Camp NaNoWriMo 2020 came at a pretty weird time. I don’t think any of us are 100% okay. But I thought I’d share how I’m doing and what’s keeping me writing at this time.

Original photo by Eea Ikeda 

First and foremost, I’d like to remind everyone that I don’t have a ton going on right now. So, if you see me online being a productive fiend, it’s because I don’t have kids and the only other creature I have to keep alive is the dog. She’s relatively low maintenance, and officially a senior dog. So, she’s asleep like all day.

(And Chris is a grown up and had figured out how to keep himself alive long before I even met him.)

Also, I’m the type to hardcore over-perform in times of stressAlso, I’m the type to hardcore over-perform in times of stress. I know that sounds weird. Just know that the level of anxiety that you currently feel is my normal slow simmer of anxiety.

And right now, I’m just happy that we’re all on the same level.

Camp NaNoWriMo 2020 hit at a weird time. Here's how I'm making it work. Click To Tweet

So, I’m working on some projects and really enjoying myself.

But the work isn’t the hard part. It’s the balance that gets us.

And it’s with that in mind that I wanted to share some ideas about how to keep your mental and physical health in tip top shape as you navigate Camp NaNoWriMo this April.

I’m not a health professional, but I am someone who cares a great deal about work-life balance.

Camp NaNoWriMo 2020

How I’m Working

The first thing I recommend is not letting your to do list get out of control.

For many, this will be easy. I know a lot of people are on lockdown currently, and there are tons of businesses closed. (God, do I miss coffee shops right now.)

For me, I know I need to work on my two projects. And I know I need to edit video since I’ve been vlogging a lot during this time.

So, I keep that the focus of the day. There are other things that need to happen, but for the most part, I’ve prewritten blogs and everything else is kind of on autopilot right now.

Naturally, it won’t stay this way forever. I do have a lot of goals for the quarter, but in April, the writing goals are taking precedence.

I also make sure to give myself plenty of time to focus on what I want to focus on.

I start the day with some writing, host my community co-working livestream on YouTube, and then do some work in the afternoon.

But I’m not allowing myself to sit at my desk all day. I just know that’s a recipe for burn out.

What My Days Look Like

Because I’m trying to build up some good habits during this time, I’m making sure to prioritize me throughout all of this.

So, I wake up at 6:30 AM. I set the alarm on my phone, and my phone is in my office. That means I have to get out of bed to turn it off.

Once I’ve done that, I go into the living room and get a workout. I’m doing this 5 days a week, and taking weekends off.

After the workout, I wake up Rosie and feed her, and then let her out in the backyard to sniff every square inch. When she’s done, I let her in, and then hop in the shower.

After the shower, it’s coffee and writing time. And at 10 AM, I host the community co-working livestream.

From there, my day is a lot less structured.

After the livestream, it’s time for lunch. And after lunch, I’ll do a bit of work and then grab myself a nap. (I live for naps. I don’t care if people think they’re for babies.)

After my nap, I’ll do a little social media and some work.

And usually by six or seven, Chris and I are hanging on the couch and watching some TV.

Keeping this sort of schedule really helps me do what I need to do. Waking up at the same time and hosing the community co-working livestream has really enabled me to keep to a schedule.

And honestly, since I quit teaching, this is the most on-the-ball I’ve been.

Keeping a consistent schedule has helped me nail my writing goals. Click To Tweet

How I’m Taking Care of Me

And even though I’m going balls to the wall with my work right now, I’m making sure to take care of me.

I mentioned working out and naps, but I’m also trying to eat a lot better too. It’s strange, but this time has been great for habit building for me just because I can’t do anything that really disrupts them.

It’s not like I’m going off a diet to meet up for happy hour, or staying up super late while hanging with friends.

This has felt like the first time I’ve been able to be myself, and I really love it.

So when it comes to trying to be super productive, I know I need to do things that put me in a position to be super productive. That’s why taking care of me is important.

And I want to stress that I’m not doing anything out of the ordinary. I’m trying to watch the sugar I consume or the amount of caffeine I have after noon.

I’m taking naps when I want them, and I’m reading books that bring me joy. There are days off built into my schedule, and I’m making sure that I move as much as possible.

I don’t think taking care of yourself has to look a specific way. Some days, it means taking a nap with Rosie. Other days, it means watching a movie with Chris. Some days, it means working hard and taking advantage of a good mood.

It always means making myself do stuff that I don’t necessarily love, like eating veggies and working out, but know will make me feel a lot better in the long run.

What does your Camp NaNoWriMo daily schedule look like? Click To Tweet

What Does Camp NaNoWriMo 2020 Look Like for You?

What’s your daily schedule at this crazy time? How are you taking care of yourself? What does you day look like? How are you working these days?