Today I Let My Mind Wander And Don’t Write
If you have nothing significant to say, you must remain silent. Today is such a day for me.
I know, I know — you ask why you are reading this when I claim that I don’t want to write anything today. Now maybe you think I’m a liar.
But I’m not writing anything today. While you’re reading this, I’m sitting on my couch reading by myself. I wrote this article a couple of days ago, and I scheduled it for today.
Last week, I decided I needed a whole day to myself. I wanted a day where I just think, dream, and read.
In fact, I schedule such days regularly. These days are part of my work rhythm and allow me to be as productive as I am. These days are my burnout buffer.
Every creative person draws from his or her experiences and subconscious. If we don’t allow our subconscious a break and some rest now and then, it will eventually fail to serve us.
If we do not experience and undertake anything, we lack the experiences we could write about.
Once a week, I, therefore, allow myself one day in which I produce nothing. On this day, I clear my mind and gather strength for my work on all other days of the week.
Sometimes I use these days to explore my city. On other days I meet people I haven’t seen for a long time, and sometimes I reserve such a day just for reading and thinking. Such a day is today.
While you are reading this, I let my mind wander, pursue questions that spontaneously come to my mind, and allow myself the luxury of thinking without a goal. I let myself drift and am open to signals from my subconscious.
This probably all sounds rather esoteric, but I assure you that I am not at all esoterically inclined. I am a sober thinker as a writer rather a craftsman than an artist.
The importance of the subconscious for creative work is, however, a fact.
I notice this again and again in my daily work. It is certainly possible to get by without such breaks and to write something every day that at least gives the impression of originality, but why should I make it unnecessarily difficult for myself?
A day of aimless thinking, quiet self-reflection, and inner reflection can release more energy than I can use in a week.
It is only essential that I consciously plan these days. I don’t decide spontaneously, because otherwise, the temptation to take a break every other day would be strong.
If we do not plan our breaks, they will eventually take over. I have to make sure that my time-outs don’t become just another form of procrastination. I can only do that if I know today that my next day of retreat is still a week away, and I can’t just bring it forward to today.
Take breaks but plans them
Instead of getting up from your desk at random times ten times a day to get coffee, plan your break for the day.
If you know you have a break planned at ten o’clock, you will sit and work until ten o’clock.
If you allow yourself to take breaks whenever you want, your productivity will soon suffer.
Whenever you come to a difficult point in your work, you get up and take a break instead of overcoming resistance and finding a solution.
Today I don’t write, but when I write, I do it in a disciplined and structured way.
Do you also have the feeling that you need a break? Then take your calendar now and make an appointment for your day off.
Don’t take your time off right now, but plan it for the future.
If you do that, you won’t feel guilty when the day finally arrives, because it’s an appointment you made with yourself.
Tomorrow I will be back here — with new ideas and fresh energy.
René Junge a published author writing on ILLUMINATION.
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