Drinking tea during a morning walk in the woods
The past few weeks have been hectic: organizing tax documents and adding up reams of receipts for the accountant, prepping pitches for editors who are planning their 2014 editorial calendars, writing articles/meeting deadlines, planning an upcoming travel writing class and preparing a handful of raised garden beds to be filled with vegetable starts…I felt overwhelmed just looking at my to-do list. Even though it wasn’t the best time to leave the office, stepping away from the computer is exactly what I needed to do.
I rented a cabin in the mountains on a gorgeous 30-acre piece of land with trails through the woods. The dogs ran off-leash, dug up dead animals and rolled in foul smelling things and I followed behind, soaking up the silence. Being in unfamiliar surroundings, far from the ping of email alerts, ringing phones, stacks of mail and deadlines, I felt a creative spark.
Tossing a tennis ball in a clearing in the woods, I made a decision about a big project; a conversation in front of the fire gave me an idea for a men’s magazine; I started an essay over breakfast. There is something about stepping out of my routine that invites new ideas.
It’s so tempting to log 40 hours a week in front of the computer – after all, as freelancers, if we’re not working, we’re not getting paid – but it’s not the best thing for our businesses. We need to take a step back, to turn on an out-of-the-office alert and immerse ourselves in something other than work.
When I got home on Sunday afternoon, I had a mountain of laundry and a notebook full of ideas and I was excited to get back to work.
When was the last time you took a break?
I took a staycation the third week of March. It was the first time I did that: planned a week off from freelance work while staying home. It was an odd experience. I had a hard time stepping away from the laptop, breaking from routine and not worrying about the usual things. Traveling always draws my attention to help me relax and focus on the delicious moment. It was a learning experience. Next time I’ll plan more activities ahead of time, rather than leaving it to the betrayal of morning inspiration.
Van,
Congrats on taking time off. I find staycations challenging for the reasons you mentioned: it’s so tempting to slip back into work mode when the computer is in the next room! Even if we step away from the desk for a few hours, it’s time well-spent, I think.
Jodi