me.

Jeanette Smith

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

There’s a reason it’s one of the top 10 most checked-out books from the NYC Public Library. Carnegie presents story after story to illustrate his basic principles; principles that remain true and timeless in both business and personal life. I think even the best of us can learn from this book. I can certainly say it has influenced my life for the better.

Angela Yeh

“Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are so many books that have come along at just the right time for me. But for sheer, overall, long-term helpfulness, it would be “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. I’ve read it in all my low points and have internalized a lot of what he had to say. One of my favorites is “Your goodness must have some edge to it—else it is none.” To me, this means in order to make real change my voice has to be heard. And I can’t do that by mumbling in a corner. Also, that it is alright that I love you when I meet you, but if you mess with my friends, it is also okay to kick you off the island.

Sara Farmer

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery 

Anne changed my life and gave me hope. She is a best friend and guide. I never grow tired of rereading her adventures and learning more about her and her creator L.M. Montgomery. 

Carol VanDenHende

No Turning Back by Sgt. Bryan Anderson

I’m thankful for this memoir by a Purple Heart decorated soldier. In it, he documents his life after being “blown up” by an IED in Iraq. I’m grateful for his generosity as a sensitivity reader for my work, which is inspired by combat-wounded veterans. #veteransday

Melanie Marttila

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

The plot is a multi-layered fantasy mystery, but the heart of the story is trauma and recovery. It’s a gentle hug, a nod. It says, “I understand what you’re going through.” Also, I found this article in The Guardian, in which Clarke discusses her battle with chronic fatigue syndrome, and this lovely 5 X 15 Stories conversation between Neil Gaiman and Clarke. Both enhance the experience of reading the novel.

Stephanie BwaBwa

The Host by Stephenie Meyer 

I’ve loved this book for many years. The older I get, the stronger it resonates. A book about selflessness, purity of heart and character, true love, finding love in unexpected places, perseverance, and hope, I absolutely adore The Host. It’s been a comfort book for me to reread time and again in dry spells, to break out of book slumps, or when my heart is just heavy. I first read it as a young teenager, and till this day as an adult, it’s still one of my favorite novels ever written.

Ambre Leffler

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov is sentenced to live out his days at the Metropol Hotel, but in spite of being confined, he develops a rich life with the staff and guests of the hotel who bring the outside world to him. One of my favorite scenes is the dark night of the soul, when he is convinced to keep going after handyman Abram shares honey from the rooftop that tastes of the apples Count Rostov fondly recalls from childhood. It perfectly captures how these connections with nature ground us with our local history.

As I read through these responses, I loved how varied the responses were in terms of the books chosen and the reasons for choosing them. Books are such a personal experience, yet they have such an impact on our writing and on how we relate to the world. Before I get too sentimental, I’m going to sign off.

But before I go…

Tell us in the comments below: What book are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

The post Team Awesome Thanksgiving Post appeared first on DIY MFA.

Trees are smarter than we are as humans. We work long past the time of much-needed rest, completely ignoring the signals from our bodies and minds that we don’t have the fuel, literally or figuratively, to keep working. I’ve written my way through the pandemic without taking a break and my fuel tank is on empty.

Several Olympic athletes at the Summer Games in Tokyo pushed themselves beyond what was safe and had the courage to say they needed a break. Creativity is a solo act without a coach to assess the writer’s wellbeing. I always spend time with trees when I need to replenish energy. 

I’ll be following my own advice that I am sharing with you here: be like a tree for your mental health.

Feed Your Crown Wisely

Trees gather energy by receiving sunlight and then converting this energy in their leaves. The trees who survive get the proper amount of sunlight for their growth. If trees grow too quickly they can’t sustain the amount of fuel they will need to take in through their leaves.

Think of each writing lesson or practice as a source of energy for your leaves. Be selective in what you take in. It is overwhelming when you absorb information you can’t immediately use. Pace yourself. The right information will be there for you at the right moment. Finding what works for you at a rate just right for your growth ensures a sustainable writing career (and preserves your mental health).

Protect Your Inner Bark

The outer bark of a tree protects the inner bark. Trees survive wildfires, insects, foraging by animals, and infections thanks to this protective outer layer.

At the beginning of my writing journey I was excited to share every project I was working on. Well-meaning people would ask when my book would be published, or why I wasn’t finished with my book, or where they could read my article. It is challenging to explain the publication process to those who are outside of it.

Likewise, not everyone understands the cyclical nature of the creative world. As soon as you have finished one project, you are working on the next. Also, there are people who will sabotage your success, consciously or unconsciously.

To protect your inner bark, your mental health, create your signature story about your writing process. When people ask for updates on your work, you will have an answer ready in a way that sets boundaries and protects you. I am now selective in how and with whom I share updates on my writing projects. It helps keep away feelings of failure when I answer “Not yet,” or “Hopefully soon.” 

Nourish Your Roots

A tree’s roots can extend for miles just under the surface of the soil or grow down several feet below ground. Trees are resourceful in finding sources of water for growth. If water dries up, they will extend their roots in another direction to find more.

It helps to engage in other creative activities to keep your writing life in balance. For some people it might work to try several different things in a broad radius. For others it works better to try just one thing but at a deep level. 

Tap into other sources to feed your creativity. Try a workshop at a museum. Or get in the kitchen for some baking. 

If your go-to creative outlet isn’t giving you the boost you need, switch up your routine with something new. 

Find Your Fungi

It appears that a tree stands alone, but this is not the case. Underneath the soil there is a massive network of fungi attached to the tree’s roots communicating and sharing nutrients among other trees. Some in the nature world call it the “wood wide web.” This fungi network is so complex it is not yet fully understood by scientists. They do know it is vital for each tree’s healthy growth and sustenance.

Writing is a solitary practice. But just like a tree, no writer can go it alone. The creative process takes an abundance of mental energy and fortitude, which can take a toll on your mental health. This is why I recommend finding your fungi, the people who can support you in an exchange of energy and information. I found my fungi with the DIY MFA community. Look for yours in a writing group, friends you made at conferences, at your local bookstore, or classes at your library. 

Spend time with trees. You will get a boost of oxygen. A leisurely walk in the forest, aka forest bathing, has been scientifically proven to reduce stress hormones. And time in nature increases problem-solving skills and creativity. 

Am I telling you to hug a tree? Yes. (The photo with this article is of me hugging a tree). Tree time with the aspens is a fall tradition essential for my mental health. 

Tell us in the comments below: What do you do to preserve your mental health?

Ambre Dawn Leffler is a Tai Chi instructor, gardener, and weather geek who writes about vegetables, seasons, communing with nature, and the interconnections of mind/body. She loves trees and cherishes time in their presence. Learn more about her tree time, garden residents, and wellness practices at her website ambredawnleffler.com and seasonal inspiration from her newsletter https://ambredawn.ck.page/newsletter-page.

The post Be Like a Tree for Your Mental Health appeared first on DIY MFA.