Normally the first Friday of the month is reserved for my monthly goals. However, there’s been a distinct change in what I am doing, hence the lack of a goal blog post.
I had a “need to burn everything” moment last month. I get like that when my anxiety rides a little too high.
If you received my newsletter on Tuesday, you’ll know more about this, but in short, I need to step away (mostly) from my online life and reassess where my path is taking me.
Asking myself some questions
I’ve been struggling with my thoughts on what I’m doing with my writing, including whether I even wanted to get my novels published.
I’ve been losing the love of writing recently, but I think that’s come from sinking too much into all the other stuff – especially the online stuff.
In order to rekindle my writing and get myself into a good place again, I need to strip a lot back and the first to go is how much I’m spending online.
A needed Sabbatical
I was planning to take a month off to get my head straight, but a discussion with my partner, who always knows what I need more than I do, made me consider three (maybe more) months would be better.
I want to give myself real writing time, without that overhanging need to “check” social media or rush to complete a blog post that I forgot to write or answer the many emails and DMs I’ve been getting.
Not a full Sabbatical
Okay, I’m not going away completely. So here’s what I’ll still be doing:
Newsletter
I will still be sending out my monthly newsletter, last Tuesday of the month. I enjoy sending these and hopefully during the sabbatical, I’ll actually have more news and updates to share!
Podcast
I LOVE doing the podcast and so Rachel and I will still be recording and uploading episodes every week on Wednesdays. I don’t have to be present much online, once we’ve recorded and edited uploading to Buffer etc takes like 10mins max.
The Game
If you play #TheMerryWriter game over on Twitter, then don’t worry, the game will still be going on. I’ve planned and created the gameboard and questions for the next few months and have them scheduled on Buffer.
I know a lot of people enjoy the game and it helps them think differently about their novels and connect with other writers. So while I won’t be answering questions or replying to comments, the game will run.
However…
some things are going to stop, so here’s what I won’t be doing:
Blog
I am going to be taking a break from the blog, so there will be no Friday posts for a few months. However, I WILL be uploading the podcast posts on Wednesdays. Since Rachel and I record well in advance so I can schedule a month of these easily.
Social Media
As mentioned above, I will not actually be on social media. I have things scheduled so posts may appear and the game will continue, but I won’t be checking in, answering DMs or replying to comments.
Emails
This is a weird one, technically I will still be checking emails but not often and I will not be replying to everything. My out of office will be on stating what day/time I will be checking my emails.
Becoming a Writer again
I need this break to actually get back into writing, to cut away all the distraction and procrastination.
I am just finding myself doing everything BUT writing at the moment and I can’t go on like that any more.
At the time of writing this, I am taking this as just a sabbatical and I will be returning. Though, depending on how this goes, I may not be returning to everything.
Last Month’s Goals
Just because I won’t feel right without going through last month’s goals, here’s what I managed and what I didn’t.
01 – Finish my World Book – FAILED
02 – Fix issues in Dark Hart – FAILED
03 – Analyse outline of The Blessed – PARTIALLY DONE
04 – Create a new library resource – DONE – If you are on my newsletter list, you will have received access to this month’s new library resource!
05 – Read 2 Books – PARTIALLY DONE – Read 1 book
06 – Start BSL Course – DONE – Finally started this course, am several sections in and am enjoying it
07 – Plan a month of Insta – FAILED
08 – Finish updating all my passwords – DONE – It didn’t actually take that long, I just needed to STAY at my desk and do it!
09 – Sort Kitchen – DONE – during our Rest Week, my partner and I did a load of stuff around our house. Including painting and sorting our kitchen! Looks so much better now.
10 – Build up a Pinterest campaign – DONE – I have set a schedule and created a spreadsheet (don’t I always?) and have been building up and tracking my Pinterest campaign to see if it will drive more traffic to my business.
Thanks for your patience and I’ll see you all when I’m back in a few months.
~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~
Happy writing & stay safe
Hi Ari,
I don’t think you should mark goals as ‘failed’ in bright red capitals! I think that, psychologically, doing that doesn’t help or encourage your psyche. It’s damning you before you’ve even begun! Sounds like you’re back at school! Be kinder to yourself. Try: ‘To be worked on’. or something like that. Good luck with your break.
Jo Clutton
Creating My Odyssey
http://www.jo-b-creative.blogspot.co.uk
I hope the time away helps you – or helps, if you don’t see this until you’re back – and you come back feeling refreshed, and knowing where you want to go next.
*the second time I wrote “helps” it should have said, “Helped” – though you probably got that.
Good luck and I hope the sabbatical helps you focus on what’s important to you. I am fortunate – perhaps because I am old – that I can restrict time spent on social media and email. It can be a huge drain on productivity.
Enjoy your time off social media Ari. I’m sure you’ll get back into your love of writing without too many distractions going on. I know I have to be in a reasonably peaceful state of mind to sit down and write. So glad you’re doing the pod casts though. I love to do some crochet as I listen. Take care, we’ll be here when you get back :>)
Good for you, Ari! Have a wonderful break, and a productive writing time!
YOU WILL TAKE A MUCH NEEDED BREAK AND COME BACK BETTER THAN EVER…And we’ll be here.
All the best Ari! If there was ever a year to take an extended break to reflect on what’s important to you, then this is that year. I hope you enjoy your time away and renew your love of writing. 💖
Ari – Hope your time off refreshes you and recharges your inkling to write again.
Celebrating your every success
I hear ya. Sometimes we just need to simplify things and focus on the things that really matter to us.
Enjoy! I hope to see you back on your blog at some point since your posts are ones I learn quite a bit from.
I understand exactly how you are feeling! Enjoy the break!
Have fun getting back into writing again, there really is no better feeling in the world.
Good for you. I hope this time is restful and rejuvenating. Enjoy!
Best wishes!
Wishing you all the best, Ari… I probably need to follow suit so I can rekindle the rapidly dwindling magic!