If there’s one characteristic writers share, it’s “hard-working.”
Most of us have day jobs and use our leisure time to work on our writing projects. Many of us have families we’re taking care of too—kids and sometimes aging parents—and it can seem like we have hardly a spare minute to breathe.
There are times when we’re completely exhausted, such as after a book launch, yet still thinking about how behind we are. We’re like marathon runners who get to the end of the race, take a few moments to catch our breath, and say, “Okay, what do I need to do next?”
It’s difficult and it can be dangerous, as it puts writers at risk of burnout and health problems. But just in case you’re thinking you’ve had it with all this hard work, I wanted to share with you something I learned that may help you feel better.
Turns out that according to research, hard work is a good thing…but only if you’re doing it right.
What’s Rewarding is Working Hard on Your Writing
Over a span of three years, researchers from Gothenburg University in Sweden studied what makes people happy.
They looked at all the published data on the question, including hundreds of interviews with people around the world, and found this: more than riches, love, and success, hard work made people happy.
More specifically, working hard to achieve a goal, more than attaining it, makes people feel happy and satisfied.
Achieving a goal did give people a temporary high, but it didn’t last. It was the process of working hard to reach that goal that was ultimately more fulfilling.
Lead researcher Dr. Bengt Bruelde noted that it’s the “staying active” that makes the difference. It was the most active people, mentally and physically, who got the most joy out of life.
“It may sound tempting to relax on a beach,” Dr. Bruelde said, “but if you do it for too long it stops being satisfying.”
From my experience, most writers desperately need to take time off to avoid burnout. Usually, we don’t get enough vacation time to balance out all the hard work we do. But the truth is that when we do get the time to stop for a while, once we’ve recovered, we want to get back to it.
“Striving to achieve something by work gives a purpose to life,” Dr. Bruelde said, “and that is the meaning of true happiness.”
The study results confirm what most writers often say after years of experience—that in the end, it’s the actual writing that makes them happy, even when it’s hard.
Sure, everyone loves good reviews, awards, and strong sales, but those provide only temporary highs.
It’s the steady work over a long period that brings us lasting good feelings.
Yet when we’re working toward these goals, they seem to be all we care about. Why then is the satisfaction we feel upon achieving them so fleeting?
Working Toward a Writing Goal is More Satisfying than Achieving It
There’s some research indicating that the way we feel when pursuing and achieving our goals may have something to do with dopamine, the neurotransmitter in the brain involved with rewards.
Scientists believe that dopamine is highly involved in motivating us to go after a goal. If you see a tasty piece of chocolate, a surge in dopamine is likely to motivate you to get your hands on that chocolate so you can enjoy the good taste.
Similarly, dopamine may be involved in motivating you to go after that publishing contract, writing contest award, or bestseller status. It continues to surge in your brain all the time you’re dreaming about this reward and working toward it, but once you actually receive the reward, the dopamine surges diminish, taking their good feelings along with them.
Psychologist Richard Davidson described two types of “positive affect” involved in motivation and goals. “Pre-goal attainment positive effect” refers to the brain’s production of good feelings while you’re working toward your goal. “Post-goal attainment positive effect” refers to those good feelings you enjoy when the prize is in your hands.
Though the range of good feelings experienced in both of these states varies depending on the individual, usually the brain relaxes or stops firing as many “good-mood” neurotransmitters once the goal is achieved. This is why you may feel a little deflated or disappointed once you win that contest or attain bestsellerdom.
As actor Jim Carrey so famously said, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”
It’s also why so many writers, once they’ve achieved one goal, dive nearly instantly back into working on the next one.
(Davidson warns, by the way, about how important it is to take time to celebrate and enjoy your accomplishments before tackling that next task. Read more about that in our post, “The Best Way to Ensure Long-Term Success as a Writer.”)
The Rewards of Hard Work Exist Only When You’re Using Your Strengths
There’s another part of the story on this study that’s worth mentioning.
According to BBC News, Averil Leimon, of the British Psychological Society, commented: “Hard work is satisfying, but only if it suits you. The work has to use a person’s strengths otherwise it can be demoralising. If it does, research has shown that the happiness is not even linked to the rewards that are on offer.”
In other words, if writing is your thing—if you feel that it helps you fulfill your life’s purpose—then you will continue to experience rewards from working hard at it, no matter what the outcomes of your efforts may be. But if writing is not your thing, you probably won’t experience those rewards. You’ll only end up at the finish line exhausted and deflated.
This is one of the reasons why I wrote Writer Get Noticed! It’s all about using your strengths to build a writing life that works for you. It’s not about the end goals—it’s about creating a life that is consistently rewarding because of the work you’re doing.
So make sure you’re using your strengths, not only in your writing but in your marketing as well. You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. Work hard at connecting with readers in your unique way, and you’ll be much happier.
Work Hard if Writing is Your Thing, but Take Time Off When Needed
Here’s what I take away from this research.
- Embrace the hard work: If you’re working hard as a writer and you know writing is your thing, stop worrying about sales and reviews and all the rest. Embrace the hard work. Realize that it matters to you and your life, and you’re following the right path. Go ahead and tire yourself out. In the end, it’s a good thing.
- Make sure writing is your thing: If you’re working hard as a writer and you’re not sure if writing is your thing, continue to identify your strengths and seek out your purpose. Meanwhile, don’t be afraid of hard work. It is much more likely to help you uncover your purpose than idleness.
- Celebrate your accomplishments: Few writers have groupies willing to put on parties for them when they achieve their goals. Usually, this is your responsibility. You may feel awkward creating celebrations for yourself, but if you want to keep going in this business over the long-term, you absolutely must! Get away for a few days, engage in that experience you’ve been wanting to try, reward yourself with a writing retreat, or something—don’t simply shrug off your accomplishments and join the next marathon. You and your brain need that positive reinforcement that celebration provides.
- Value your rest periods: A healthy writing life involves a repeating cycle of stress, rest, and reflection, and most writers shortchange themselves on the rest and reflection parts. These are critical to your long-term health and wellbeing, so after attaining every big writing goal, make sure you take the time you need to recover and reflect before jumping right back into the next goal. (Read more: “What Writers Need to do to Benefit from Stress.“)
How do you feel about the hard work of the writing life?
Sources
BBC NEWS Health: Why hard work makes people happy. (2006, January 3). Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4577392.stm
Chancellor, A. (2017, December 1). Alexander Chancellor: whistle while you work. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2006/jan/28/weekend.alexanderchancellor
Davidson, R. J. (1998). Affective Style and Affective Disorders: Perspectives from Affective Neuroscience. Cognition & Emotion, 12(3), 307-330. doi:10.1080/026999398379628
I enjoy the accomplishment of writing something that is worthwhile and helps others. My poems and the book I’m writing has been inspiring but challenging. My critique group suggested that I give my novel a rest and do other projects. I listened and now am re-doing poems and trying to write another. I suppose that is a way to obtain rest and yet have a goal in mind that activates my mind. Thanks for the article as it gives me hope that in the long run I’ll have the satisfaction and joy that I can achieve something worthwhile.
I’m sure you will have that satisfaction and joy, Kathy. I have noticed that I do seem to be more aware of it after writing for years–after going after all the goals and in the end, coming back to the writing itself and the rewards it brings. Switching up your projects can help when you run into a block for sure, and it’s neat that you are doing both prose and poems. I would also suggest making sure you’re following your own voice on your novel. Writing groups can be helpful, but depending on the quality of the feedback, can sometimes create confusion.