July 29, 2002
After being away for a week on a business/personal travel trip, the work had piled up.
I spent the morning catching up on every email, finishing up the Another Girl at Play redesign, tweaking articles for my travel portfolio, querying a few magazines and other odds and ends that needed to be taken care of.
Now, the wind has died down outside but the coldness coming through the windows and the cloudy skies make it a perfect day to bake a cake and brew some tea. After that, I’m sure I’ll enjoy a really good nap.
These are the kind of days I craved when I had to do a very specific 9-5 routine where taking time out for cakes and naps were a guaranteed way of getting fired. It’s taken me a year and a half to get comfortable with the freedom my job allows.
Many artists I speak with suffer from the same guilt I have – that taking a break is an indulgence or waste. Yet one of the reasons we freelance is so that we have the freedom that our creative brains need.
Without play, relaxation or joy, my productivity is down and my crankiness is up. As all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, it certainly makes me a dull writer.
Finally, I’m learning to balance the work and play side. I’ve done a lot of work, caught up on the most pressing and now that my brain is overloaded I’m going to relax and enjoy a little of the afternoon before I head finish up my work for the evening.
After all, this is the kind of day I’ve always wanted and am now able to have and I’m not going to put it to waste any longer.