Most days I come home from work and can’t wait to start writing again. I’ll plant myself in front of my laptop, crank up my iTunes, and before I know it its time for me to hit hit the sack. Yesterday was not one of those days.
Maybe it was the Chardonnay I drank at happy hour*, maybe it was the miserable case of insomnia I suffered the previous night, or maybe it was because I’d already spent nine hours in front of a computer cranking out web copy for work. Whatever it was, I wasn’t feeling it.
So I turned off my computer and gave myself the evening off (aside from a few teeny tiny revisions I had to make). I justified it to myself because I’d just turned in an outline for a new project the previous night and these restless, uninspired feelings are so rare and all I wanted to do was lie in bed and read. Today I woke up refreshed and ready to write! What do you do when you’re running low on motivation?
*Is it really ever just an hour?
I so love this new layout!
I also give in to it. I don’t think there’s any reason to force yourself to work, unless you see a pattern emerging where you’re not getting as much done as you like. Relaxation is good for the soul–and the writing!
I do the same thing. If forcing it is only going to cause frustration, then I remember that flexibility is one of the keys of freelancing and take full advantage! Besides, there are always those days that I get on such a roll that it more than makes up for some time off anyway.
Thank you all for your comments. You’re absolutely right!
I surf web logs.
)
Seriously – I walk away. If you can’t walk away from it, then you’re too close to the problem. A little time off usually helps.
Hey Lori, I’m all for surfing weblogs, but sometimes even that feels too much like work. That’s when I know it’s time to unwind!