Writing and Burn OUT

I've said this to quite a number of people, but I've had it shoved into my face that I need to practice what I preach...namely take breaks.

I've been working so hard on doing the edits that I burned out. Kaputz. I've warned my CP partner, other twitter friends, anyone who says they're having a hard time. I say to these wonderful people, maybe you need a REAL break.

What do I mean by that? I don't mean a break networking, or socializing for your book or writing your blog, or doing housework (unless that unlikely chore will help bring your stress level down), or doing your taxes. I mean a BREAK.

do something that you enjoy. Talk to friends on twitter cuz you can. Play hearts online. Go see a family member. Do a hobby. Go Exercise. I'm not the only writer who knows you need to exercise, but I think we forget! Something I was doing and fell out of the habit was stopping writing every half hour to hour, depending on the flow, and getting up and cleaning. I picked up stuff the children had made a mess of, started a load of laundry, watered plants, etc. It's been harder since homeschooling since I'm already stopping every five minutes to either help them or referee or make them work.

After my daughter was hospitalized, I completely fell out of the habit. I was just too exhausted. Plus, I wasn't doing much else. I wrote, I edited, I cleaned, I played with the kids a little and I stressed. I didn't take time for me.

I opened an Etsy shop to help bring money in cuz things are so tight. This has forced me to do a little bit of artistic things, but not a lot. Photoshopping some of my photos has helped, then I started making bookmarks. I had to design them. Find the paper, find stickers/punches, make tassels, decide on beads all kinds of things. I even have done a little drawing on a couple. All of the sudden I remembered.

"Oh yeah, take a break, stupid!" I'm creative in a lot of ways. I paint, I draw (not my strong suite!), I scrapbook, I sew, I crochet, I crossstitch. Now you will notice something there--a lot of I's. They were left there on purpose. Remember to take care of you--not just everyone else. I can do a lot, but I wasn't doing anything for "I" that relieved my stress.

Plus, something I've learned over the last year or so is that if I exclusively work on one artistic skill to the exclusion of all others for too long, I will lose it. Temporarily to be sure. But my mind will shut down.

For instance: I've done a LOT of plays. I've been in them, helped build sets, and I've made so many costumes that I get woozy thinking about it. When it gets time for dress rehearsal, I'm usually trying to frantically finish them up since I usually don't have enough time from purchasing of material until day it starts. Anyway, if I spend weeks only sewing in between doing quickie no brainer meals, and do little to no writing, I will start making mistakes in my sewing, get headaches and be unable to do easy problem solve things. I apparently need to do the variety of projects to feed all parts of my brain!

Another instance: Recently, between daughter's illness, homeschooling, children's regression issues, potty training and being unable to find my meds, writing has been a grab and go. I've been printing and laminating for etsy but not doing a whole lot on the creative end until recently. All of the writing I've been doing plus the following edits, I've not left time to do any other projects. And my brain shut down.

So, I'm fixing that. I'm getting my exercise cleaning house and doing yard work. Taking my damned meds (I take thyroid meds. I had both thyroids removed from cancer so have to have them to function. Believe me when I say not finding my meds even for a day can be a major focusing issue!) and making time to do other things.

I made more bookmarks, crocheted a couple of washcloths, have more to make, and I'm going to work on more writing skills. All of these things so I can continue to write and do the work.

Writing is a job. Like any job, you need to take breaks from it. 15 min. Eat. Stretch, do more than one aspect, like the social networking, blogging, as well as the editing and writing. And most importantly. Don't forget to take whole days off. Days where your mind and body can rest.

Now don't let those days turn into weeks (unless it's a planned vacation LOL) and don't be lazy. Do your goals and what you want. You want to write five days a week, then do it. It's your goals and your dreams, just be sure that you take care of yourself. You'll be surprised at how rejuvenating even getting out to pull some weeds and plant some tomatoes can be. :D

Gimme a Break

I took yesterday off and boy do I feel guilty. But I also feel rejuvenated. I have to run errands today before my husband takes the car, but all I want to do is sit down and write. As physically sore and tired as I am, my mind is ready to write the next installment. I'm also ready to finish my edits.

My super uber awesome Critique Partner has been patient with me as I deal with sickness, children and remodeling. I've only written just under 7k this week. I should have been about 10 or more by now. I will be making that up tonight when my husband goes to work.

Sometimes, in life, whether it's mothering, working, writing, remodeling, you have to have a break. A sick break doesn't count because your mind and body is busy fixing that. I mean a real break.

My goal in this blog is to help encourage others who are working, or full time moms or have other responsibilities that make it hard to find the time to do what you love--namely write. It can be applied to all things, but that's my focus here. But what happens to your writing when you don't--or can't-- take breaks? Also, what should you do on these breaks?

Number one thing you need to do is drink lots of fluids. It's easy to get caught up in your writing and forget to drink. Lot's of peeps drink caffeine, I am the caffeine high priestess so that's okay, but don't forget to drink other liquids.

Number two is exercise. This envigorates the mind. I'm bad about this one. Right now I'm doing fine because I have lots of physical housework to do. But I don't live in an area where I can pop up and take a good walk. So I have to be more creative. May have to invest in a Wii or kinect.

Number three eat. Sounds funny in a way, but your brain uses up carbohydrates as much as your muscles do. Healthy snacks and meals are the best thing for your mind.

Number four socialize. I can almost hear your minds coming to a screeching halt at this one. But let's think about this. You need to stay up on current events. Maybe not as informed as a news anchor or anything, but find a way to stay connected.

Recently there were earthquakes in New Zealand. Pretty serious ones. I have a few friends over there. I popped onto twitter and bugged the heck out of them until they popped up and said I'm fine. One person's house was damaged. Also, although I missed this, one was also looking for his fiance. My other twitter friends did catch it and retweeted for him. That's the awesomeness of the writing community at work there!

And then there's encouragement. If that chapter 6 (hehe hi Tina Lynn)is really chomping your hide, you can get on and commiserate with hundreds of other writers who understand your frustration. If you've conquered that chapter six that's been giving you hell, plenty of good for you's to be had.

Then there's the business end of getting social. Developing your brand. There's a hundred thousand rules to this and I'm probably breaking them all. LOL just do your best and keep going. As I stated here and as you can see under my title, my blog is not only about my journey as a writer, but as a mother. I hear a lot of people who say they can't find the time, but they want to.

If you don't take a break your writing suffers. Pacing, characterization, word choices, all of it is influenced by how tired your brain is. I know it's hard to find time to write, much less take a break, but you need to.

This blog is supposed to help them find the time and encouragement even as their emotions and responsibilities take them in a hundred directions. But that's my hook, so to speak. That's what makes my blog different and stand out. Hopefully better than a sore thumb!

So give yourself permission to take breaks now and then. You may find that you're better, faster, more creative and enjoying yourself again.


PS One word of caution... Taking a break is not an euphimism for stopping. Putting it off cuz you're afraid, or making excuses. Be honest with yourself. If you find yourself slipping out of the habit of writing ruthlessly get your arse back in the chair and do something!!