The perks of a creative break

Bordering on creative burnout? Feel like your head might just pop right off your neck and you may never have an original thought again? You may be in need of a creative break, my friend.

A few days, a weekend, heck, even a whole month. Sometimes the best way to tackle a slump in creativity is to step away from it all together. And sure, that can be hard when there are looming deadlines (maybe just a weekend away from it then) but sometimes it’s what’s needed.

I like to schedule regular creative breaks between projects or rounds of edits. Having some time away from the desk allows my head space to breathe. It lets me catch up on all of those niggling tasks that have been lumped in the to-do drawer at the back of my brain that I’ve been putting off. Then at least when I do dive back into the next project, they won’t be hanging over my head distracting me.

It also means that I get to do more of the other things I love like volunteering on excursions with my kids’ school or eating dinner with my husband rather than my laptop. It’s all about getting some balance. Trying to even out the crazy months of writing with a little down time and allowing you to re-fill your cup so to speak (no, not with wine either).

Breaks can give you a boost when you’re in a slump. They offer that little kick up the behind and provide that new zeal for the next phase. And sometimes there’s even the added perk of luring the muse in to visit when you have some time off. Then hey presto, that plot problem you had is suddenly solved (thank you subconscious!).

So, go on, consolidate your super and book that skin check or do any of the other ho-hum tasks that will keep your mind from the page. Enjoy binging The Crown, sleeping on clean sheets or any other task you just don’t have time for when you’re writing.

And, most importantly, don’t feel guilty!

Photo credit: Angelo Pantazis via Unsplash