Self-care

Self-Care For Authors While Writing And Launching A Self-Published Book

/ Ondeane Lourens / 3 Comments

As an author, I know that it can be hard to remember to look after yourself when you’re writing and trying to reach your deadline that you’ve set for yourself. You tend to lose yourself in your writing and your book and need to be reminded to take a breather every now and then.

Launching a book can be just as much work…even more and you would need to make sure that you take a break as well, otherwise you will burn out. And if you don’t wash your hair in a while, people might start avoiding you (haha!).

You also need to remember, your lifestyle will be changing during this period and in order to stay on top of it all, it’s good to plan your days ahead (you can even use my planner. **cheeky little ad there, haha**

Paper Raven Books did a blog about this and I thought I would share it with you because they said it best.

Below is an excerpt from their blog with the same heading:

Schedule it ALL: If you haven’t run for the hills yet, then you’ve made it to the best part – you won’t be spending EVERY waking minute on your book!

Those without a plan are planning to fail, so before you even begin writing (or you begin the next phase you’re coming up on), PLAN PLAN PLAN.

Yes, there will be things that unexpectedly interrupt your plan, but you’ll be building in a buffer for that too.

Looking at your calendar, you’ll be blocking off time for the following items, in this order:

  • Sleep
  • Meals
  • Writing / Editing / Launch Prep
    • Focusing on the to-dos of whatever phase you’re in.
  • Physical activity
    • At least 3 times a week, but more if possible, even if it’s only a 30-minute walk. Also, you can make it a social opportunity by going to a class or moving outdoors with friends.
  • Work
    • If you run a business or are employed, make sure you have your work time allocated too.
  • Other commitments
    • family, friends, social obligations … etc.
  • White space
    • A time when you have NOTHING planned and you can do something just for YOU. Aim for at least 1 solid hour of white space each day and DON’T use it as an excuse to catch up on writing, chores … etc. This is YOU time.

There are no hard and fast rules for how much time to block out for each chunk, and it may be different on some days. For example, I work out Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, which means I have more time to write and be social on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Some people need more sleep than others (less than 8 hours and I’m a zombie unless I drink green tea all day), or social commitments, or vacation plans … etc.

At first, it may seem overwhelming, but remember – you have supporters who would probably be willing to run an errand or two or take kids to sports practice … etc. Lean on those around you – once your book is launched, you’ll have more than enough time to pay them back in kind.

In order to read the whole blog (which would be a very good idea because they give you so much more information in it that will assist you greatly) you can click here and it will redirect you to the blog page.

That’s it from me for now…

Please show me some love and comment below. If you enjoy what you see, please follow me for more features.

Enjoy the moments

(This blog contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases of their products but only when you use my link. This is at no extra cost to you. This helps me keep my blog afloat. Thank you for your support)

Love my content?

You can find more on my YouTube channel.

You can support my blog and receive more content on Patreon by searching for Patreon/OndeaneLourens.

Are you tired of listening to the same old playlist on repeat? Ready to escape into worlds where dragons are real, mysteries beg to be solved, and romance doesn’t involve swiping right? Then it’s time to give your ears a treat with Audible! Click my affiliate link to dive into thousands of audiobooks that will make your commute, workout, or chore time fly by. Trust me, your ears will thank you, and your imagination will never be the same! Plus, it’s a great way to pretend you’re being productive while you really just chill and listen to awesome stories. Click now and let the adventures begin!