Discipline is a good and necessary thing to have, but the truth is sometimes I just don't feel like writing. Burnout is a very real possibility when you push yourself hard to reach a deadline or work on a project that for whatever reason, the words just aren't flowing easily. Once that deadline is met, or you've pounded your head against a wall so much it feels like there's a dent in your forehead, it's a good idea to take a break.
When I need a break from writing, usually the first thing I do is reach for someone else's fiction. I think it's fair to say all writers were book-loving readers first, and stay that way for life. Getting immersed in a story is always a terrific escape. Sometimes you want to completely unplug yourself from books and enjoy a good movie or television show. Sometimes the only thing that will blow the cobwebs out of your mind is to do something completely unrelated to fiction - working in a garden, going for a long drive, working on some household project. Whatever you do, it's important to know that it's okay to take the time to recharge and let your brain rest. We writers live and work in our heads so much of the time, it's easy to forget to take a vacation.
What are some of the things you do to take a break from writing? Is there a particular favorite activity that helps recharge your creative batteries?
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