Breaks are Important for Writers, & Here's Why

When summer hits, one of two things usually happens for writers and editors. We either feel like everyone else is on a break and we should take one too or we think now is when we’ll have time to actually work because people will be out doing summer things and won’t talk to us. Of course, life is never either/or and mixing in writing and breaks is probably the ideal. But here’s today’s takeaway: breaks are important for everyone, and writers are no different!

Breaks Can Stop Burnout Before it Happens

Burnout, writer’s block, call it what you want. It’s real. It’s stress. We all have plenty to stress over in life, work, and everything in between. Writers are not exempt from this. While we can use writing as a way of working through some of our stress, creative minds and personalities need other outlets than work. Even when work is something we love.

That means mixing things up, doing different things, not just the work we need to do. It could be: reading for fun, taking walks, going to a yoga class once a week. Find an activity you and a friend both want to do and do it—no excuses. Maybe you try a new place each week for coffee and pastries. That gets you out of the house, talking to another human being, and rewards you with a tasty treat.

Set limits for yourself. After I nearly burned myself out in grad school I started setting work limits. For example: no matter what was going on, after dinner I stopped doing classwork. It left me time for friends, for unwinding from my day (which helped me sleep better), even (occasionally) exercising. Years later I still hold that rule. I set a time and after that I stop work. No checking emails, no “just a few more pages”, nothing. If I have an idea for something I type it on my phone, but that’s all. And I recharge for the next day. After finishing a big editing project, I block a few days on my calendar and don’t do anything work related. I used to be bad about mixing up my day and stepping away from my computer for breaks. Now I have a young and active dog who needs at least 4 walks a day, obedience training sessions, and playtime—making it easier for me to set times to step away from my work to spend time with her.

Breaks are Important for Drafts

You’ve probably heard the advice: when you finish a draft of your book, put it away for a few days. Why does everyone say that? When you put your writing aside for a few days you aren’t consciously looking at it, but your subconscious is still going over what you’ve written. The break allows you to see what you’ve written with fresh eyes, compare it to what you wanted to say, and see what changes you should make. Multiple drafts are a writer’s friend and giving yourself a break in between, even if it’s just a day, helps make each draft stronger and lets you remember more of the arguments and points you meant to include. You're going to be writing and revising for a long time and breaks help you remember why you were so excited about your idea in the first place—and that's a big help!

You Have a Life

Whether you have a book deal or just a brilliant idea and a need to get it down on the page, you also have other priorities. Family, friends, your health. And here’s what we always forget: we shouldn’t feel guilty about making time for all those things—including ourselves. Treat writing like every other job: give yourself days off. Take time to go camping or vacationing with the family.  Enjoy yourself. Breaks help you stay healthy both mentally, emotionally, and physically. Which leads to you being a happier, more successul writer in the long run.

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