Hey, y’all. In last week’s Thursday thoughts, I wrote about my Saturday writing schedule did not go as planned. What I didn’t say was when I tried to write on Sunday, I was exhausted and didn’t get anything done.
That put me two days behind. However, DH pointed out that I had been going pretty strong with writing. “You need to take a day off,” he said.
He was right. By Monday night, even though I had worked at my day job, I felt much more rested. Ideas began to flow again, and I managed to get a decent word count that evening.
Since then, I’ve decided to take Sundays off. No writing. I plan to limit my time on social media and checking emails. Those items are a process, as I do have a social media addiction. I’m also a bit OCD about having a clean email inbox.
Sunday afternoons are now devoted to reading. It’s fun and relaxing.
Everyone needs time off. Do you have a set time away from writing and social media? How does it work for you? Do you set aside time just for reading? I’d like to hear how it works for you.
I’m keeping this post short, but since I’ve shared videos with the previous two Thursday Thought posts, I’ll leave you with one by my favorite Beatle. It’s also my all-time favorite Beatles’ song. It’s not related in any way to today’s topic, but I think this acoustic version is relaxing. And we could all use a little more relaxation.
23 Responses
One of my favorite songs, Joan. Thanks for sharing it!
I like most all of The Beatles’ sons, but this is my favorite. I like this softer version better than the one with Clapton’s guitar.
It is soothing to listen to. Yes can’t go wrong with a Beatle song!
So true!
Hi Joan, like you, I’ve been taking Sundays off reading or knitting–er, even napping. We just need a break! But I too am a little OCD about the inbox. We are so alike! But hey, football’s back and we’ve got to save Sunday night and be rested for some of that action.
Yes, I’m OCD about that inbox. (Sadly, I’ve had to give up on the one I have at work.) Yes, football season is upon us and if the Cowboys are on my husband will be watching. And I did nap a little bit last weekend. 🙂
I generally read for an hour every night before bed, Joan. Very little interferes with my schedule, I am a bit of a Sargent Major when it comes to daily planning and activity time slots.
I need to be more organized like that. Since I work full time, I have to schedule my writing time around that and yet allow for flexibility. I’ve started to read an hour before going to bed instead of watching videos!
Taking Sundays off sounds like a fantastic idea, Joan. For the last little while, I’ve been taking off both Saturday and sunday as much as possible. I’ve also scheduled 4 writing days per week to give myself a ‘work’ day to catch up on other stuff like blog posts etc., and this allows me my weekend time still. I’m more productive by limiting myself in this way. I don’t think I can cope with going more than three days in a row not writing, though … I start to go a bit stir crazy, lol 🙂
That’s a good idea, Harmony. I’ve been devoting most of my writing time of late to blog posts. My Mystery Monday posts require a lot of research and I’m trying to get ahead of the game in preparation for NaNoWriMo. (Yes, I’m doing it this year.) I’m like you, more than three days without writing makes me stir crazy. It was bad enough not to open my laptop this past Sunday! 🙂
I usually take Sundays off.
I don’t have a reading schedule, but I figured out years ago that I was watching too much TV, so cutting back on TV gave me more reading time.:-)
My husband is a big TV watcher. His work schedule is different in the summer, so when he’s home in the evenings, I find myself watching. I also keep a DVD of one of my favorite TV shows (MASH or JAG) in the bedroom and watch some before going to sleep. Instead of doing that, I’ve decided to read more. When hubs works in the evenings, I use that time for writing and have been setting aside that last hour before going to bed to read.
I take weekends off from social media (once in a great whlie I’ll check in), but I regularly use my Sundays to write. Lately that’s mostly been blog posts instead of fiction. As for reading, I read for 2 hours or more every night before bed. It’s my way to unwind and relax, plus there are so many great books I want to catch up with.
And you know I love the Beatles. Wonderful song choice!
I admire you for that. I need to unplug more often. I’m trying to set aside an hour each evening to read. And I like having Sunday afternoons to write. We’ll see what happens. Football season begins soon and hubs will be glued to the television. I might as well use that time to write.
My husband does the same, Joan. He’s already been watching the pre-seaon games 🙂
Mine is too!
I do everything in fits and starts as far as writing goes. Time is limited, so I try to maximize what I get. I tend to turn of a couple kinds of social media over the weekends, but not my blog. I also keep up with email every day. I need to schedule a break for reading. Many of you have new releases and I need to get to them.
I’m trying to set aside an hour each evening to read. I have so many books to catch up on and continually add to my list!
Maybe I’ll dive in this weekend. (After working on Lanternfish.)
Gotta put the writing first.
[…] Thursday Thoughts: Taking Time […]
Very nice post. Every so often I “unplug” for a day (or sometimes a weekend). It re-energizes my soul.
It’s a good thing to do on occasion. I almost always feel refreshed and full of new ideas.