How I write even on a stressed week? (and how you can do the same)

Dec 06, 2024

This isn’t just about writing. If you don’t write, ok! But the tips I’m about to share apply to almost any kind of work — especially when you’re feeling stressed. Stay with me?

At this moment I’m writing in my room with a great view of the sky. It’s playing at the background, softly, Sunset Aglow by Edgar De Vries on Spotify.

I’m trying to calm down my mind to express myself without forget a word. The instrumental song relax my soul, while the birds do the vocals.

It’s moments like this that remind me to “make a pitstop”. Just like race cars, no matter how fast we go, we eventually need to stop, refuel, and prepare for the rest of the race.

That’s why I created Make a Pitstop — a space to refuel our minds, reflect on productivity and well-being.

I’ll share the tips and advices I’ve learned as a beginner in the art of writing. I’m writing these as if I were advicing myself — but feel free to follow along if it resonates with you.

Calm down to focus

Last week wasn’t the best of mines. My thoughts were messy, and the noise around me wasn’t helping. Yet, I still managed to write in my journal on Notion and finish the other newsletter.

How? By focusing, even when everything seemed chaotic.

Here’s what I did:

Played an instrumental song: Sounds obvious, right? But music without lyrics can calm our mind and reduce external distractions.
Accept what I couldn’t control: Construction sounds, traffic, or people at home might be unavoidable. Focus on what you can do despite the noise.
Commit to finishing: I had a task to complete, and that responsibility kept me grounded. If I didn’t post that newsletter I would lose consistancy and consequently, lose all the progress.

Transform reality into art.

My 2-step method for writing when stressed:

Describe what I see:
I started this newsletter by describing the view of the sky and the music playing. Those simple observations sparked ideas to continue. You don’t need the perfect topic to begin — start with what’s right in front of you.
Tell a story:
If you’re struggling to dive into a topic, use a personal story as an entry point. For example, imagine you’re writing about the importance of drinking water. You could begin like this:
When I was a kid, I drank too much soda.
I thought it could replace water, but my body felt weak, and I was constantly tired.
One day, when soda ran out, I started drinking more water.
Everything changed. I felt stronger and more energetic.
A story gives life to every writing, makes it relatable, and sets the stage for deeper insights.

Is it sufficient? Can I finish now?

Do you feel like your writings are not enough? Your job is not 100% done? Your day wasn’t that productive?

It’s okay not to be perfect

You don’t have to write the perfect text or finish a task in a perfect way every time. Sometimes, just starting and getting it done is enough. Progress over perfection.

Your writing, your work, and your ideas are living things. They grow, evolve, and improve over time. The goal isn’t to be flawless today — it’s to be better tomorrow.

So next time you feel stuck, try these steps: