Let me just go ahead and say it—being tired is a lifestyle for most of us. Whether it’s the kind of tired that comes from working a full-time job, raising babies, managing a household, dealing with chronic illness, or all of the above (hello, that was me), it’s a whole miracle when we even think about writing, let alone sit down to do it.
So if you’ve ever whispered to yourself, “I want to write, but I’m just too tired,” I get it. Truly. But I also want to challenge you—gently, lovingly, and maybe with a side-eye—to do it anyway. Because tired or not, your voice matters.
I Was Tired Then—and I’m Still Tired Now
Back in the day, I had what I called my “good government job.” You know, the kind with a steady paycheck, a little PTO, and a whole lot of paperwork. I was also a single mama for 12 years before becoming a wife. I cooked, cleaned, ran errands, stayed up all night when my son had a fever, and somehow still showed up to work the next morning like everything was fine.
During that time, writing often sat in the backseat. Not because I didn’t want to write—I did. Badly. But by the time the day was done, I barely had the energy to spell my own name. You know how many nights I fell asleep with a notebook in my lap? Too many to count.
Fast forward to now—retired, but wrestling with my MS body that doesn’t always want to cooperate. Some mornings I wake up and feel like I’ve already lived three lives before I even brush my teeth. But still, I write. Not always perfectly, not always at length—but consistently.
If You Want to Write, You Have to Make It Happen
I’m not here to hand you a productivity planner and tell you to “just do it.” Life doesn’t work like that. But if writing is something that tugs at your spirit—if it whispers to you in quiet moments, or taps you on the shoulder when you’re trying to sleep—you owe it to yourself to make room for it.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- You don’t need hours. Sometimes 10 minutes is enough. That’s enough time to jot down a few lines, an idea, or a title you want to revisit later. It all adds up.
- Write tired. Write through the fog. Write when your back hurts. Write when your eyes are heavy. Not because you have to—but because you get to. That small act of resistance—of showing up for yourself—means more than you know.
- Make it fit your life, not the other way around. You don’t need a perfect morning routine or a cabin in the woods. You need a note-taking app, a napkin, a voice memo, or that old notebook in your bag or backpack. Use what you have.
You’re Not Lazy—You’re Human
Let me be clear: this isn’t about hustle culture. This is about honoring the part of you that wants more. You’re not lazy because you’re exhausted. You’re not a failure because you haven’t written your book yet. Life is a lot. But you can still carve out space for your dreams.
And if today isn’t the day you write? That’s okay too. Rest is part of the process. Give yourself grace. But come back to it tomorrow. Or the next day. Just don’t let go of it completely.
Writing Is Worth the Fight
For me, writing has been a lifeline. It’s how I process, how I pray, how I protest, how I praise. It’s the way I turn pain into purpose, confusion into clarity, and tiredness into testimony.
So yes, I’m tired. You might be too. But writing is still worth it. And so are you.
