Giving Yourself Permission to Take a Break
Posted by annastan on June 28th, 2010. Filed under: WIP, Writing Rants.So I’m back from NYC, tired and rejuvenated at the same time. We did all kinds of fun things like biking around Central Park and watching the World Cup with a bar full of strangers. I didn’t write a word all weekend and you know what? That was absolutely fine. What’s funny is that ordinarily, if a couple days go by and I haven’t written, I start to feel really guilty. So I’ve been wondering what the difference is. Why did not writing this weekend feel okay?
I think it comes down to giving myself permission to take a break. Ordinarily when a couple days have gone by and I haven’t gotten any writing done, it’s because I’ve either been stuck (or procrastinating) or because real life has gotten in the way; whatever the reason, writing feels out of my control. But as we were heading out Friday morning, I was already in that mini-vacation mindset which meant it was okay to be unproductive. And as we walked around and people-watched and sweated (oh, the sweating) I didn’t feel guilty at all; instead, I felt inspired.
So next time I’m feeling guilty for not writing (which is what that little puppy is feeling, I’m sure), I need to remind myself that some breaks are actually deserved. Okay, now that I’ve gone on about how inspired I am, time to go write!
June 28th, 2010 at 8:04 am
What a cute pix! And yes, I think writing breaks are important to refuel and reinspire! I’m sorta taking one right now between writing projects, but I’m using it to study craft. Does that count as a break?
June 28th, 2010 at 8:19 am
My tutor is always reminding me of this! Strangely enough she seems to think I’m a bit of a workaholic. I keep assuring her this isn’t true. =)
Do you remember the buzz a couple of months ago about a study showing that experts practiced for 10000 hours? She said another part of that study showed that they also took breaks; they didn’t try to accomplish everything all at once.
All that is to say, yes, I think breaks are deserved, and also needed to recharge our creative sides.
June 28th, 2010 at 8:19 am
I think we do need to give ourselves permission to not write. It’s too easy to get into a rut of sorts, thinking we MUST be writing every hour of every day, otherwise we’ll be reported to the writing police. I think we forget to lighten up and let go. That’s the ultimate purpose of Julia Cameron’s artist’s date—just go do something fun, something you enjoy, to decompress and to fill up the well.
June 28th, 2010 at 9:35 am
Yup, permission is everything. So we need to be sure to give it to ourselves every now and then. If we don’t, we’ll end up taking the time we need anyway in a less healthy way, such as depletion, and feel guilty to boot.
June 28th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Good for you! But when you do take a break, stop by my blog, I have something for you.
June 28th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Definitely true. I’m on a “write every day” regimen, and that means novel work whenever it possibly can, but if I’m traveling, et cetera, journaling counts.
June 28th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
I just took a short break myself. Headed to the cabin at the lake for a nice weekend getaway. I didn’t write down anything, but my mind was creating new plots and characters. I’d like to think that was a little smidgeon of writing. Glad you enjoyed NYC!
June 28th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Laura, I think that counts as a writing break. Craft books always help me get inspired!
Anne, thanks for sharing the study info – that’s great to know!
Andrea, how have I still not read Julia Cameron’s book? It sounds perfect for my state of mind right now.
Marcia, that’s exactly right! And the guilt feels awful, doesn’t it?
Aw, thanks Lisa!
Hi Shoshana! I like to think journaling always counts (as long as it’s not simply procrastinating).
Catherine, isn’t it funny how active your mind gets when you stop trying to be creative? Sometimes I forget that!
June 28th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
I just came back from NYC too! It was my first time there. Had a blast!
I was there a week, without my kids, without much of a schedule, so I did get some editing and a couple of hours writing in.
But mostly checking out the city!
June 28th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
as always, love any dog picts. but puppies!
Breaks are good!!!!
June 29th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Perfectly awesome post!
June 29th, 2010 at 9:20 am
Kelly, it sounds like you had a fantastic trip. I hope you’ll get to go again one day!
Haha Terry, now that I have a dog, I’m even more excited to find cute animal pictures for my posts!
Aw, thanks Jon.
June 29th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
So glad that you had a great vacation! NYC was probably really fun.
I can’t wait to take a break myself…
And I want to take the puppy home with me.