THE 5Ps AND 4Ds OF WRITING

 

Some of you may know that my paid job is a Hospice Occupational Therapist. One of my specialisms is fatigue management, helping patients to adapt to vastly reduced energy levels. Recently, I’ve been revising what I teach for staff: those recovering from Covid and those of us coping with the ongoing impact on our work and daily lives.

When the first lockdown happened, although it was shocking, there was a novelty to it and we all thought, hoped, that it would be over by autumn. Fast forward to Lockdown No. 3 and it’s just sheer slog: so much change to the jobs we loved, staff shortages, our usual stress management strategies outside work unavailable, even Zoom Fatigue*.

But it’s not just keyworkers. I’ve noticed many of us are talking and writing about the drudge that daily life has become. For some of us, the pandemic hasn’t given us extra space to write but less energy to put thoughts together cohesively on paper.

But I’ve started to wonder if some of those fatigue management principles I teach might also be useful for writers? Let me introduce you to the 5Ps and 4Ds:

1.       PRIORITISING

What is it that’s most important to you? That only you can do? That you would look back on and regret not doing?

That’s where to focus your energy first.

2.       PLANNING

Look at your To Do List and ask yourself:

Do I have to do this now/today? Or could I delay it?

Do I have to do this myself? Or could I delegate it?

Do I have to do all of it now/today/myself? Or could I divide it over time/between a group?

Do I have to do it at all? Or could I dump it?

Include something that benefits you every day.

3.       PACING:

Stop before you get exhausted – you’ll have more stamina in the long run.

Plan and take those breaks.

Breaks can be a change in what you’re doing – vary physical/mental, creative/mundane, indoors/outdoors, sitting/moving.

Introduce variety: a different route for your daily walk, a new radio station, change the order you do a familiar routine.

4.       POSTURE:

Poor posture leaks energy. So take a look at where you’re writing:

Shoulders dropped or hunched? Screen at a good height for your neck? Thighs horizontal and feet supported?

Are you changing your gaze from near to far regularly to prevent eye strain?

Get up regularly. Do those stretches.

5.       PERMISSION:

Be kind to yourself.

Make the same allowances you would for a good friend.

Remember it’s OK to have a fallow period.

Take time off.

Go and have a walk or a cuddle with God.

Or you could make two lists: things that tire you and things that energise/relax you. Pick out the ones that you have some control over. Then see which of these you can do less of in the first list and more of in the second.

I’ll leave you with two things that lift me:

And this: Márquez: Conga del Fuego - YouTube

God bless you in your writing and let me know what helps you get through the slog.

*Yes, it’s a real neurological thing – have a read of this article if you’re interested: ‘Zoom fatigue’ is taxing the brain. Here's why that happens. (nationalgeographic.com)

Liz Manning fits writing around being an Occupational Therapist, BB captain, wife, and mum to two adult children. Or perhaps it's the other way round. She blogs regularly at https://thestufflifeismadeofblog.wordpress.com/