How to remain sane as a copywriter ...

Have you ever given blood?

Well, writing sales letters all day is just that--giving a part of
yourself to another human being, all in the name of persuasion.

When I've completed a sales letter, I can feel a part of my soul
leaving with that email saying, "Your letter is now completed."
And I know I only have so much of my 'soul' to give before I
would need to be refilled.

As a copywriter I've seen how my mental health and well being
affects conversions. Yes, if I'm in a bad mood or depressed when
I'm writing copy, then it always shows in the final results.
That's why it's so important for copywriters to find ways to
refresh their souls and know how to manage daily stresses.

Copywriting is a mentally taxing job and you cannot keep giving
without getting. (This applies to more than your fees.) Here are
some ways I try to stay healthy, motivated and alert for each new
assignment.

1. I eat simple foods. 'Simple' here means as natural as
possible. So for breakfast I use oatmeal (baked as granola) with
raisins, pecans and almonds. Some soymilk top off that daily
manna. The so-called junk foods are full of flavors but lack
nutritional value. My best advice: stay away!

2. I exercise regularly. In the Florida heat there's no better
way to exercise than swimming. So for at least 30 minutes, 6 days
per week I'll swim after a hard day. I also find that this
improves my sleep as well. Which brings me to the next point.

3. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep nightly. I try to go to sleep
before midnight and get at least 7 hours of solid rest. No
stimulants, such as the popular caffeine, go in this body. Those
who use coffee to wake them are only borrowing from future
deposits that wouldn't be available when they really need it. So
I've NEVER had a cup of coffee in my life! (I know, hard to
imagine!)

4. Take time for yourself. Some may call this meditation,
relaxation or whatever name you attach to it--you need time to
hear yourself think. As I like to tell my wife, even diesel
trucks break down and so would any human body that doesn't rest.
So listen to some music, a babbling brook, the song of the birds
... waste some time.

5. Spend time with the family or significant others. No one ever
regretted that they spent too much time with their families, but
they do about long hours at the office. Ask yourself, "What am I
working for in the first place?"

6. Stop watching the nightly news! The news is made up of 30
minutes of all that's wrong in the world. Who needs that kind of
mental diet? Try fasting from the news for at least 30 days and see
what difference this makes in your outlook on life.

7. Contribute to a cause higher than yourself. My basic worldview
is shaped by a Judeo-Christian philosophy, so I see myself as
part of a higher cause and responsible to my fellow earthly
inhabitants. If you work just to fill your coffers you'll soon
find your coffers full and your soul empty.

I've lived long enough to know that my personal happiness is 1%
what happens to me and 99% of my attitude about what happens to
me. Therefore, I try and cultivate a positive spirit. And anytime
I want to complain about how the whole world has turned against
me, I watch a holocaust documentary and suddenly realize I'm
among the most blessed people on earth.

Talk about an attitude adjuster!

-Ray Edwards