This is a guest post by Krisca C. Te of AustralianCreditCards.com.au
Some bloggers and writers work like a perpetual motion machine, turning out great quality articles one after another without ever losing steam. They are one hundred percent focused on their job so that every single piece comes out perfect in every way, but they don’t even break a sweat from the effort.
And there are bloggers and writers who periodically feel frustrated and overwhelmed by their work. They can’t seem to concentrate on what they’re doing and are more likely to make mistakes with even the smallest, simplest, most routine tasks. To be able to carry on working, they first need to take a break and get away from work for a while.
Whether you belong to the first or the second type of writer, it’s still important for you to take a breather every now then and savor the good side of life. Your work is important for you, but you can only spend so much time at your table pounding away at your laptop.
If you are working 13 hours a day six days a week, you know it’s time to step away from your job and just unplug for a while.
Spending your time doing leisurely things instead of working may sound like a novel, horrifying idea for you, but it just might help you be even better at your game in the long run. Here are eight reasons why turning off work can be beneficial for you:
- Unplugging gives you time to have that much needed rest and sleep. You can only wear out your body for so long, and at some point all the stress, pressure and sleepless nights are going to catch up with you and just drag you off to bed at the most inopportune moment. Don’t let your work get in the way of your life. It’s important to earn a living, but you shouldn’t kill yourself trying to do so.
- Spend the time with your family. When was the last time you cooked a real meal for your family, helped your kids with their homework or watched a movie with your spouse? Your work can wait for a while as you bond with your loved ones and bask in their love and support. They know how busy you are, but they also need your time and attention. Don’t let your kids grow up without you by their side, and don’t let your brain get fried by trying to think up a topic when you’re too stressed out.
- Rethink your business plan and strategize anew. When your nose is right up against the grindstone, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture and just focus on the smallest details of your job or business. Unplugging gives you back that bird’s-eye view and allows you to take stock of your progress. Is your strategy working or do you need to change direction? Is it time to look for new topics to write about or should you stick to what you’ve been doing?
- Use the time to catch up on administrative tasks. Working 24/7 doesn’t give you much time to take care of small administrative matters like fixing your tax refund or taking a look at your site analytics carefully. Take time away from your daily activities so you can accomplish these small but still critical activities for your business. When they’re done, you can concentrate on really scouting for new things to write about.
- Treat yourself to a relaxing trip or a dream vacation. The ultimate unplugging experience is meant to help you recharge your batteries. What better way to spend your time away from work than on a much-anticipated vacation? Treat yourself and consider it a reward for all your labor. Something might turn up while on your vacation that will help you find new topics for your blog or website.
- Have your health checked. Are you developing insomnia, ulcers or migraine from all the long hours of work? Taking good care of your health is the first step towards ensuring your success, because if you’re sick and weak you can’t really stand up to the pressure and deliver consistently good writing. Investing in your health is probably the most important thing you can do for yourself, because you work to live, not the other way around.
- Improve your craft by getting inspired. Taking time off work is the perfect excuse for you to spy on the competition and check out their websites. Perhaps they are attracting more readers or updating their posts more frequently, and this is a good wake-up call for you. Spend the time browsing the work of prominent names in your field so you can brush up on the latest developments and generate new ideas for future posts. Immerse yourself in the work of other people and let inspiration come to you through their creative output.
Unplugging can keep you sane. Ultimately, this is what de-stressing can do for you. Your work as a writer is fun and rewarding, but there are times when it can drive you nuts just trying to cook up a topic to write about for the next day. Do yourself a favor by unplugging from work and just giving yourself time to breathe and relax a little.
How do you unplug from your writing?
About The Author: Krisca C. Te is part of the team that manages http://www.australiancreditcards.com.au, a blog that provides tips on credit cards and personal finance based in Sydney, Australia. Before she joined ACC, she was an Associate in Deutsche Bank Group under Market and Instruments Control Services.
Note: I’m on a blogging break until September. Each week throughout the summer I’ll be sharing guest posts from a different writers. If you’d like to guest post for this blog, send your idea to: jennifer@procrastinatingwriters.com.
