Oi, you! Yes, you! 🙂
No, the title is not a typo. In this blog post, I’ll be exploring the reasons taking a break from writing is good for your writing. Let me explain…
As someone who knows all too well what it’s like to suffer the exhaustion of burnout, I’m also someone who has learned the hard way that taking a break is essential.
Burnout is different to writer’s block.
While writer’s block tends to be an issue of summoning ideas to the page, burnout is an all-encompassing feeling of weariness that takes hold of every aspect of your life.
It’s totally understandable if you’re daunted by the thought of taking a break from your writing. What if another author publishes a book that’s just like yours before yours is ready? How could you ever forgive yourself if you missed out on the chance to leave your miserable full-time job to become an author because you lost momentum and never picked up the (metaphorical) pen again? Stop. Please. For the love of all that’s literary.
I get it. Overthinking and self-imposed pressure can combine to become the fuel for your writing stints when there’s nothing left in the tank, but it’s essential to take a break before you feel like this. So, when things start to feel ‘heavy’, you don’t look forward to your writing time anymore, or you’re noticing your stress levels begin to rise, put that pen down and step away from the laptop. Your manuscript will still be there for you whenever you’re ready to return to it. Promise.
[Please note – If writing is your only source of income and taking a break isn’t an option, please contact a GP or qualified therapist for support as soon as you can.]
While taking a break from writing, you could refill your inspiration tank and reenergise yourself by:
- Spending time in nature. This one may seem clichéd, but we are biological beings who thrive on connection, after all. When you go for a walk, pay attention to the details with as much focus as if you were meditating.
- Listen to the sounds of leaves being rustled by a passing breeze, or the cheerful chirping of birds who are excited to be alive.
- Pause for a moment to allow your eyes to take in the majesty of trees that have been standing since long before you walked the Earth, or to watch that squirrel darting across nearby branches with gymnastic ease.
- Close your eyes to feel the sunlight warm your face, or place your hand on the bark of a tree to appreciate its rough, weathered texture.
- Reconnecting with loved ones. Writing is a lonely venture for most of us. While you’re taking time away from your laptop, why not cwtch up on the sofa with your dog(s) and/or cat(s); go for a catch-up coffee with friends you haven’t seen for ages; or visit your family’s favourite place with them (like a beach, caravan, or local dog walking trail)?
- Reading something you’d never usually choose. As a fiction writer, it highly likely that you tend to read and write within your favourite genres and sub-genres. But when you’re dealing with burnout, reading can feel just as much effort as writing sometimes. By opening your mind to the sorts of books you’d never normally pick up, you’re allowing yourself the freedom to rediscover the fun of reading, instead of feeling like reading is a chore.
And remember that practically every writer is likely to go through burnout at some point in their life. You are not alone.
In case your burnout turns into something darker or too difficult for you to deal with on your own, please reach out to an organisation that could help, such as Mind, Samaritans, or Rethink Mental Illness.
Best wishes,
Dannika <3
** Please note, there are no affiliate links included in this blog post. **
