It’s Okay to Take Breaks

Has anyone else felt this?

You sit down to write after having been the most creative and productive you’ve ever been (or it felt like it anyway). Except, now, you don’t feel that way. It’s more than writer’s block. It’s that sense that you haven’t slept enough and your brain feels like mush. A nap is more inviting than looking at your book.

Okay, well, you try another method of creativity. A notebook, whiteboard, chalkboard, typewriter. But they have have the same result.

Nada. Damn… coffee would be great right about then.

What the heck happened? You were on a roll and now something feels like it’s rolled over you.

Yeah, that’s burnout.

What that is, my friend, is a classic case of burnout. If you’re like me… or like I was anyway… you just rode that wave of creativity and couldn’t believe how much you were getting done. And then it was just gone and all you want to do is take a nap when you sit in front of your computer.

So, how do you fix that?

Short term answer–a vacation. No, seriously, you just did probably two years of work in the span of a few months. Your brain is absolutely telling you to knock it off. Go do something other than write and take a damn break. Pick up a hobby that will not turn into a side hustle. Just do something for funsies.

And then, once you feel like the computer is again calling your name what you are going to do is, yes, go back to work. But instead of spending every single waking moment in front of however it is you create, you are going to pace yourself.

Again, yes, this is something I learned the hard way.

While this may not work for everyone, it does for me. And perhaps it might for you as well.

Now, I have a day job (or I should… did I mention I’m for hire right now?) so I have to pace myself around said day job (as a Data Analyst) as it does (usually) take up normal working hours. During those hours, as required by law, I take a lunch and two breaks. I do not work, even with writing, during these. My brain needs a break to decompress, refresh/recharge before going back to work. This is a proved fact. There’s a reason the Pomodoro Method exists.

After work, I also let my brain breathe and relax. I do my best thinking early in the morning (some would say obscenely early, but I come from a family of farmers, so that probably hints strongly on when I get up in the morning) right after I go for my morning walk, so I will do around an hour or two of writing or working on my writing right before work. I may sneak in a few minutes in my morning break but only to jot down an idea before I forget it.

In the interest of science, this is my typical weekday (*weekends are another issue)

• Up at 5:30am. Yes, you did read that correctly. I take a half hour to do some quick yoga or other stretches, have a quick bite to eat and my first cup of coffee, and then get dressed and go for a walk while enjoying my second cup of coffee. I come home, have a quick shower and get dressed for work.
• Around 6:30am: I log onto my computer and quickly catch up with emails, social media (no doom scroll, just what I can do in my social media hub to plan posts for the day – this is all writing related), check my store to see if I have to take care of shipping later, and work on my writing.
• 8:30am to around 4:30pm – typical work day, but it is flexible. I sneak in another walk at lunch. On my breaks and lunch, I usually read a book. Preferably fiction as I’m working hard during the day.
• After work: Supper, another quick walk to get some fresh air. Maybe some gardening. Catch up on homework as I’m also a student, if I haven’t finished it from the weekend. I usually do, so my evenings after dark are spent on the computer but this time gaming but twice a week I also use my home gym bike and lift weights, or I go to the Y.
• And then the same as everyone, but I usually am in bed by 10pm. I have a strict “no electronic devices” policy after 9pm, but I will read a book while in bed (and sometimes fall asleep with it on my face… book nerd problems, am I right?)
• Rinse, repeat.

Notice I do not spend every waking moment on work or writing. I used to but then I ran into the problem of being so mentally burnt out that I would go months, if not years, without being able to create. My brain was just mush. Reining it in has helped so much.

So, why am I posting this today?

Well, if I did it and wondered “what the heck happened to my creativity?!” then I know others do it too, and perhaps this may help restart things a bit.

You, yes you, I can see you staring at your computer (well, no I can’t, but you get my point) and wondering what happened to your creativity. You’re absolutely, 100%, allowed to take a break. You need it. You’re not a machine. Go outside. Go for a nap. Take a vacation. Take a break. That creativity will come back once you give yourself permission to take a break.