A while back, I did an interview about creativity, and I talked about meditation and exercise. I also talked about a few other things like journaling, play, and being disciplined about a schedule.

For writers, you might think meditation is going to be the number one recommendation to prime the pump. On the other hand, if you’re a naturally active person, you might favor exercise – especially if your mind is always very active, too.

Here’s the good news…and the bad as well. You really need both.

But WHY?

I’ve worked with a few writers who had a bit of a weight issue, and it very well may have affected their ability to create great content on a consistent basis. Maybe they were good at meditation, but they definitely weren’t exercising in an effective manner. Over time, the health problems that often accompany obesity can have a devastating impact on cognitive abilities as well as one’s physical health.

On the other hand, all exercise all the time doesn’t really lend itself to creative thinking, either. One of our greatest filmmakers, the utterly, uniquely bizarre David Lynch, is a big proponent of transcendental meditation. Says Lynch, “It has given me effortless access to unlimited reserves of energy, creativity and happiness deep within.”

In fact, he created his own foundation (called, appropriately enough, the David Lynch Foundation) to teach meditation to children and adults around the world.

Why is meditation important for writers? Because it’s important for mental, emotional, and spiritual health. And if you can tap into your creativity from a place of relaxation and happiness, isn’t that better than the miserable drunk place?

Feel free to let me know in the comments section what you like to do to keep your creativity going, whether it’s meditation, exercise, or both – or something else altogether!