It’s hard to jump straight from writing “The End” on one assignment to “Once upon a time” on the next. Sometimes you need a mental break in between, even if it’s a short one. Think of it as a palate cleanser between courses.
I recharge the old writing batteries by doing a quick activity between two deadlines that’s not related to either one. Depending on how crunched for time I am, it might be for 5 minutes or up to an hour.
To mentally recharge between stories I like to:
* Take a walk.
* Have lunch.
* Catch up on the news, online or in the paper.
* Do a load of laundry.
* Runs errands.
* Walk outside to get the mail.
* Take a shower.
* Send a contract or invoice.
* Pay bills or deposit a check.
* Answer email.
* Read message boards I subscribe to.
* File papers.
* Update my calendar.
* Send an editor a pitch or two.
What do you do for a mental break?
I blog, and then I get sucked into reading other blogs and before I know it I’ve spent a little too much time “taking a break” and have to force myself to refocus!
My dog usually comes begging to go outside about every hour and gets a treat..so that is help. I’ve also been taking breaks and using Wii Fit during the cold winter months.
Like Becky, I love to read my favorite blogs (like KathEats.com), surf the job boards, go outside for a few minutes and get some fresh air, fix myself a healthy snack, etc. I also like to catch up on emails with my friends/family. Oh, and I can’t forget social media!
*smiles*
Michele
[...] Get up from the computer and do something non-work related for a couple minutes – take the dog for a quick walk, fold laundry, make lunch, read the [...]
Ah yes, that’s a big problem for me too.
Michelle