Sometimes You Need A Little Rest From Writing
Taking some time for other pursuits creative and otherwise helps reignite the creative spark
Due to the recent daylight savings time (DST) change I’ve been writing less. This time of year has always been a challenge for me. I just don’t adjust well to DST especially in the winter when it gets dark around 5 pm here in California. I don’t like the spring time change much either.
So lately I’ve been feeling a little off and grumpy.
To counteract this, I’ve decided to slow down a bit and write less and take it easy. We all need some fallow time to regroup and rest and enjoy other pursuits every once in a while.
So, I’m reading more and enjoying some interesting streaming shows.
I just finished watching the amazing Season 2 of Loki on Disney Plus. Great storytelling and acting abounds in this series and Tom Hiddleston is fantastic as Loki. Time travel, Norse demigods and a sacred timeline — what more could you ask for?
And I’m completely enthralled by Murder at the End of the World on Hulu. It combines tech, true crime and an isolated retreat in Iceland to perfectly set the frosty mood. The detective is an intriguing young woman who’s a Gen Z amateur sleuth armed with intellect, crafty hacking skills and a thirst for justice.
Emma Corrin plays the lead and is perfectly cast as the quirky Darby Hart. The series delves into AI, radical ideas to survive climate change and a fun virtual reality game for kids.
I’m also doing lots of research and planning for my 2024 projects so I can start the new year with a bang. I’m plotting out my goals and deciding what I’d like to accomplish in the new year.
2023 has been a real mixed bag for me with health challenges for both myself and my husband, so I’d like to have a clear direction going forward next year.
I’m also experimenting some with ChatGPT to create images with DALL-E and to help me with research and exploration. I’m especially interested in trying out some marketing AI apps you can use to amp up your productivity. And I may try to create an app myself.
And I’m doing some other things too.
I’m working on getting to bed earlier and sleeping at least 7 hours each night.
Spending more time with friends and family.
Practicing meditation and deep breathing to keep calm and relaxed.
Making sure to get outdoors and soak up some sun each day with a side of exercise. Sometimes it’s a struggle, but I just keep on going.
Providing small acts of kindness for others which never fails to make me feel better instantly.
Being kind to yourself too is always a good strategy. And taking some time out from writing when you’re down can reap creative benefits for you later on.
Takeaway: Daylight Savings Time can be brutal in the winter time, but if you stay positive and take some corrective actions it’ll be over before you know it!
How about you? Does the Daylight Savings Time change affect you adversely or not? Let us know in the comments.
Linda Locke is a writer, mentor/teacher and Publisher/Lead Editor for the Midform Publication and the author of Medium Momentum, Launch Your Blogging Journey in Just 7 Days.
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