I’ve had a lot of time on my hands the last few weeks and I spent that timedoing something I haven’t done in two years. What? you ask. Relaxing. Sure I had problems going on that were preventing me from writing, but while part of me rejoiced at having free time, the majority of me felt guilty as i watched Dog the Bounty Hunter and caught up on all the CSI:Miami, NCIS, CSI:NY, and House episodes that I missed while sitting at my computer working 12-18 hours a day over the last six months.
But why do we feel guilty when we take time for ourselves? Is it selfish, to want to relax when forced away from our jobs? Because writing is a job like any other, we just get to do it at home in our pajamas–or wearing nothing at all–and letting the voices in our heads tell us where the story needs to go.
If only it were that simple. To me, writing is a joy, an agony, a carthic release, a compulsion. So why did I enjoy being away from my computer? I don’t really know the answer to that, but I’m now feeling the urge to put my fingers to the keyboard and get back to work. Maybe I needed that time to enjoy my guilty pleasures to rejuvinate myself for another bout of non-stop writing.
So, what do You all enjoy when you can tear yourselves away from your computer or your job? What are your guilty pleasures?
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:32 am
Bonnie, there is a thing called burn-out and that can happen in writing. Sometimes you just have to walk away and not think about it. Go to a movie, take a drive, go shopping or take a trip for a few days. When you do come back in a day or even a week, you will feel refreshed. Bottom line—dont feel guilty. Be grateful that your words or put in print for everybody to see and even better, getting paid for it.
April 4th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Aw Bonnie, don’t feel bad. You’re taking a bit of a break, and before you even realize it, you’ll be back in front of that computer 18 hours a day again.
((HUGS))
Desiree