In this series, editors share their experiences, insights, and tips on the practical aspects of working as an editor. In some of our previous “Editors Advise” instalments, our contributors have shared their thoughts on various topics, including advice for newer editors and language and style. For this edition, three editors share their experiences on mental health and editing.
Mental health is not exactly the first thing that comes up in conversations, and yet, it is an intrinsic part of our being. Our mental health experiences may affect our work, and vice versa. In this article, editors share their experiences with imposter syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and offer tips for dealing with the stress that comes with this profession. We thank them for being brave and vulnerable.
Sharon Cozens, freelance copy editor and writer
In a recent BoldFace interview, Sharon mentioned that she suffered from imposter syndrome. We asked her to tell us more about it.
Why is it that, as an editor, I sometimes feel like a fraud? I came to this profession later in life than most, after almost three decades working as a financial aid advisor at a community college. I think this fact may contribute to the periodic feeling that I don’t really know what I’m doing. However, I’ve received professional training, have practical experience, and continue to take courses and read books to improve and expand my skills. Subjectively, I’m confident that I have all the knowledge I need to be a good editor, and yet…
It turns out that this feeling has a name: imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is that inner voice that whispers (and sometimes shouts) in your ear that you’re no good at your job. It then goes further, making you believe it’s only a matter of time before your clients and fellow editors realize it too. As a result, having imposter syndrome can be a debilitating experience. It can undermine your self-esteem and self-confidence. You may shy away from taking on certain projects because you second-guess whether you have the skills to be successful.
I’ve spoken to a lot of other editors, including those who are more experienced than I am. What I found out, rather surprisingly, is that the phenomenon is fairly common within the editing community.
But what causes imposter syndrome? Researchers believe it may be linked to our upbringing and gender norms. Therefore, we may not have much control over whether or not we’ll experience imposter syndrome in our lifetime. However, given that the issue is so prevalent and can be so damaging, both personally and professionally, we need to find ways to manage its effects.
One of the first steps we can take to deal with the anxiety brought on by imposter syndrome is to recognize the problem. We have to acknowledge our feelings of inadequacy before we can move on to finding ways to counteract them.
We should be brave and share our thoughts and concerns with others in the community, as some of them may also feel incompetent or worry about their perceived lack of skills. Sharing our feelings can normalize them and enable us to collectively come up with various coping mechanisms.
Don’t forget to be kind to yourself. When you start feeling inadequate and overwhelmed, take a deep breath, step back, and take a realistic inventory of your skills. An honest self-assessment can help you recognize your strengths. You’ll likely realize that you actually know more than you’re giving yourself credit for. Experiencing imposter syndrome is relatively common and nothing to be ashamed of. We can educate ourselves and learn techniques to help counteract the effects of negative self-talk. Ideally, we will become better at channelling that negative energy in more positive ways.
Tara Avery, editor, writer, and coach
Tara mentioned that she has late-diagnosed ADHD in a BoldFace interview. We wanted to know how she experiences and deals with it.
One of the most misunderstood things about ADHD is right there in its name: “attention deficit.” The truth is, ADHDers often have a surplus of attention. When someone with ADHD is engrossed in a project or activity that interests them, having “enough” attention is the least of their concerns (remembering to eat, hydrate, and occasionally get up and move around, on the other hand…).
The deficit isn’t so much attention as the ability to reliably and consistently direct that attention, especially when the task at hand is boring, repetitive, or (seemingly) pointless.
Although I wasn’t diagnosed until my late thirties, I had chosen education and career paths (writing, editing, acting) that involved both novelty and personal interest. In the years since my diagnosis, I’ve refined my approach to how I work, when I work, and how much work I take on. Even with the help of medication, therapy, and a whole lot of research on the subject, I don’t want to downplay how much of a struggle this has been and continues to be.
As an editor, each new manuscript poses a fresh set of challenges and problems to solve; this satisfies my need for novelty and interesting work. And when I’m working on a project that’s really dragging or that I don’t love, I can take comfort in knowing it will soon be over.
My biggest struggle is time blindness. ADHD tends to come with a complicated relationship with time – as in, there are two modes: now and later, and only now really matters. This often leads to underestimating how long something will take and overestimating how much time is available. From there, it’s a very short ride to overcommitment, overwhelm, and burnout.
The now-and-later mentality also lends itself to an overreliance on deadlines, which releases the adrenaline that can push an ADHDer to superhuman feats of achievement to meet the later deadline that has abruptly shifted to now now now!
As much as I wish there were some magic system to mitigate these issues, I haven’t found it. The graveyard of abandoned planners reinforces this. Through a lot of trial and error, though, I’ve discovered some strategies that work for me:
- Body doubling. Sometimes I need to be in the same place (physically or virtually) with other people who are working to keep myself focused.
- Visual cues. “Out of sight, out of mind” takes on a whole new meaning with ADHD. So, I need to write out a daily task list on a calendar where I can actually see it. I can ignore digital notifications all day long, but I can’t hide from something right in front of me.
- Checking in with someone who knows my struggles. After one too many underestimations and overcommitments, I’ve learned to run things past my support network. (For example, my husband usually tells me to charge more, give myself more time, and say no. My therapist asks why I’m kinder to and more forgiving of others than I am to myself.)
The most important lesson I’ve learned is something that’s applicable to everyone: rest is a necessity, not a reward. In a society that praises the side hustle and values eternal busyness, it’s often difficult to feel as though I’m doing enough. And usually rest – whether emotional, physical, or spiritual – is the first thing sacrificed on the altar of productivity. It turns out all work and no play makes Tara a dull girl – or a burnt-out one at least. Rest and recreation must remain sacred, especially since it takes much longer to recover from burnout than to ask for a little extra time on a project.
Chloe Robinson, freelance literary editor
A while ago, Chloe published a relatable LinkedIn post on dealing with the emotional toll that editing can take on us. We asked her to share her tips and tricks for protecting our mental health.
These are a few mental health strategies that help me maintain balance:
- Set time limits and schedule breaks. I block out two- to four-hour editing sessions, with strict breaks every 30 to 45 minutes. Instead of scrolling through social media, I do something that gets me away from the screen – taking a walk, having a meal, or even just cuddling with my pets.
- Prioritize movement and sunlight. Daily movement is KEY! Whether it’s a workout or a short walk to run an errand, it always helps reset my mind. In the summer, I make a point to get outside as much as possible. Sunlight and natural light are essential for me!
- Consume light-hearted content. After an emotionally heavy session, I turn to uplifting or easy books, shows, or podcasts to help shift my mindset. My guilty pleasure is cheesy reality TV shows (thank you Bravo Network, haha). I don’t really have to think too hard while watching. It’s nice to switch off.
- Build buffer time into your schedule. I used to underestimate how long projects would take, leaving no room to reset. Now, I overestimate my hours so I can take two to three days off between (or even during) projects, if needed. This extra time prevents burnout and helps me return to work refreshed. It’s made all the difference.
For editors and creatives alike, our emotional energy is so valuable. My best advice is to protect it, and to give yourself grace.
This article was copy edited by Hazal Gurcan, a student at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto.
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