Whether you earn an income from writing or use it as a creative outlet, you can’t accomplish your goals if you have brain fog. Mental clarity is a key to writing success. There are several things you can do to boost alertness before taking on a writing task.
These tips are especially helpful if you’ve not had a good night’s sleep, or your thoughts are cluttered, but you have a deadline to meet. Boosting alertness before writing is sort of like clearing the cobwebs out of the corners of a ceiling before painting. It creates a clean, smooth canvas on which to paint or, in this case, write.
Take a quick walk to boost alertness before writing
Especially if you’re going to be writing in the early morning or late evening hours, you can boost alertness and energy levels by heading outdoors for a quick walk. A brisk walk gets your whole body moving, which helps combat the adverse effects of being sedentary. Being in direct sunlight and breathing fresh air also help you feel more alert.
If you’re going to be writing for hours on end, try to take breaks occasionally, or take another quick walk outside. In addition to being physically invigorating, the change of scenery you get by going outside can make you feel more alert, especially if you’ve been looking at a computer screen for a long time.
Implement bellow breaths for short periods of time
Bellowing breathing can help boost alertness quickly. To execute this practice, you simply close your mouth and breathe swiftly in and out through your nose. Use short breaths, and keep the exercise going for approximately 10 to 15 seconds. This is a good option when you want to boost alertness but don’t have time to go outside for a walk.
Make sure you stay hydrated while you’re writing
Millions of people exist in a chronic state of dehydration without realizing it. One of the most common symptoms of dehydration (besides headache) is mental confusion. If you’re not drinking enough water, you aren’t going to feel alert or have the mental clarity you need to produce quality writing.
A good rule of thumb is to drink an ounce of water per pound of body weight. There are phone apps that can help you track your water intake or sound an alarm for you when it’s time to drink. Staying hydrated is the key to feeling energized and alert throughout the day.
