There are many wonderful things about working in the modern era – quick communication, the ability to connect with people all over the world anytime, a more flexible work life for some of us. The down-side, at least for me, is never shutting down completely. I can get emails on the weekends and in the evenings. I can work off my laptop from an airplane, a hotel room, or my bed. This is both freeing and exhausting.

Every job comes with some vacation time as part of the deal, though. We all recognize the need to step away and make time for activities outside our professional life. But when I’m writing, I’m often in the zone, so to speak, and I don’t actually want to shut down. For me, some parts of the writing process are rejuvenating and nourishing, and the thought of stepping away completely is stressful.

I’ve come to recognize that taking a break for me, and maybe most artists, might look and feel a little different than taking a vacation from other jobs. So, instead of trying to turn off my creativity, I ask myself what I need to feel refreshed. Maybe it is a few days away unplugged with no thought to deadlines, edits, or my work in progress, but usually not.

When I’m taking a vacation, it’s a pleasure to find writing time by the pool in the morning, or out on the deck with a glass of wine in the afternoon, or in a hotel bar at off hours. I may be fueling the drunk writer stereotype, but, really, the change of scenery feeds my imagination! The long days, with only the sunshine and a story swirling in my head, feel luxurious. I want to write. It’s joyful under these conditions.

To me, taking a break really means finding a way to refresh and rejuvenate, and there’s no right way to do that, only the way that works for each of us. I hope you all find a way to recharge this holiday season!

“Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort. ” – Deborah Day