Have you ever noticed droplets of water on the tips of a plant's leaves hours or days after you water it? My grandmother, a plant enthusiast, always said that was the plant's way of saying "thank you."

As you know, many plants drink water from the soil through their roots. At night, plants close the tiny pores on their leaves because they don't need to use much water for making food through photosynthesis.

Even with the pores closed, plants keep drinking water from the soil. This excess water has to go somewhere since it's not evaporating through the leaves like it does during the day.

To get rid of the extra water, some plants release droplets at the tips of their leaves. This process is called guttation (gutta is the Latin word for "drop"). Think of it like the plant sweating out the extra water it doesn’t need.

While seeing some droplets is normal, if you notice guttation too often, it could mean you're watering your plant too frequently. This can cause root rot, one of the quickest ways to kill a plant.

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Now, let's plant this lesson in the soil of our lives:

As a proofreader or editor, you "drink in" experiences. You might be working on proofreading or editing projects, communicating with clients, or creating marketing content for your business. Some of these experiences might overwhelm you due to their length, difficulty, or subject matter. Sometimes you need to let out some of that overwhelm to stay healthy.

Here are some tips for letting things go as a proofreader or editor:

• Release the extra: Sometimes we take on more projects, clients, or personal hobbies than we have the time or energy to sustain. Evaluate your schedule and consider letting go of some tasks or events that keep you from growing a successful life and business. You might also need to release discouraging client feedback, a file with disturbing subject matter, or a temporary financial setback. Like a plant that's watered too often, you might need to adjust something if you're stressed or overwhelmed.

• Know when to rest: At night, plants close up, and so do you when you sleep. Ever notice how sometimes after a good night's sleep or a relaxing moment, you feel a bit lighter? That's your version of "droplets." I recommend creating a consistent shutdown routine to help you rest well at night. You can read about digital sunset in this Instagram post.

• Maintain a healthy balance: Plants release just enough water to stay healthy. Similarly, we should release extra stress or emotions to stay mentally healthy. Finding balance in your emotional well-being is important. When you're feeling stressed, take a moment to consider why. Could you avoid that stress by adjusting your schedule, reducing your workload, or asking for help?

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The next time you see droplets of water on the tips of your plants, remember that evaluating your workload, finding balance, and taking breaks are ways to stay healthy and happy.

What other tips do you have for maintaining balance as a proofreader or editor and letting some things go?

To your success,
Julie from The Proofreader Greenhouse

P.S. If you'd like to read the other articles in The Watering Can, click here. 💦

The Importance of Letting Things Go: Lessons from My Houseplants