The Writer's Curse

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The Battles of an Exhausted Author






  1. The Curse And The Causes



The dreaded sleepless night is the enemy of over half the worlds population. If you ask ten writers what has been one of their biggest problems during their writing career, most would mention sleep-loss somewhere in the conversation. Whether it’s a pressing thought or idea, or a looming deadline, there may be a multitude of reasons for the deprivation of such a friend.

With the hectic lives that writer’s lead with ideas bouncing around 24/7, always questioning their work, editors breathing down our backs, oh and don’t forget about dinner tonight, there’s no wonder we aren’t in a position to sleep. Quite frankly we can’t afford the down time.

Be that as it may, sleep is mandatory in order for our bodies to replenish and regain proper function. Science and




medicine have told us that a decent nights sleep consist of 6-8 hours. (Good luck with that!) I’ll even admit to squeezing another few paragraphs in, or even start an article after the kids go to bed.

This behavior is becoming more and more prevalent within the writing community. We feel as if less is more. Unfortunately, this way of thinking will do nothing more than make us less productive and prone to illness. Not to mention the effect that sleep loss has on our creative flow, attention to detail, and quality of work.


  1. We Are Not The Same


While it’s true we need 6-8hrs of sleep to function at our best, some super humans among us are able to thrive off of much less. Why Is this? Genetic make-up, will power, or maybe they get so focused on the task at hand they just simply block out the signal from their brain. One thing we know for sure is not getting enough rest will cause long lasting effects. Some of which we may not be able to reverse.

  1. At Your Best


We have all gotten to work early in the morning and made it to that third cup of coffee and just felt like you couldn’t hold your eyes open any longer. You muddle through the day wishing you had never been born. During this time what ever project you worked on got completed by the grace of God, but suffered from your lack of sleep. There is no way to begin to make up for all the lost time you owe the SandMan. There’s just no way to recover that time. So from this point forward we need to think of ways to put our insomnia to bed!!


  1. Sweet Serenade


There have been some recent studies that have shown, the effects of music on your sleeping patterns get stronger over time. Meaning simply that if you start making music at bedtime a habit, eventually sleep will become the ritual.

There are many forms of music that is conducive to good sleep. Classical music is known for its soft chords and relaxing tones. The best thing about this method is it’s the best all natural form of sleep aid on the market. So chose a good one and fall asleep tonight.



  1. Smell The Roses

Or in our case smell the lavender oil. Several studies done on sleep deprivation show
that using lavender oil for aromatherapy can improve the sleep experience. This would also work on individuals who suffer from anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Being a write facing writer’s block can cause all these issues.

Lavender has a number of different ways to administer. The first method is to try it as an aromatherapy by placing a few drops on your pillow. You will breath it in while you sleep, and wake up refreshed in the morning. There are also body washes and shower gels that a blocked writer can use to free their minds for a perfect nights sleep.


  1. Always Write It Down



Another major reason writing would cause someone to stay awake is there are too many ideas bouncing around in there.

This is why I recommend keeping a note pad close. You never know when an amazing idea will start screaming at you. Begging you to get it outta of your head. The cool thing about a note pad is, the battery doesn’t die. Also, there isn’t any notifications, posts, emails, or cute cat videos to distract you from your objective.

Documenting your idea on note pad clears the creative clutter from your head so there is nothing to hinder you from drifting off to sleep.


  1. We Are What We Consume



Most writers magic elixir of choice is a good old cup of Joe. This drink has been there for countless writers when hard at work. Though it is a drink of choice, it’s loaded with caffeine.

It only takes caffeine 15 from the time of consumption, for the user to feel the effects. We drink coffee to keep us awake during the day. When the feeling of sleepiness hits a cup of coffee is just a block away.

Unknowingly, we drink cup after cup and then wonder why we cant get to sleep. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant that's absorbed through the small intestine. Once in the bloodstream it can take up until six hours for half the caffeine to leave your body.


    1. Summary


Let me start this close like this. The list I put on here is no way the only opportunity for naturally sleep aids and regaining control over your life. These are just a few of my favorites, but doing your own research can lead to many many more.

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