There are many wonderful things about working in the modern era – quick communication, the ability to connect with people all over the world anytime, a more flexible work life for some of us. The down-side, at least for me, is never shutting down completely. I can get emails on the weekends and in the evenings. I can work off my laptop from an airplane, a hotel room, or my bed. This is both freeing and exhausting.
Every job comes with some vacation time as part of the deal. Everyone recognizes the need to step away and make time for activities outside our professional life. We can set our email with an “I’m out of the office” auto-response. We can turn our smartphones to airplane mode. We can lounge on a beach chair with a cocktail, laptop safely stashed in a hotel room. But when I’m creating something, I’m often in the zone, so to speak, and I don’t want to shut down completely. I’ve learned that taking a break as a creative type often looks and feels a little different than taking a vacation from other jobs.
I’ve had to consider what I need to do in order to feel refreshed and energized in my writing life. Occasionally, it is a few days away unplugged with no thought to deadlines, edits, or my work in progress. More often than not though, the thought of stepping away completely is stressful.
I’ve learned that taking a break doesn’t have to mean doing nothing. Sometimes I’m exhausted from one particular project, and turning my attention to something fresh is just the change of pace I need to feel the creativity flow again. For example, if I’ve just finished a full-length novel, I might write a short story in a different genre. If I’m heavy into edits, I might play around with an outline for a new novel. Some parts of the writing process are themselves rejuvenating and nourishing.
When I’m actually on a vacation, like away from my house with a little umbrella drink in hand, it’s a pleasure to find writing time by the pool in the morning or out on the deck in the afternoon. The change of scenery feeds my imagination. The long days, with only the sunshine and a story swirling in my head, feel luxurious. I want to write. It’s joyful under these conditions.
Sometimes, reading, enjoying a good television series, watching a movie, or attending another author’s book signing all provide opportunities for me to take a break from my own work and renew myself with someone else’s. Taking a break these days really means finding a way to refresh, recharge, and rejuvenate myself. There’s no right way to do that, only the way that works in the moment.
IN OTHER NEWS:
My alter ego, Maggie Clare, has a new book coming out tomorrow. If romantic suspense is your thing, check out Moving Target!
If you’d like signed copies of my books, you can order them through my websites: tabithalordauthor.com or ms.maggieclare.com.
I’m available for book club events and other speaking engagements. Feel free to reach out!