I Will Take August Off From Writing

Originally, I was going to pick back up with writing today because I am done with my portion of edits for The Earl’s Bluestocking Bride. Then I got sick. It’s not a head cold, though that is what I expected at first. Whatever is happening is in my sinuses and, to a lesser extend, in my lungs. It’s come with some headaches. So I am sure this is the result of stress.

I pushed myself too hard in July. At first, I was trying to write while editing. Then I was taking the Author Summit online conference while editing. Then I was finishing the narration for The Hero Least Likely while editing. I could feel that I was doing too much but had trouble saying “no” because there was so much to do. There’s still so much to do. But I have to learn to step back and tell myself no.

I have decided that I will take August off from writing. I will still be working. So I’m not technically going anywhere. I just need to tend to the stuff that often gets moved to the side while I’m in my writing and editing mode. This is mostly the business end of things. Mostly, I need to get back into the walking that I haven’t been doing in June and July due to the heat. I don’t do well in heat, but I need to suck it up and deal with it because I’m sure not walking has contributed why I’m sick right now. Walking is the best way I’ve found to manage stress. The stress can’t be fully helped. Not when I have a husband and four sons who usually come to me with whatever is bothering them. I appreciate the fact that they feel comfortable enough with me to do that, but sometimes their frustrations get “stuck” to me, and I need a way of shaking it off. Also, writing is really like any other job with its own forms of stressors. I have found some relaxation in cooking meals from scratch and experimenting with different ingredients. I have found just cutting up fruits and vegetables has a nice soothing effect. However, nothing beats walking. There is something about physical exercise that helps the mind relax.

Alright. so with all of that aside, I still want to blog, and I need to get to emails. I have let the emails pile up. That’s a form of stress in itself, and I get overwhelmed. It doesn’t help that I struggle for a good half hour to an hour on even what to say. It should be easy since I’m a writer, but this isn’t fiction. But I will start in on the emails tomorrow. I will hopefully get to the Monthly Newsletter blog tomorrow, too. I have some ideas for this blog that I’ve been wanting to do, and since I won’t be writing, I think I can finally get to them this month. So you’ll still see me around in August.