Need a break? Take it.

This past Saturday I needed a break. Things were very busy with my sister in town and because of all the planned family events, it was just nice to sit back and enjoy some music.

Granted, I was sitting on the lawn section and Josh Groban looked about as tall as my pinky finger, but the experience was heavenly. This is my third Groban concert to date and I loved being outside and listening to the music only Josh can send.

So, if you're feeling a big overwhelmed, a bit behind the eight ball, a bit stressed, take a few moments to just dream...

Feeling a Bit Closed In: Juggling My Way Through the Day

For any of you who know me, you'll also know that I'm at my computer, cleaning the house, and taking care of my grandchildren for most of the day. Ask me how I do that? I really don't know, other than to say I've become a juggler of all I survey.



I get out, yes, but it's to pick up the grand kids from school and to do those necessary items when they're in school...

I really try to write when I can and writing in the late afternoons and evenings really doesn't work for me, even though my daughter is home then; I'm so dead tired.

But today I was thinking, maybe it was time to get out for awhile and do nothing. Maybe it was time to take a book with me or spend my early afternoon before I pick up my grand daughter doing something outside of writing.

Juggling is one of those things that can be done, but, dare I say it? We can't juggle the entire day, nor should we. There's something meaningful, rewarding and life generating, when we take a break and just breathe.



Kathryn

What Reunions Can Do for Your Writing Career

Beginning tonight with a dinner, the Tolman family will have officially started their reunion.

We were going to travel to Idaho, visit some of my father's old haunts, but decided to keep the reunion in town. That way we could get more family involvement as well as keep the reunion close to home. We have some of our family arriving from out of state, but more of us are here, and we have more fun going than a family could ever desire to do when it comes to entertainment.

Photo by: Purduepete, courtesy of Flickr

A well needed break.

As much as I love writing, we all need one. Not only because, as writers, we must get out of the house occasionally and drum up new writing material, but because we all need a respite from our writing career, even though we love it.

Something happens to a person who allows for moments of fun and reflection. Who takes the break when offered. Who knows that he/she will be a better writer because he/she has taken a break.

Sure, I'm patting myself on the back, because it's not easy for me to take a break. I get so involved in writing and marketing, that days can go by without me taking a breath of fresh air.

Photo by: ukgardenphotos, courtesy of Flickr

And then one day it hits me.

I either get physically sick, like I was this week, or I stop to smell the roses. You remember what they are. Those prickly stemmed tender blooms that open in almost every color imaginable.

Imagine that.

Taking Writing Breaks

A Writer on a mission is a bit like a man who has a hard time slowing down for his wife at the supermarket, or a wife who has a difficult time not picking up after everyone. You may personally find that when you're on your greatest and most focused missions, you're unaware of walking too fast or cleaning up too quickly.

I often have family tell me that it's time to slow down a bit. I need to make time for the most important things, which includes writing, but it's frankly not at the top of my list although I'm often making it so.

At times when my legs get ahead of me or when I find that I'm working on my latest writing project when I might be spending some time with my grandchildren, I'm happy when I'm made aware enough to stop.



Photo by: Dreamymo, courtesy of Flickr

I write the best when I've given myself some time for reflection, when I've spent some time playing or reading or taking a walk.

A writer on the best mission is one who thrives in balance, but since we're all working on that one, perhaps the best thing that we can do is to keep on trying.

If your friend tells you that she wants to get together for lunch but you're to busy to stop and take a couple of hours, perhaps you need to rethink your mission.

If your husband suggests a 'date night' but you say you're too busy finishing your novel...

If you find that you're stuck, or angry or frustrated, you just might want to take a break before going back to your writing.

It works.

Writer's Cramp

All I can say is that this must be a painful week. I have worked hard and now that I am free to do some things of my choosing I have no idea what to do.

Ever feel like that?

Do you ever get moving so quickly that when you finally slow down there becomes space in your day for who knows what?

And so I'm going to finish reading a book today, one I keep putting off. And it's not because the book's not good. It's called, "The Success Principles," and is written by Jack Canfield. I don't really know Canfield but I feel as if I do. His words speak to me all of the time.

"Continue to speak from your heart and you will do well."

"Look to where you spend your time. Determine if those activities truly serve your goals or if saying no would free up your schedule for more focused pursuits."

"You attract more of whatever feelings you are experiencing. Being negative, angry and unforgiving about a past hurt only ensures that you'll attract more of the same into your life."

Photo by: Ed Yourdon, courtesy of Flickr

Today, if you have writer's cramp like I do, (it may even be the keyboard kind), let go and spend some time doing something you've been putting off.

It may be a good book. A walk. A visit with a friend.

It may just be that your time has freed up, if only for a day, for a reason.

When Writing Creates a Crick in the Neck

Today I've been doing some writing for a copy-editing company. Though I like working for them, there are times I'm sitting just a tad too long. I get that well-known crick in the neck. My back starts to hurt. And I wonder if my legs are ever going to be the same again.

Perhaps it's the way I sit at the computer; kind of slumped like an old potato. But I also think that it's the hours I sometimes put to my writing in a given day. If you compare it to breathing, you get the idea.

When I get that crick it is a somewhat painful reminder that my day need not be all about writing. It can be about walking about playing, about taking some moments to breathe in and breathe out.

And I like the warning.

This is my last writing for the day. I try to clock out at about 5:00, but today I also have a cold. So I think I'll be smart and sit outside for awhile on my new patio swing and read a good book.

Here I go...

Read a Good Book Today

How many times during the week do you sit down with a good book and read the entire day!

Not very practical you say?

Probably not, but there are days that the feeling just won't leave you.

Photo by: Robert Couse-Baker, courtesy of Flickr

Take today, for example. It's a bit chilly outside. I had planned on working in the yard, but the thought of gathering myself in a light jacket and hoping my hands don't get cold (I hate to wear gloves when I'm working with the moist soil) does little to get me excited.

I'd rather be dreaming behind a good book; throwing that light blanket around my legs, and propping my head against a pillow. I might even take a nap.

If this sounds like you today, too, go for it. Take a break. Take a snooze. And read a good book.

It's one of the best things you can do to rejuvenate yourself, and it doesn't hurt you as a writer, either.

Constancy

The stone of constancy is the final stone in "Conquering Your Goliaths".

How constant are you in following through with projects? Do you find yourself jumping from one to the next and never finishing anything?

Being constant in our endeavors not only helps us to finish them, it gives us a good feeling and maybe some extra money. Constancy means that we don't give up but continue forward no matter how tough it gets. Constancy walks hand in hand with tenacity. With tenacity we create the energy, with constancy we stay on track--no matter what.

Of course, I've begun many projects only to stop them before they're finished. This is usually because:

Photo by Pauls imaging, courtesy of Flickr

• I get burned out. I force myself to move forward too fast, don't take enough breaks for refueling, and expect to get everything done yesterday.
• The project's timing isn't right. When I get started in something new I am usually pretty excited about it. As the weeks push on, my interest may wain because I have too much of my focus elsewhere. The truth of the matter is, being constant in anything takes balance as well as timing. If we spread ourselves too thin, nothing great ever gets accomplished, so it's better to let some things go in favor of other things. 

Being constant in anything takes focus, the kind of focus that gets you from one side of the race track to the other while still making time for that well-needed pit stop.

Here's hoping you make time for it.  

Take a Class to Help you with Your Writing

As I writer, we spend hours in front of the keyboard; minutes that take us in to days and months and years, but how often do we take a well needed break?

I took one just today. It was a class called, "Limitless Living," and it was taught by Marnie L. Pehrson. In the class I learned some important keys to living, among them:

• "We are energy living within an ocean of energy. Energy can also be called light, truth and intelligence."
• There are 4 core passion types: Service, Truth, Empathy and Potential. I learned how my passion type helps me in life both negatively and positively. (If you take the test link that I posted yesterday you'll have a greater idea of what I mean). 



Photo by: Deejay_fbr, courtesy of Flickr

• I am Potential, which means I like to inspire others to action. You may be Potential or you may be Service, Truth or Empathy.
• I also learned that I'm not the only person struggling with the same issues. Being in a class with others desiring to improve their life empowers and connects me to them. I learn a lot, not only from the instructor, but from other class members.
• I also learned how BIG money was in stopping me from my dreams and I got some things cleared up. What is stopping you? 
• I learned about feelings. "Feelings are not bad or good, they just are." 
• I also learned that if I wanted to lose weight I needed to stop thinking of it as "losing weight." From now on I will call it "releasing weight." I will be grateful for my body and how wonderfully it functions for me now. I will thank if for what it has given me today.

No, this wasn't a writing class, but in all experiences, especially those that change you for the better, a writer has an opportunity to use it for good. I plan on doing that very thing.