Writers are not a notoriously healthy group. But it is possible to be a productive writer without relying on tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or unhealthy snacks.
I quit smoking in 2014 and I haven’t relapsed once. I’m also working on losing weight right now. These are my tips to help you on your own health journey.
Smoking and Alcohol
I’m going to assume you’re probably not smoking a long deVil cigarette or pipe to feel cool. One of the biggest reasons that I smoked was to have an activity that brought me outside into the brisk air and walk away from the computer. I would cram in as much work as I could between smoke breaks and reward myself with them. If this is you, I have a few tips for you:
Sunflower seeds. When I was quitting smoking, I kept a bag of sunflower seeds on hand and would pop some in my mouth anytime I thought about cigarettes. It kept me busy, it was savory and satisfying, and it was something I could do mindlessly while working at the computer.
Take breathing breaks. I realized that I liked smoking because I relished the early morning hours when I would wrap up in a blanket, grab a steamy cup of coffee, and sit on my patio with a cigarette. So, I started doing all of that without smoking. I realized like the cigarette wasn’t essential to that experience. Anytime I wanted to go outside and smoke, I’d head outside and just breathe in fresh air. I would think about how much more relaxed I am when I’m not hankering for my next smoke. I thanked myself for quitting because it allows me to write without getting up every 30-60 minutes to smoke.
Unhealthy Snacks
Making better snack choices is a big one for me. I used to buy a big bag of salt and vinegar chips to eat while I wrote. I liked being able to sit back in my chair and snack on chips while I waited for my next idea or I edited a few pages. My chips were typically accompanied by iced tea or soda.
Count calories.
This is obvious to anyone familiar with losing weight. What I mean by this is get your snack of choice, weigh it out to how many calories you can afford for your day, and sit that bowl next to you while you work. Don’t set yourself up to fail by sitting a whole bag of chips next to you and promising yourself that you’ll stop after 10 chips. There’s a good chance you won’t. (at least, not if you’re like me!)
Make healthier choices.
If I’m actually hungry and that’s why I’m snacking, I’ll get some hummus and baby carrots to keep by my side. I might even mix my protein powder with coffee for an iced coffee to sip on.
Don’t drink your calories.
I like an iced tea, a soda, or wine as much as the next person. But if those drinks have calories then they certainly won’t fit into my daily limit. But that doesn’t mean you can only drink flat water. I rely on zero calorie sparkling water, coffee, and tea when I’m trying to lose weight.
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