How to use writing for self nourishment.

It’s the season of hibernation.

I adore Autumn. I love crisp walks and the sound of my boots crunching over rich, red leaves. Indulgent food. Baileys hot chocolates. I embrace that beautiful feeling of letting go and welcoming new beginnings.

I also love experiencing these moments with loved ones. Rubbing my nose against my nephew’s when it’s too pink to resist. Getting cosy in my Dad’s flat with one of his unbeatable dinners and putting the world to rights. An evening of crafts and (a tad too many) drinks with my best friend.

I know that this period of isolation will pass – and I understand why it’s here. But that doesn’t stop my heart longing for more.

There’s a space inside of me that aches. It’s the space that needs love and attention.

I recently wrote an article about why it’s normal to feel abnormal (especially during a pandemic). The motivation came from hearing so, so many of my loved ones talk about how they couldn’t shake the feeling of… well, shitty-ness. Yet they felt bad for it. As if they had no reason to feel anything less than their normal, positive self. They therefore didn’t even consider taking the time and space to nurture themselves. To put themselves first.

“I am allowed to feel sad, stressed and overwhelmed, and I will give myself the love I need to grow out of that.”

Read those words again. Let them drip over every inch of your body.

Do not force yourself to ‘get over it’. Do not challenge the emotions – good or bad.

Just let them… be. And uncover the steps you can take to nourish the parts of you that need a bit of TLC.

It will hardly come as a surprise that writing is that step for me.

There is a joy and a freedom in losing yourself in words; whether it’s putting pen to paper, opening up a book or allowing a spoken meditation to lift you to another world.

So, in the chance it might help, I wanted to share a few of my ‘go to’ practices of word-y magic. Perhaps one of them will provide you with the extra, juicy love you need right now.

1. Morning pages.

“Morning pages don’t need to solve your problems. They simply need to get them out of your head, where they’ll otherwise bounce around all day like a bullet ricocheting inside your skull.”

― Tim Ferriss

As soon as you wake up, grab a notebook and write. Do it with zero pretences and no intention of ever even reading back on the words. It should be a messy, exquisite stream of your innermost thoughts, all splattered onto the paper in whatever form they decide to materialise in.

The idea is to get to three pages worth of thoughts down onto the page. Even when it starts to feel sticky, keep pushing. This is a wonderful way to ring out the tension and clear out space to step into your day with purpose and clarity.

2. Journal.

The incredible thing about journalling, is that it comes in a kaleidoscope of different forms.

If you don’t want to dig deep into your innermost fears and desires – that’s okay. If you’re intimidated by the idea of long blocks of writing – no problem.

Journalling should be built around the way you want and need to express (and understand) what’s going on around you. For a fan-TASTIC guide on all things journalling, I massively recommend reading Sophie Cliff (The Joyful Coach)’s blog.

3. Play with fiction.

“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”

― Sylvia Plath

Oh Sylvia – the things your words do to me.

Fiction writing is a form of escapism; and it’s a soothing way to take control when so much around you is totally and utterly doing its own thing.

I started writing my umpteenth fiction novel at the start of lockdown 1. It’s been painful, but it’s also been the brightest light among the darkness.

Go into it with no goal other than for the sheer joy of creating something that is yours and yours alone. You may be surprised by what it unlocks.

4. Create a reading ritual.

Make reading your precious time.

It doesn’t matter whether you are into memoirs, historical fiction, business guides or page turner thrillers; the relationship between you and that book is a transcendent one.

Why not make every moment that you pick up that book an opportunity to indulge in yourself?

Put on your dressing gown. Light a candle. Pour a cup of coffee in your favourite mug.

Even just 15 minutes of reading time in this soft, sacred space can transform your mood and, as a result, your day.

This is just a handful of the many ways words can guide you towards a place of serenity.