Creatively Blocked? You Might Need a Break.

How are you doing, writer? Answer honestly.

Are you stressed about work? Are you busy with family, church, or community commitments to the point where you feel like you have no time for yourself? Are you creatively burned-out on your current work in progress (WIP)?

I hope you are none of those things, but chances are that you have experienced one or all of these things at some point, not to mention the many other potential hardships of life. Stress is one of the greatest obstacles for a writer. Who has the mental space for creativity when the worries of life are constantly interrupting?

If you haven't already read my previous post on how to rock your daily writing habit, I encourage you to check it out and get the most out of each writing session. But today, let's talk about what to do when everything just becomes too much and you need to temporarily step away.

​​Like everyone, I have many roles. I'm a proofreader and editor with clients who depend on me. I'm a writer who's nearly finished with the first draft of my current WIP (anyone else feel like the last 20,000 words are the hardest of all?). I'm a student who's studying copyediting. I'm an athlete who runs not only to stay in shape but also for the unexpected pleasure it brings to my life. I am all these things and more.

With all this on my plate, it's no wonder that I recently became overwhelmed. I'd just finished a large proof-editing project, during which I'd noticed my creative output suffering. If you've ever spent an entire day analyzing someone else's writing (for weeks on end), you'll know how difficult it is to turn off that analytical brain to read a novel for pleasure—and how it's even more difficult to switch your brain into creative-writer mode.

My schedule for the next few months was starting to fill up with work. Although I enjoyed the work I was doing and looked forward to the work to come, I was mentally and physically exhausted. The progress on my WIP had slowed significantly; I was so close to the climax of my novel but was stuck in a scene leading up to it.

So I took a break. I visited my parents, and for a whole week, I didn't think about all the things I needed to get done when I got back. I left them all behind and, for once, let myself enjoy each moment as it came. I didn't do any editing. I didn't respond to email. I didn't study. I didn't write. I didn't even run.

What did I do instead? I went to the zoo with my parents. I swam in the pool and lay in the sun with my mom. I helped my dad replace the brake pads on my car (I use the term help loosely; I held the flashlight and handed him tools). I went to my nephew's adorable third-grade football practice. I watched a few movies. I read a book, allowing myself to simply enjoy the story. In short, I set aside the many demands I normally place on myself and decided to just . . . be.

The result? I came back utterly refreshed and ready to hit the ground running in all aspects of my life, including my writing.

Of course, I didn't just drop everything and run away for a week. I planned and prepared for it. I didn't schedule any client work during that week, and I took care of any tasks that I would have normally done that week before I left. You see, rest and refreshment don't just happen. You have to make space for them.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, you're probably not in the right frame of mind to meet your writing goals, whatever those may be. When your creativity is suffering, it can be natural to think there's something wrong with you. You tell yourself that you're not a good enough writer. You blame writer's block. You think that you just need to push through, especially if you're on a deadline.

But those are untrue and unhelpful views. You are good enough. Writer's block is just a form of resistance with an underlying cause. And pushing through simply for a deadline can result in poor quality work. My recommendation is that you stop. I'm not talking about quitting—just take a break.

Now, I know not everyone has the luxury of being able to take a week off whenever they need to. And you may have obligations that you can't take a break from, like your kids' school activities. But I bet you can find at least one day to spend on yourself—one day where you release any expectations and don't do anything you consider "work." That includes writing.

Drop the kids off at their grandma's. Ignore your email. Don't cook, unless that brings you joy. Ride your bike. Read a book for pleasure. Paint your nails. Take a walk. Color in a coloring book. See an old friend or go on a date with your significant other. Keep any plans you make loose, and go with the flow of the day. Stay in the moment, and do what feels good. And most importantly, don't write. Don't even think about your current project. I promise it will still be there tomorrow.

At the end of your break, no matter how long or short, I hope your creativity is renewed. Sometimes all we need is to get out of our own heads, take a deep breath, and approach our creative work with a fresh perspective.