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Writers of all experience levels understand how important it is to cultivate a comfortable space in which to work, free from distractions. In many cases, we also form habits that are integrated into our writing routine. The writing process itself is highly individualized, and writers throughout history have developed their own rituals in order to foster the necessary creative mindset.
For instance, Jane Austen practiced the piano every day before sitting down at her writing desk, and novelist Haruki Murakami spends his mornings in writing mode for several hours, followed by a period of intense exercise. No matter the strength of a writer’s daily ritual, however, getting an adequate amount of sleep may be just as imperative to the creative process.
While the exact purpose of sleep is unclear, we writers are well aware of the consequences that can result from lack of sleep. Have you ever experienced a bout of writer’s block after a night of tossing and turning? Or missed a deadline after pulling an all-nighter? Rest assured that you’re not alone, especially among your fellow writers.
Sleep is connected to writing in a number of ways, and you can take advantage of the numerous perks that come with feeling well-rested. Let’s explore how getting proper sleep can improve your writing, help fuel creativity, and make you healthier overall.
How Sleep and Creativity are Connected
No matter if you’re a print journalist, poet, novelist, or all of the above, creativity comes with the territory. A creative spark is what fuels story ideas, helps build complex, relatable characters, and ultimately keeps readers engaged. Even better, scientific data proves that creativity is beneficial to our mental and physical health.
Medical News Today reports that writing can help us work through trauma, better express emotions, and even improve our memory. But sleep gives our memories and overall brain health a much more significant boost, according to scientists. Specifically, types of brain waves known as sleep spindles adapt and reorganize as we sleep, forming new neural connections. Sleep spindles are active during stage two NREM, the transitional phase where light sleep becomes deeper.
Sleeping, Dreaming, and Writing
During an average night of sleep, the second and third stages of NREM are followed by REM sleep, which is associated with dreaming. Dreams have fueled countless stories and poems throughout history, making the ability to dream an essential tool for writers. Persistent nightmares were the source of many poems by Edgar Allan Poe, for example, and dreams helped form the basis of Stephen King’s 2001 novel Dreamcatcher, according to Huffpost.
If you’re interested in mining your dreams for writing ideas, deep sleep is essential. If you don’t reach the REM stage, you won’t have any dreams to use for inspiration. It’s also a good idea to keep a dream journal on your bedside table, so you can record your dreams before they’re forgotten.
The ability to dream and improved creativity aren’t the only benefits you’ll get from a proper night’s sleep. Sleep experts report that lack of sleep can lead to depression, weight gain, and other health problems. Further, sleep gives your body the time it needs to repair itself, and daily life can take a hefty toll on your body.
With all the benefits that come from regular, deep sleep, it’s in every writer’s best interest to prioritize sleep. Poor health can be detrimental to the writing process, and you need to be on top of your game in order to produce quality work. And taking shortcuts when it comes to sleep, such as trying to get by on just a few hours or re-fueling with caffeine, typically doesn’t cut it.
Methods of Combating Insomnia
It’s somewhat of a cliché, to be sure, but writers with poor sleeping habits often rely on coffee to keep them going. But our go-to “writing fuel” isn’t the healthiest way to fight against sleep deprivation. In fact, the high caffeine content found in traditional coffee beverages can increase blood pressure, as well as nervousness and anxiety.
To stay awake and alert as you compose your most recent masterpiece, getting adequate sleep is a much healthier method than caffeine intake. And on those nights when your brain is so active that you can’t seem to fall asleep, there are several natural, over-the-counter remedies that may promote sleepiness. Melatonin, for example, is a hormonal supplement that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle. For writers, the benefits of melatonin may be twofold: Melatonin leads to REM sleep, which offers you more chances to dream and harvest writing ideas from those lucid dreams.
Some writers have also been able to curb insomnia and reduce sleepless nights with help from CBD, a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. When taken shortly before bed, CBD has been shown to reduce chronic sleep issues, without the side effects of pharmaceutical sleep aids, such as grogginess and decreased energy levels. CBD is available as an oil, and is typically ingested sublingually — that is, held under the tongue for a few moments, and then swallowed.
Final Thoughts
If you’re not getting enough sleep, you may find your creative juices waning, which can lead to writer’s block and stalled projects. Additionally, poor sleep habits are linked to a variety of health problems, from depression to obesity. In order to produce high-quality work on a consistent basis, without burning out, sleep should become an integral part of your writing process.
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