J.P. Choquette's Blog, page 10

“Can You Make a Living as an Author?”

“But how many books did you sell last year?” an acquaintance leaned over to ask me. We were standing in the lobby of an aging hotel, both attending a conference there. She is new(er) to writing, at least for publication. I’ve been at this for a while now, though the indie book thing is still relatively new to me (compared to say, JA Konrath).

I’ve been asked this question in various forms since my first book came out.

“How many copies did you sell at X event?”  or

“Is writing all you do for work?” or

“How much money do your books make you each year?”

The truth is: better than I expected. 
image credit Tips for new Indie Authors
That's not saying that there are oodles of cash flowing  my way each and every month. Or that I've purchased a yacht with the intention of sailing the high seas. Or even that I'm ready to knock this life-long dream off my dream list ... quite yet.  


But I'm pleasantly surprised to see that my sales numbers are growing each year. This is encouraging. I'm grateful to every reader who has picked up a copy of one of my books (thank you!). 


Here are five tips to determine if one can "make a living" as an indie author today. 



Tip #1: Set your expectations low, at least in the beginning. We all hear stories about breakout novelists like Hugh Howey or Amanda Hocking and think, “Well, if he/she did it, so can I!” But the truth of the matter is that many of these authors work for years before they see that kind of success. The longer I'm in business the more the term “overnight success” appears an oxymoron.

When I first published Epidemic I hoped to sell 50 copies. That’s it. 50.

“Why bother?” some might ask. It would have been a lot of work for 50 copies, true. And I probably wouldn’t even have made my money back as far as the costs involved (editing, cover design, book ads, the launch). But it was worth it to me. Because it had been a dream to see my name on the cover of a real, paper book since I was a kid.

Tip #2: Expect to do sales work. It’s lovely to daydream about appearing on the set of a famous talk show who gushes about your prose or imagine seeing your name on the New York Times bestseller list. I would guess though, that 99 percent of the authors who make it to these and other prestigious levels do an awesome job marketing—or hire someone to do it for them. 

Beautiful, well-crafted, richly worded books may only always circulate in a small circle of readers without a stellar marketing and sales team (or one very determined author) to share them with the world.

Tip #3: Learn what works for other successful authors. This can be a slippery slope. It’s hard not to fall into the comparison trap when reading other indie author’s amazing stories of success. So give yourself a pep talk if needed before you delve into the rabbit hole of the internet to read and learn. 

Look for commonalities. Read some website and blogs by your favorite authors or do a quick search on Amazon’s Top 100 list. See what marketing efforts they engage in. How do they interact with readers? Where do they spend the bulk of their non-writing time?

Tip #4: Set some goals. What are your goals as an author? Even if you have very big dreams, like appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Network or a coveted best seller list, I suggest breaking them down into small, manageable bites. (Hey, what did you expect from the author of The 15-Minute Novelist ?) 


You can set financial goals per year or quarter. You can set number-of books-sold goals. You could set other goals like being featured as a keynote at a popular writing conference or attending your first out-of-state writing gig on someone else’s dime. You could set a goal for number of book stores to visit in your first book tour. Just make them concrete (i.e. specific, with dates of completion included).

Tip #5: Be inspired. Read blog posts like this by Lindsay Buroker. It IS possible to make a living as an indie author. So much of this depends on outside factors, however. Do you want to live extravagantly and have a house like Sue Grafton’s? You’re going to have to sell a lot more books than someone who carries no debt and lives on a sailboat. Do you have kids? Want to travel? Are you trying to beef up your retirement account because you got a late start and the date is looming close? 

Everyone has a different situation and different income requirements. I encourage you to draw inspiration from other indie authors successfully making a living at their craft.

Me? Well, I make a living writing but so far it’s not only from book sales. Though I’m happy to report that Epidemic has sold many more than 50 copies. 


***Signed up for the Newsletter for Writers yet? It comes out twice a month and is packed with information, inspiration and education to empower writers. Get on the list in less than a minute and receive my free 7 Ways to Find Time to Write guide.

 

Frustrated Novelist? How to Deal With Bad Writing Weeks

Do you ever have one of those weeks? When everything goes wrong simultaneously: the dog hurts her leg and your spouse has to work a lot of overtime unexpectedly, your kid (or parent, depending on what part of life you're in) needs extra support. You end up feeling run down, exhausted and ready to quit. 

That's the kind of week it's been. 

I talk a lot about making your writing a priority. About how easy it is to finish a novel if you use the 15-Minute Writing Method. About how, when your big dreams seem far away, you re-orient yourself and try, try again.  This week I didn't feel like taking a single bit of my own advice. A middle of the night trip to the ER (all is well in the end), a sick child, flooring that's ripped up and a house in chaos, preparing for a book show and trying to keep up with my writing work on less-than normal sleep all spell disaster. 

Here's how I coped. 

1. Even though I what I wrote may end up being drivel, I still did my priority writing (working on my next suspense novel) first thing every work day. This wasn't easy but it was satisfying. 

2. I let my standards go. I like to have a tidy, uncluttered space. It annoys me when there are things dragging around and surfaces are cluttered. Because of an unexpected health crisis in our family, the installation of our new flooring upstairs was rescheduled. 

So all week I've been looking at hideously ugly sub-flooring, tripping over boxes of new flooring and trying to remember where things are stored in the interim. I'm not going to lie and say that it hasn't bothered me. That I've found my Zen enough to smile and breathe and let it go. But I do recognize there isn't a thing I can do about it right now and try to ignore my surroundings as much as possible. 

3. Scheduled in some time for me. Despite the worry and guilt involved, I left my injured husband and sick child in my mother's care for a couple of hours to have my hair cut and highlighted. It felt AMAZING. 

I also tried to be easier on myself by using a nicer voice when I forgot things (over and over). Meeting a friend I hadn't seen in ages and inviting my sister for coffee were wonderful treats. Just having these things to look forward to, as well as a listening ear, were incredibly helpful. 

Sometimes life gets in the way

We all dream of having that "perfect" writing experience. Where we type and the words just flow. Where we are so involved in the process that we lose track of time. The times when we feel lit from within with a million sparklers and daydream of seeing our name on the NY Times Bestseller list. 

But sometimes a bad couple of days, or a week or a month, get in our way. We can show how resilient we are when we continue to write, to the best of our ability, through these times. 

Number one in importance? Your health and taking care of yourself inside and out. Number two? Making time for what is most important to you in your heart. If that's writing then I know you'll find the time you need to get started. 

What Decluttering & Writing (should) Have in Common

Ahhh, spring. The air is filled with the chirps of migrating birds returned to the northland. The grass changes overnight from dull brown to lush green. Buds pop on tree branches. And suddenly flowers dot otherwise skimpy flower beds.

Spring is the perfect time of year for fresh starts and new beginnings. I’ve often thought this a better time of year for resolutions rather than the dark, cold days of January. Spring cleaning has many of us heaving stuff from the garage and scrubbing away the grimy prints from windows and doors, too.

Last year around this time, I was embarking on a new-to-me journey: a foray into minimalism. For those of you unfamiliar with the term it basically means less of what you don’t need so you can have more (money, mental space, cleared out physical space) of what you love. I loved reading Joshua Becker’s blog, Becoming Minimalist, and later a few of his books. Courtney Carver was the inspiration behind a serious overhaul of my wardrobe when I pared down to less than 40 items. Everywhere I looked it seemed, I found more blogs and books on the subject. And they were inspiring. 
image credit Fast forward a year
While I’m nowhere near having a home that looks like this, I still like to keep things clutter-free (as much as is possible living in a small house with a family and two cats). This year I’ve learned some good lessons about decluttering and living in a more minimalistic way. More interesting? I’ve seen how questioning clutter in a physical space is starting to influence my writing. I'll share a few of the lessons learned below.

Lesson #1: Find a new normal.  I struggle through the months of February, March and April.  No matter how I try to prepare myself and take care of myself through workouts, supplements, light therapy, and new activities, this is the worst time of the year for me. It’s when I put on my “winter weight,” and get lethargic and feel like no matter how hot baths I take, I never fully unthaw. It’s also the time when my healthy habits like decluttering, refraining from buying things I don’t need and keeping things organized slip a little.

I used to consider myself a failure because of this. This year I realized that even at my worst, when I’m browsing clothes stores every week and drooling over things I won't buy, I’m still far better off than I was several years ago. Then I would actually spend money, most that I didn’t have—(hello, credit card, where’ve you been?)—on things that I didn’t need. 

It’s cool to look back at where I was a decade ago and see how much my habits have changed. This is my new normal. While it still always feels that I have miles and miles to go before I end up anything like this, I enjoy this new path so much more.

The same thing can be seen in our writing. At first setting up a writing practice is hard. You’d rather trim the dog’s toenails or deep clean the fridge. But then you find your groove, your new rhythm. And realize that this writing thing isn’t so hard after all. Especially after you’ve set up an easy way to win.

Lesson #2: Less really is more.  When I was a kid I was the queen of collections. I had sticker collections, stuffed animal collections, book collections, glass jar collections … basically I hoarded everything I could get my sticky little hands on. 


Over time, especially after having a child, the importance of less stuff has become more and more a priority. I don’t want 10 of anything. I’m driven mad by the Christmas Tree Shop commercials, “What? Only $4? I’m going to get twenty!” says an over-dressed woman throwing in armfuls of candle pieces or potholders into her cart.

How does this relate to writing? In recent months I’ve noticed a difference in my editing abilities. Now it’s becoming easier to see where I can let words go—unclutter my sentences—and end up with something that sounds better.

Lesson #3: Make room for what’s important.  Last year when I did my big closet cull, I donated bags and bags of clothes and accessories. I generally shop at thrift stores and gladly take my sisters’ hand-me-downs so I didn’t feel guilty about filling bags with donations. I did, however, feel a little panicked when I looked at my newly pared down side of the closet. 

It looked empty. Yes, it was nice to see everything that I had easily. Instead of too-tightly crammed together pieces, I could actually see every single article in a quick glance.

But you know what I realized in the next few weeks? I had so many more options! Because I could easily see what there was to choose from I had fun putting together new outfits. I love fashion and clothes and it was an eye-opener for me to realize this: make room for what you love most and you’ll always be well-dressed. 
Make your writing a priority This is the same for writing what you love. Writers and creatives in general, all struggle to make time for their craft. When we allow the world (using the term loosely to mean anything outside your priority writing) to make its demands on us, we lose our chance to do that unique writing that only we can bring into the world. Balancing clients’ projects with your own writing is extremely difficult. Until you determine that your own writing is a priority and treat it as such.

I talk about this in The 15-Minute Novelist so won’t go into depth here. But I would encourage you, if you’re struggling to make your own writing project a priority, do it first. When you wake up. Or with your first cup of coffee. Or on your morning commute via subway or bus. Even if it’s just a short segment of time, make your writing a priority. This tells your subconscious, my writing matters. My creativity matters.

And from that point on, your day may be just a little easier.

***Signed up for the Newsletter for Writers yet? It comes out twice a month and is packed with information, inspiration and education to empower writers. Get on the list in less than a minute and receive my free 7 Ways to Find Time to Write guide. 

How Will You Write Your Book: Carrot or Stick?

You’re ten years old. It’s a drizzly Saturday afternoon and you’ve finished your chores at home, ridden your bike into town. Your shoes feel squishy and dampness clings to the windbreaker your mother insisted you wear.

Wandering the aisles in a local bookshop, you trail your fingers over the spines of glossy paperbacks and robust hardcovers. The wooden floors squeak underfoot. Your breath feels like a tight package in your chest. “Someday,” you whisper. “Someday my name is going to be on one of these books, lining this shelf.”

Was this you? Is it still? 
When you want to write a book … and the world conspires against you
image credit “It’s in here,” the writer says, pounding his chest. “I know that I have a book in me—maybe more than one—but I can’t write it because … (insert reason here).”

No time.

Too stressed.

Job gets in the way.

Creatively dry.

Exhausted.

These are a few reasons that writers have shared with me when I ask why they aren’t working on their dream. Many of them even do penance for not writing. Mentally flogging themselves, calling themselves names: lazy, uninspired, hack. Writing this script over and over in their minds that says one thing: I can’t do this. 
Does the stick work? 
Do you see yourself in the above description?  If so, I want to ask you something. But you have to promise to answer honestly. Does it work?

Is this stick—beating yourself up for not taking your writing seriously, putting up plenty of walls so that your creative side is stymied, making time for marathon TV watching and gossiping about celebrities and lamenting the fact that you "just don’t have time to write"—does it work? 
Why carrots are better
There are two types of action-takers in the world. There are those motivated by “sticks." We see these stories a lot in business publications and glossy consumer mags. These are the Type A’s who wake at 4 a.m. for a two-hour workout, write a scholarly article while sipping an antioxidant smoothie before heading off to their full-time, high pressure, high powered job. Here, they’ll work for 10 hours before starting a round of volunteer board meetings in the evenings.

And then there are those of us motivated by “carrots.” We haven’t quite lost touch with our inner kid, so spend a good deal of time trying to find ways to make otherwise boring things fun. Yes, we have to work all day. But what fun thing could we do after work? What experiment would they enjoy? Trying a painting class? Signing up for hot yoga? Writing a single scene from a book they will eventually finish? People motivated by carrots tend to look for rewards in the every day. And if they can’t find them? They make some of their own. 
Writing for carrots
In a recent writing course, a participant told me in a frustrated voice that he wanted the writing time to be the carrot. He wanted that to be the reward, not something that had to be gotten through every day. 

And over time, it can be. Implementing any new habit, though, is challenging. And creating a writing practice is a habit.

It is something that won’t feel very carrot-like at all in the beginning. Over time though, it will become less and less difficult. It will become something that eventually you won’t have to think about. Or at least, not as much.

So, when you feel that resistance, hear that negative voice smacking you with the stick, pause. Take a deep breath. And choose to listen instead to the voice that says, “Yes.”

“Yes, I can do this.”

“Yes, I can start with just 15 minutes.”

“Yes, I can make this fun.”

***Signed up for the Newsletter for Writers yet? It comes out twice a month and is packed with information, inspiration and education to empower writers. Get on the list in less than a minute and receive my free 7 Ways to Find Time to Write guide. 

When Entrepreneurs Want to Give Up

"I just don't think I can do this anymore." 
"Freelancing is so much harder than I thought it would be." 
"A 9-5 is starting to look good. Really good." 

These are some of the comments that I've been hearing from entrepreneurs in my circle lately. And while I'm certainly not going to say that I never even dream of going back to a (relatively secure) full-time job working for someone else, I know deep down in my gut that it would be a mistake. 

Here's why: I’ve been down that road before and it did not make me happy.

Sometimes what looks like entrepreneurial burnout and readiness for a corporate job is masking something else: overwhelm.
Entrepreneurs who lie
Some of this mis-education around entrepreneurship and starting your own business is nothing more than snake oil in a prettily packaged website.

“Earn 100,000 in 7 days!”

“Become rich and travel the world, once you start this easy-to-run business in your pajamas.”

“Want to be your own boss? Open your own business tomorrow in 3 easy steps!”

And then we wake up. Because it’s not easy running a business, but it’s not easy working at a job that you hate either. While dreaming of coffee breaks and water cooler chats, let’s not forget to add in requests for time off that are denied, the raise you thought you’d certainly get but didn’t, and the volatile co-worker whose main job, it appears, is to ruin every day of your work life with their over-the-moon stress fests. 

image credit Please, let’s first remember that you are not a failure in any sense of the word if you decide to go back to working for someone else. Lots of people do it. Lots of them are perfectly happy.

I would caution though, that you are seeking employment for the right reasons. What are these? Only you can tell.

Here are some bad reasons to give up your entrepreneurial dreams:

You really want a boat. Or a new car. Or a bigger house. There are ways to get these things (if they are truly that important to you) as you follow your self-employment dreams. It may take longer. You might have to work harder. But it is possible.          You miss having coworkers. We’re really lucky right now to have some great online networking and business community groups available with just the click of a button. Finding a “tribe” online is a great way to share connection with others who get what you’re doing. (And you can get away from them whenever you want.) Office gossip just isn’t the same when you’re all alone.   :) Security. This one is important to a lot of people and I’m not discounting it. I’m fortunate in that while I’ve been running my own business for the past seven years, I’ve had health insurance through my spouse’s employer. Job security in general feels good too. It’s hard work to pound the proverbial pavement week after week, drumming up new clients for your business. But think of it this way: would you rather be working hard for a better future that you control, or leaving it up to the whim of your employer? 

I’m not saying that working for someone else = bad and working for yourself = good. I do believe, though, that many times what an entrepreneur/freelancer needs more than searching the want ads is to take a little time off. Rest. Recuperate. Make a plan of action that is sustainable. Get out of your office, your house, and your pajamas and do something that is fun and refreshing and different.

Then take two aspirin and call me in the morning.  


Signed up for the Newsletter for Writers yet? It comes out twice a month and is packed with information, inspiration and education to empower writers. Get on the list in less than a minute and receive my free 7 Ways to Find Time to Write guide.

How to Not Use a Scattershot Approach to Social Networking

Good grief, do you ever wonder what you did with your time before social networking?

While a typical workday used to involve an overflowing inbox—picture papers dropped helter-skelter into a desk tray on one’s desk—now our email inboxes runneth over, our Twitter feed feels like a marathon read and our Pinterest boards are seriously in need of an overhaul. When the phone rings these days we gulp, wondering, "what could be wrong?" The phone! 

Rather than give up on social networking though, find a way to manage it.

Easier said than done, right? The practice may not be fast the first time around, but once a practice is in place for dealing with and even managing your social networking accounts, things will start to look a lot brighter. And tidier. 
Where to start
Start by saying this one little word and save yourself hours of angst: “no.” It’s a complete sentence, isn’t it? 

If you’re a creative, a small business owner or an entrepreneur, you know that there are lots of tempting distractions built into a work day. You likely say no to other things: unnecessary meetings if you own a business, watching TV during time that you set aside as sacred to writing or creating.

Being proactive and saying, “no” to too many types of social networking is just as important. 

But I don’t want to miss out! 
Ah, this is one reason that I completely understand.  Creatives are kind of like magpies when it comes to new social media: it catches our eye first, then our attention. Before we know it, we have spent three hours jumping down rabbit holes in a single blog before coming up for air. “What happened,” we ask, looking around us blearily. “I just wanted to read one article …”

If you’re afraid you will miss out on a single form of social media, don’t worry. It’s not going anywhere. Just because you don’t set up that Instagram account today, doesn’t mean it won’t be there tomorrow or next month. And if a particular social media platform fades away before you get to use it, consider it a blessing of time saved.

Scattershot = Few results

If there was an award for best scattershot attempts during one’s career, would you win? Are you maintaining sickly-looking profiles on more than three online platforms? More than six? Seven-plus? If so, back away from the keyboard.

Seriously, the more focused your attempts, the more benefits you’ll see. Why spread yourself so thin that you can’t keep up? Better to choose one or two social networks, learn the in’s and out’s of each and present your very best self on these, rather than a not-so-appealing version on six platforms. Alexis Grant, social media maven, has an excellent Quick 'n Dirty Guide to Getting Traffic to Your Website, that I consider a must-read. 
Start small and grow
There is no reason that you can’t start small—think one or two social networks—and grow these over time. Every new media, every platform, has a learning curve. But once you’ve gotten familiar with one, say Facebook, interacting there is not as much work. Then it’s time to move on: maybe to Twitter or LinkedIn or Pinterest.

Oh, one more note: there are tons and tons of free resources online for getting started with and expanding one’s social media presence. Sometimes it is helpful to choose one or two authors—just like you chose one or two social media platforms—and soak in their instruction. The caveat is to choose someone who is doing work that you love and connect with and adding them to the top of your “to be read,” file.

***Signed up for the Newsletter for Writers yet? It comes out twice a month and is packed with information, inspiration and education to empower writers. Get on the list in less than a minute and receive my free 7 Ways to Find Time to Write guide. 

Writing Time and an Open Mind

Today I'm guest posting over at the Sisters in Crime blog, Pen, Ink and Crimes. The post, if you didn't already guess from the title above, is about making time to write ... but with a twist.
 
Come check it out! 

Simple Writing

“Jesus wept.”

It’s the shortest sentence in the Bible. What can a short sentence teach us about simple writing? Look at the power in those words. Just two of them, yet you can almost feel the emotion.

Contrast that to this passage from Samuel Beckett’s book, Watt:

Thus it was not rare to find, on the Sunday, the tallboy on its feet by the fire, and the dressing table on its head by the bed, and the night-stool on its face by the door, and the washand-stand on its back by the window; and, on the Monday, the tallboy on its back by the bed, and the dressing table on its face by the door, and the night-stool on its back by the window and the washand-stand on its feet by the fire; and on the Tuesday…

image credit Writing Simply
While there is certainly power in short and long sentences, I believe that succinctness and simplicity in reading is something the majority of readers enjoy.

This is especially true with online reading. Copyblogger’s post Ernest Hemmingway’s Top 5 Tips for Writing Well is a perfect example.

But simple writing goes beyond a smaller number of words. It’s about something more. Expressing oneself and ideas in a way that provide the most meaning with the least number of distractions. If you’re a fan of Zen Habits you know that its originator, Leo Babauta, has mastered simple writing and passes the experience on to readers of his extremely popular website.  In fact, the entire site is like a breath of fresh air: no advertisements, no side bars. Just lots of white space and restful reading. 
How Simplicity Changed My Writing
While my writing is far (far, far) from the simplicity of either Mr. Hemmingway or Mr. Babauta, I am noticing that with each new novel, my writing is changing: tightening, becoming more simple and less passive.

This is exciting and telling. Working on my fifth novel and I’m just learning this now? Still, it wasn’t as though I finished novel #4 and then—wham!—discovered that I was suddenly writing more simply. It’s been an ongoing progression, like most habits.

Like a duck, we often can’t see all the work going on under the surface. Ducks look serene floating in the water. Take a look underneath the surface, though, and their little webbed feet pedaling like mad.  That’s how it is with writing more simply, heck, with living more simply. You don’t really realize how much things have changed until, one day, you do.

Here’s a fun quiz for you: what is the shortest sentence in the English language? Find out via Riddle Brain Teasers.

***
Signed up for the Newsletter for Writers yet? It comes out twice a month and is packed with information, inspiration and education to empower writers. Get on the list in less than a minute and receive my free 7 Ways to Find Time to Write guide. 

Does Stephen King Write His Anxiety?

Are suspense and mystery writers’ nervous types? Is horror master, Stephen King, anxious?

I think so. And here’s why …
Writing is therapeutic
Writing is an outlet. Writers use it to funnel our thoughts, fears, beliefs, and imaginings into written form. Through words we explore our world, daydream about others, and piece together a new reality of sorts.

Doesn’t it make sense then, that individuals who deal with anxiety, could use writing as an outlet of their fears? Creative types have extremely active imaginations. What better way to “tame” that sometimes hyper-creativity than through writing? The practice also allows us to get a little distance from some of these worries. 

“If it’s on the page,” we think, maybe even subconsciously, “I don’t have to be concerned about it anymore.” It can help us to funnel our fear into creative expression.
image credit "Hi, I’m a mystery writer and I’m anxious ..." 
I’ll be the first to admit that half of the reason I love writing mystery/suspense so much is that I'm free to get a lot of those worries, many “what ifs” that bang around in my brain, out.

Worrywart, anxious, high strung, owner of a hyperactive brain—whatever you want to call it, our minds are often on overdrive. Writing helps us focus, to dump some of that energy (negative and positive). 

It wouldn’t surprise me in the least to learn that famous authors like Stephen King, Sue Grafton and J.A. Konrath also might deal with anxiety. 

This gives the old adage, “write what you know,” a whole new meaning. For example, Harriet Lane, author of Her, a suspense set in north London, shares a deep look inside the  writing of suspense books to banish a specific, very serious fear in her life .

Please share your thoughts on this topic in the comments section. 

PS There’s also good article on mental health and creativity here. Note: some of the statistics quoted are scary. I’m sharing the article not to cause more worry to creatives, but to remind us of the often overlooked link between anxiety/other psychological issues and creativity. I hope it's helpful. 

The #1 Cure for Weekly Overwhelm

Overwhelmed yet?

I’m not going to spout the benefits of carving out more free moments in your overly-full schedule (I’m guessing your harried enough to know that you want, no need, to make some changes), so I want to point out a practice that might just be life-changing.

Seriously.

The practice is ancient but feels strangely foreign to most of us. It includes slowing down, making space, freeing one’s thoughts and hopefully gaining insight, clarity and peace. What is this magical, mysterious practice? 
The #1 Cure for Weekly Overwhelm
image credit Faith-based individuals call it a “Shabbat” or “Sabbath” or “Sunday rest.” Call it whatever you will, but if you truly want to make big, positive changes in your stress levels, start it now. This week.

There are entire books and websites dedicated to the topic . I’d recommend you read about it further if that will help you embrace the concept more fully. But these are the basics:

Rest for a set period of time* (an entire day is wonderful, 24-hours even better) from all work. That’s right. ALL work. Resist the urge to go online. For anything. Turn the laptop/pad/tablet/phone (!) off and leave it off. Prepare ahead of time so that you can be free from the daily drudgery as much as possible. Pick up some healthy ready-made meals at the grocery store or local café prior to starting your rest day. Or say the heck with it and load your freezer with frozen dinner/breakfast options. Try doing a clean sweep of your house before you start, too. Having time to spend in the present moment shouldn’t be stress-inducing (“I can’t take those fingerprints on the windows or that dust on the bureau another minute!”).Set aside a portion of your day to do something fun and meaningful. That might include a hike in the woods with family or friends (or solo), finally starting that great-looking book that’s been giving you the eye from the bookcase, baking bread or painting in your art journal or just sitting, observing nature. Decide that, no matter how tempted you feel (because I can almost guarantee that you will feel tempted), you won’t “just check my work email” or “double check phone messages,” to get a head start on the workweek ahead. 
*Some advocates advise gently easing oneself into this practice by setting aside just an hour or two to start. I don’t. You have to have a long enough period of time away from work/technology to see the benefits. Otherwise you will end up throwing your hands in the air saying, “See? I knew this wouldn’t work!” 
How I started a rest day and the benefits I’ve experienced 
I grew up in a religion where we observed Sabbath each week, from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. I had a love/hate view of the practice: on the one hand it made the time special, set apart and offered a rhythm to the week. On the other hand, it was oppressive (hello, teenager who can’t go to a Friday night dance?) and often felt oppressive.

As an adult, I observe a modified version: I participate in a rest day each Sunday. I don’t work. I don’t go online (until evening). We try to do fun things together as a family: hikes in the woods, going to the beach or taking out the canoe or blowing bubbles and sitting in the sun on the deck. Anything to get us outside and breathing fresh air. I still cook, but make simple meals.

Maybe something about it meshes with my inner rebel. It feels good, so good, to say “later” to the to-do list, the “should list” and all the niggling, nagging things that need to be taken care of on a daily or weekly basis. Slow Your Home has a great post, Ignore the Shoulds. Do Something You Love which is inspiring.

I can’t honestly say that since I started this practice a couple of years ago, I’ve never worked or gone online on Sundays. But I find that the times I do, I am much less peaceful and content at the end of the day. 


It’s kind of like when you were a kid and just couldn’t wait to bite into that giant chocolate Easter bunny. “It’s huge! It’s going to taste awesome.” And then you bit a little too aggressively on its little bunny ear and the whole head caved in. To add insult to injury, not only was the bunny hollow but it was just “chocolate flavored.”

“Oh, just a few minutes brainstorming this project,” feels so innocent. But halfway through the workweek I find that I’m no further along than if I stopped completely on Sunday and gave myself the gift of an entire day off. Isn’t that weird? It’s almost magical the way that the “wasted” time helps the rest of our week go more smoothly.

It shouldn’t be surprising though. We all need rest. We need time to nurture ourselves and let that creative well become deep once again.

Do you have a habit of unplugging once a week? If so, how did you get started? What challenges did you face? Please share a response in the comments.