The Siren Call of Weariness by Steph Beth Nickel

March 2020 was a month like none other. Tell you something you don’t know.

At first, I was thankful for fewer responsibilities. But that gave way to the surreal—and the weariness. I didn’t feel depressed, at least not in the traditional sense. However, I slept far more than usual, a sure sign that the situation was taking its toll.

Kudos to all my fellow creatives who cranked up the productivity now that they had more time at home! Although it appeared my situation made increased productivity possible, my emotional wellbeing didn’t.

Many of those who have contracted the virus refer to the resulting inability to think clearly. I believe there is also an indirect COVID fog, the siren call of weariness. “If you sleep, you don’t have to think about what’s going on in the world. After all, what can you do about it? You might as well watch Netflix until you drift off.”

And I did. And I still do.

But I’m trying to do better. Creating a manageable To-Do List. Prioritizing my tasks and seeking to accomplish the most important things on that list. Mentally celebrating each checkmark in my planner.

I’ve read very little in the last 24 months. After all, it takes more effort than rewatching all the movies in the MCU in chronological order. (Yes, my hubby and I did that. But at least I didn’t nod off—not too often at any rate.)

Even when I’ve gotten enough sleep, my couch and cozy blanket still beckon. The overwhelm of my responsibilities and the things I want to accomplish gets stuffed into a proverbial drawer. I’m afraid to open it even a crack for fear that all the To-Do’s will fly out and bury me. So. I. Do. Nothing.

Or…

I do one thing on the list and then celebrate—by vegging on the couch for hours. While I’m all for celebrating every step on the journey no matter how small, I have to keep making progress—slow, incremental progress.

I can do so by participating in the spiritual disciplines of scripture reading and prayer, by exercising and eating more healthy foods, by focusing on others and seeking to come alongside them. And so much more.

If you deal with PTSD, clinical depression, panic attacks… If you’ve suffered from physical illness and/or lost someone during the pandemic… If you’re trying to keep your head above water financially… Know that I realize my situation pales in comparison.

While I’d like to say, “I see you,” it’s much more meaningful to direct you to the God of All Comfort, the One who knows everything about you and can meet your every need, the One who can work everything out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose—even during COVID. (See Romans 8:28.)

If you’ve succumbed to the siren call of weariness, know you’re not alone—and know all of God’s promises are Yes and Amen!

Steph Beth Nickel is a freelance editor, a writer, and an author. Steph is also the editor of InScribe's quarterly magazine, FellowScript.

Remembering Something New by Steph Beth Nickel

When you’re reading, do you ever stop, look back, and think, “Wow! That’s life-changing”?

That happened to me recently while I was reading Creating a Fit Life. In the introduction the author says, “We are doing too much sitting as creatives, and it’s actually not helping us be more creative. By living sedentary lifestyles, we are actually welcoming a plague called unhealthiness into our lives. It will make us unhappy, unfit, and overweight. Have you ever felt this way? If so, it can be changed. You can become a better you … It’s worth it because how can you create your best art when you aren’t your best in body or soul?”

As a former personal trainer, I know many reasons why it’s important to eat well and be active, but I had never equated creativity with fitness. And like many people, I’ve listened to those nagging voices in my head. “You don’t have time to exercise and prepare healthy meals.” “Besides, you don’t really want to.” “It’s selfish—ungodly even—to take time away from other projects to work out.”

Believe me, I know how lame these excuses are—especially when I see them in print, but there they are.

Those little voices in our head may be “little.” They may whisper. But boy, do they pack a wallop if we give them our attention!

How can we silence these voices? Let’s consider the following. (Call them truths, affirmations, pipe dreams. You choose.)

1. God made me to function most efficiently when I am healthy.

2. Becoming fit is not a selfish goal.

3. I can set a good example for others by tending to my health.

4. I will be more creative when I look after my physical well-being.

5. My productivity level will soar if I exercise and eat well.

6. I will actually get more done in less time if I take the time to tend to my health.

And why did I call today’s post “Remembering Something New”? Well, on some level I knew regular exercise and healthy eating would boost my creativity. This just may be the motivator I need to do better.

How about you? Have you ever considered that tending to your physical health could actually help you be more creative? What are you doing to avoid “the plague of unhealthiness”? How is it influencing your creativity and productivity?

One final word . . . I realize you may be dealing with a physical condition that cannot be overcome simply by exercising and eating well, but doing what we can in this area, almost always lessens the effects. NOTE: Everyone should seek a doctor’s advice before changing their exercise routine.