Work Habit Tips for NaNoWriMo: Get Moving. Stay Healthy.

write by erichhh (CC BY-SA 2.0)

November is here, which means fall is in the air and people all over the world are trying to write a novel in just one month! That’s right, November is National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo, for those in the know!)  You can even sign up as a young writer if you’re under 18!  The goal of NaNoWriMo is to get you to flex those creative muscles and really commit to a writing project.

Photo by: .reid.
Photo by: .reid.

Whether you’re swamped at school or just completed a big move to a new area, NaNoWriMo is a commitment that can fit into your schedule! But all that time spent hunched over your desk can teach you some bad habits! Here are some ideas to keep yourself in tip-top NaNoWriMo shape while you work at your desk!

NaNoWriMo Fitness

During NaNoWriMo (or any month, really!), the more you flex your creative muscles, the less you’re flexing all your other muscles! It’s important to remember your body whether you’re doing NaNoWriMo or cramming for a test. Before tackling NaNoWriMo or any other computer project, make sure you adjust your work space.

Photo by: Tomas Sobek
Photo by: Tomas Sobek

Yoga is a great way to keep the body flexible and the mind active. Try some of these poses you can do at your desk while you experience NaNoWriMo!  And if you get so caught up in NaNoWriMo that you forget, try these poses to undo the damage of NaNoWriMo or any desk job!

Photo by: jondejong
Photo by: jondejong

NaNoWriMo Hydration

Your first instinct while doing NaNoWriMo is to get a cup of coffee or a soda – anything full of energy giving caffeine! – and keep ‘em coming. But the truth is, all that caffeine is actually hurting your ability to focus, not helping it. Instead, pour a tall glass of water and keep your body hydrated. Water is the liquid that really fuels our bodies, increasing your thought process, creativity, and critical thinking skills for NaNoWriMo or any time of year! If you’re really desperate for some extra NaNoWriMo fuel, try some fresh fruit for a natural sugar rush!

NaNoWriMo Fun

Photo by: Muffet
Photo by: Muffet

It can be difficult to remember when we’re hard at work, but we should enjoy ourselves! Yes, work is work, but whether you’re studying for a midterm or trying to crack the last ten thousand words for your NaNoWriMo, it’s important to recharge your battery for a few minutes. Watch a single (one!) video on YouTube or spend five (only five!) minutes to play with your dog. Then get back to work, because no one will finish your NaNoWriMo for you, and there is nothing more fun at the end of November than a completed NaNoWriMo project!

Have you ever done NaNoWriMo before? What was your favorite NaNoWriMo project?