Writing is my canary bird

Canaries were used in mines from the late 1800s to detect gases, such as carbon monoxide. The gas is deadly to humans and canaries alike in large quantities, but canaries are much more sensitive to small amounts of the gas, and so will react more quickly than humans.

from The Science and Industry Museum

Canary bird has since become a term to signify early warning signs.

For me and my general health and well-being, writing is my canary bird.

When my mind gets all bogged down or I start to have issues with my well-being (becoming sick, not sleeping well, etc), I’ve noticed that my creativity and ability to write my notes, daily journals or these blog posts is among the first things to starts to fail.

It may have always been the case but only recently my writing habits have been such that the signs have become obvious. Before, it would have been difficult to differentiate between a slump in writing and having issues.

Since life is all ups and downs and there will never be a year without issues, to keep up with my regular blogging schedule, I aim to write into a blog buffer and distribute the planning and research over a longer period of time so I would always have material from which to write when inspiration is gone and creativity is down.

This year, I’ve had two or three moments when I’ve struggled to write (more than usual). In April, I was very sick for two weeks, in early fall I struggled after being back to unemployed and the beginning of the darkness of the winter got me down real hard.

I’ve learned to use this canary bird of mine: when I start noticing my struggles with creativity, I know I need to change something in my life because it’s not just about creativity, it’s about my well-being.