I'm about to open reviewer comments that tanked my book manuscript at my dream press. What are your best self-care tips?

Before you click that file, treat the experience like a physical workout. Don’t open the document at your desk or while you are already feeling drained. Instead, print the comments out, grab a highlighter, and go to a neutral space like a park or a coffee shop. Having a physical copy allows you to step away from the screen, which keeps the feedback from feeling like it is invading your personal workspace. When you start reading, keep a blank notebook nearby. Your goal isn't to fix anything yet; it is simply to categorize the feedback. Label one page for "actionable edits" and another for "subjective preferences." Often, we conflate a reviewer’s personal taste with a fundamental flaw in our research. Separating these into different columns helps you see that not every critique is a verdict on your competence. Finally, give yourself a hard deadline for when you stop thinking about the comments for the day. Once you have read through them, close the folder and do something entirely unrelated to writing, like cooking or exercise. You need to let your brain process the information in the background without forcing a reaction. You are a researcher, not just the manuscript you wrote.