{"id":19846,"date":"2018-08-28T01:00:29","date_gmt":"2018-08-28T08:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=19846"},"modified":"2018-08-27T21:55:09","modified_gmt":"2018-08-28T04:55:09","slug":"burnout-by-chloe-adler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/28\/burnout-by-chloe-adler\/","title":{"rendered":"Burnout: The importance of Taking Breaks by Chloe Adler"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Burnout<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s welcome back monthly columnist Chloe Adler<\/a> as she shares with us \u201cBurnout.\u201d Enjoy!<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The importance of taking breaks and balancing.<\/h2>\n

Some would argue that I\u2019m the last person who should write a blog about this, but I would point out that\u2019s what makes it a perfect topic for me to tackle.<\/p>\n

My first year of indie publishing, I put out 7 books in 11 months and I thought that was a lot. It sure felt like a lot. I had and still have, a part time day job but the rest of my time has been spent writing or editing.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve put most everything else aside. For the first year that was fine, but it wasn\u2019t sustainable.<\/p>\n

Because I am a workaholic — no doubt there — I can justify spending all my time working, but I also like going out with friends and having a life outside of work. This proved near impossible with my schedule.<\/p>\n

Taking A Class<\/h2>\n

\"\"I recently took a class to learn how to write faster, but the crux of the class was learning what works for me as an individual — finding my strengths and working with them.<\/p>\n

Although I am writing a little faster, the class gave me permission to do what feels right for me, instead of trying to fit into someone else\u2019s \u201cright.\u201d<\/p>\n

The book that tells me to write for four hours straight every day is the method that works for the person who wrote that book.<\/p>\n

The person who suggests waking up at 6am to write is what works for them.<\/p>\n

I have to figure out what works for me, but what works for me won\u2019t work for everyone.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Comparing Myself<\/h2>\n

I constantly compare myself to authors who write a book a month.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t understand how they do it and I don\u2019t know why I can\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Yet other authors can\u2019t understand how I can write and edit one every 2 months.<\/p>\n

What others can do does not relate to what you can do. <\/strong><\/p>\n

What I do know is that my schedule of writing a book every 2 months was too much for me.<\/p>\n

The teacher of the “Write Better, Faster” class, Becca Syme, told me that I\u2019m the type of personality that pushes myself hard\u2014to the point of burnout.<\/p>\n

And when you hit burnout, she said, \u201cYou will take much longer to recover.\u201d<\/p>\n

That may not be the same for everyone, but I do believe that burnout is universal.<\/p>\n

Each person may recover differently, and how long it takes for each person to hit it will vary.<\/p>\n

But as an alternative healthcare practitioner I can attest that burnout is very real.<\/p>\n

I see it in my office every week.<\/p>\n

We live in an unbalanced society that rewards people for working harder, longer hours.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

So What\u2019s The Solution?<\/h2>\n

\"\"For some people, it may be to take a month off from writing, or even a week.<\/p>\n

For me, I\u2019ve slowed down.<\/p>\n

Instead of writing one book while editing another, I\u2019ve focused on one at a time.<\/p>\n

I make more time to hang out with friends and live my life.<\/p>\n

I take more breaks, which include exercising, reading books, laying out in the sun and even shopping.<\/p>\n

I plan my breaks.<\/p>\n

If I sit and accomplish 2,000 words (or whatever the goal is) I get to take 30 minutes for a long walk or a short hike.<\/p>\n

Burnout is real<\/h2>\n

Burnout is real. It\u2019s not if it\u2019ll happen, it\u2019s when and for how long.<\/h3>\n

I can\u2019t afford burnout.<\/p>\n

If I hit it, I will lose all the momentum I\u2019ve gained.<\/p>\n

Another solution is to say No to things that don\u2019t light me up.<\/p>\n

So if someone asks me to do something that\u2019s an hour away and the long drive feels insurmountable I say No.<\/p>\n

If I\u2019m invited to an event that feels like a burden, even if they want me to go terribly, I still say No. But I say it with kindness and I thank them for thinking of me.<\/p>\n

\"\"Self-care has moved to the top of my list.<\/h2>\n

I encourage you to make those lists, even if they\u2019re only in your head.<\/p>\n