Sep 17 2009
I Think I Need a Vacation
I’ve been hard at work pretty much since i got home in mid-August. I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot but, as always, there seems to be an infinate amount of work I still need to do. Recently I’m starting to feel like I need a bit of a break from the work at hand. It might be because most of the stuff I’m working on now is pretty dull, but I also think it’s due to just spending too much time working. I have been cooped up in my parent’s basement for over a month now (don’t worry, it’s not as depressing as it sounds) working morning, noon and night some days and I think I need to take a bit of a break.
I find that whenever I’m at home, I will be doing work. I don’t really switch off. I feel like if I’m watching TV I’m wasting my time and if my computer is around, I should be sitting behind it. I spend a couple of hours a day at the gym but when I’m there the only thing I can think about is not falling off the treadmill. I have been escaping out for coffee or on nights out with friends from time to time but, for the most part, my days and nights have been spent working.
For me to be creative and get come up with ideas, I find that I need to be away from the internet. It’s when I’m away from my computer that I start to think of new ideas and become excited to get back online to try them out. When I’m always online, I focus on the task at hand and the daydreaming, creative, new idea side of me is nowhere to be seen.
This is the first time I have worked this hard for a long time and I love being able to get loads of things done but I think I need a bit of a break to look back on what I have accomplished so far, set some new goals, think of new ideas and come back to the computer excited, rather than feeling like I’m clocking in for a 9am to 10pm job.
I will be heading up north to visit some family this weekend and the computer will be staying at home. I’m hoping that a bit of time away, even if just a few days, will mean that I come back ready to tackle some of the not-so-exciting jobs I have to do and also have a few new ideas up my sleeve that I can get excited about.
I’m curious about other people’s working patterns. Do any of you have a hard time ’switching off’ when you’re at home? Where do you get your best ideas - in front or away from the computer? How much work can you do before starting to feel burnt out?
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I find myself on the same “creatively void” treadmill if I’m plugging away online for too many hours (or [gulp] days) at a time.
My creative spurts happen at the most random times - in the shower (this seems to a popular one for many people) or just sitting around trying to relax. Typically when I’m doing nothing at all - i.e. when my brain has a few moments to slow down and collect itself.
I always need at least a few straight days - preferably a week - to decompress each month and get the creative juices flowing again.
I know one thing. After my two week vacation to Mexico I came back feeling much more up for working and being creative again. I was almost grinding to a halt before the trip.
Getting away from the keyboard helps productivity in the long term!
I’m by far the most productive when I’m offline and I have all the materials I need to work - with occasional 10 minute spurts on the Internet. If I’m online continuously I get distracted and slow right down.
Most of my ideas come when I’m walking, and I let my mind wander, or while I’m working.
Kirsty it sounds like you have been away from a daytime job for too long. You aren’t used to slaving away anymore. Unfortunately to get an online business going it usually does take a lot of long, boring hours of work. You just have to put your nose to the grindstone and keep plugging away. Although it may seem dull, remember that it is all important work that needs to be done. This is where outsourcing can help improve your workload. You can hire people to take care of the dullest work so that you can concentrate on what you enjoy more.
I hear you on this. We come up with our best ideas when we’re on a bus or walking around a city. But, when we spend endless hours hooked to our laptops the creativity stops. We can get tactical stuff done, but not the more creative, strategic work. We need to find more of a balance where you can think up the ideas offline, but then also have the time to execute them creatively online. Let me know if you find it!
Hi Kirsty,
This is my first comment on the Nerdy Nomad, but I’m not a new reader. I’ve kept up with your travels and adventures via RSS for almost a year now. So, howdy. I figured it was time I dropped you a line.
I’ve been blogging and writing for a couple of years now and I’ve had some success with it. During my first two years of blogging, I went at it every day in order to get my sites ranked and in the search engines. Now I can focus on other projects that require my time. My first year it was hard to rip myself away. There was always something to be done. Then I realized that would never change. Now, I make sure that I take a day off every week. Usually, my best ideas come on those days when I’m not sitting in front of a computer screen.
There are days when I don’t feel productive or when my writing is not at its best. I began setting weekly goals about a year ago when I started picking up more freelance assignments. I’ve realized the value in this and allow myself a breather once those goals are met. Some weeks I keep working if I am inspired, other weeks I take a rest. I think the most valuable lessons I’ve learned over the past three years is time management, how to deal with stress positively, and realizing that I have limits.
I wish you luck in your endeavors. You’ve done an incredible amount in a short time and I admire your perseverance and dedication to your work.
I can relate, being stuck in Saskatchewan is hardly anybodies idea of a great time nor inspiration. Finding inspiration in something as familiar as home can be more of a burden than it’s worth. As soon as cabin fever kicks In I usually grab my laptop and backpack and head to either “Second Cup” (free wifi) or the downtown park, as there’s plenty of free hotspots around. Just getting some fresh air for a couple hours is usually enough to spark something. Another thing I find helps me out is turning off wifi. It saves battery and also keeps me on track. No facebook, twitter, digg, and what not to distract me.
Another thing I would try is writing in a notepad. I find my writing is more focused when I’m actually stuck with one sheet of paper, rather than 12 tabs in my browser.
Hopefully things start looking up, remember to stay sane, and try n have some fun. There’s nothing like a good hangover to put you back on track for a few days.
I always feel like I’m racing against something and now that I’m working on several new projects there’s a lot more work t be done. I think it’s important to set daily and long term schedules — and include rest and relaxation in them. It really has helped me to be a more efficient worker (and not so crazy and tired either!)
I have a hard time turning off as well. My creative juices are always blending but when they are in the right mode is usually when I am not at work or behind the computer but during my commute or workout time. I write those down and then work when that time comes on them.
It is kind of hard to turn off, but I tell myself that I have x amount of time to do something. I schedule it and do only that during that time. This is very affective for me in what making good use of my time. I also have time to not be working and I can relax. This usually leads to little desire for a real break, which is kind of nice for getting work done. A benefit is if I think of something good in the off time, I write it down for later. Lots of my best inspiration comes during this time.
Anyway, that is me!
I have turned into a workaholic - tragic but true - I was going to have today - Sunday- off, but someting came up LOL If I go away for a short-break the laptop stays home - its the only way that works for me now!
I think when you work online, and on your computer, you are right it can get dull from time to time, my solution is simple… find something that you can do online that is sorta of a vacation for you. Meaning… that it is fun and relaxing. For me… I have a dual monitor setup, and often.. when I do alot of the boring work, I will have a TV show on my second monitor which stands on the right side of my view, and I will do my work on the monitor that Is straight ahead of me. Although it seems odd.. but yeah I am more productive, and I enjoy the work alot more.
Till then,
Jean