Last month, I gave myself a break. A break from writing, that is.
I didn’t stop the word flow entirely, mind you. I kept up with a fiction project. But normally I also turn out two nonfiction stories every single month. For once, I listened to myself. I stopped pushing to “keep up the pace.” I let myself take a break.
Have you been feeling overwhelmed in your writing? What’s the best way to know when it’s time to keep pushing toward a writing goal, and when it’s time to slow down?
Here are three ways you might check in with yourself:
- How close are you to the end? If you’re three days or three paragraphs away from completing your project, it’s probably a good idea to hunker down and push through. But if you’re mid-way along a five-year trajectory – hey, take a break. Celebrate an interim milestone, and let your batteries recharge a little before you continue.
- How badly will you feel if you stop writing for a while? If even thinking about taking a few days off makes you miserable, heck, there’s your answer. Keep writing!
- Does something inside go “ahhh!” when you imagine a break? That’s when I knew it was time to quit pushing. I certainly wasn’t ready to quit writing forever. But exhaustion had set in. Honor that gut response that says it’s time for a rest.
Where are you in your writing journey? Would a short break help you recharge?
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