DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Guest Post by Linda Lyle
Do you ever find yourself going down the anxiety rabbit hole? Like many businesses, writing is a feast or famine. I am either waiting to hear back from editors, agents, and publishers, or I am overwhelmed by deadlines and details. Either way I feel anxious as I wonder how it will all come together. All that anxiety and stress affects my mind, body, and spirit. It’s not a good way to live, so I’ve been trying to find a better way. As a writer, I need to plan and set goals, but I also need to make room to breathe.
A couple of years ago a friend gave me the book The 12-Week Year for Writers by Trevor Thrall about setting goals in smaller chunks, but one of the greatest takeaways for me was when he says you need to write out a realistic schedule that takes into account all of your other responsibilities and leaves a place for free time. That’s when I began to schedule time for nothing. Nothing can mean watching television, reading, art, or even a nap. It’s whatever I want to do or feel like doing. You see if I create goals and a schedule that is doable, then I can have time to rest. I can have room to breathe.
The great thing is that it is guilt-free time. You heard right. When I stick to my writing schedule and make progress toward my goal, then I can enjoy my downtime as a reward. However, it is more than a reward; it is a necessity. If I don’t take time to rest, a crash will come. So, I schedule rest because if I wait until I have a minute, it will probably never happen. I also am more productive because I don’t waste time trying to figure out what to do next when I am writing. I already have a plan, which takes some of the stress off my nerves.
Regardless of whether it is feast or famine, I now make room to breathe. I schedule it, I do it, and I enjoy it. God the Father is a giver of good gifts and that includes taking time to enjoy the gifts He has given us so that we are rested and strengthened for the work times on our schedule. Temperance, one of the fruits of the Spirit, is about healthy balance. So, find something you enjoy and make room for it on the schedule. Let it renew your mind and spirit so that you can take on the next task with energy and joy.
I have found rest in drawing, coloring, and hand-lettering. What brings you joy? I’d love to hear your answers.
Be blessed,
Linda Lyle
Linda Lye is an author, knitter, and unintentional collector of cats who knits together novels with mystery, humor, and romance. Linda’s current releases are a novella collection A Christmas by Any Other Name and The 5-Minute Prayer Plan for When Life is Overwhelming, both available on Amazon. As a freelance writer, Linda has written for Open Windows, Salem Web Network, Refresh Bible Study Magazine and as a contributor for Lighthouse Bible Studies and SCWC books. You can check out all her work and her blog on lindalyle.com where The End Of My Yarn is just the beginning.
Thank you, Linda!
Comments 41
Great truth! Well said 🙂
Thanks, Diana! Linda did a great job of pointing us in the right direction.
I like to crochet and meet twice a week with a group in our public library. Crochet and knitting are the main crafts and always someone in our group to teach new converts.
So besides a relaxing hobby I can at the same time make gifts for others or donations for charity.
Gail, what a wonderful way to use your talent to not only relax you but to give a gift. Thanks so much.
I went with a friend to a knitting class because she didn’t want to go alone. She quit, and I kept going. Now I work at the yarn store. I love it.
Thank you Ms. Linda and Ms. DiAnn. Joy, for me, is regained when I can get away to a quiet place around the ranch and just enjoy some quiet time during my day, or week, with God. That “refills my tank” so to speak. God’s blessings ladies.
J.D., I like the way you refill your tank. Sometimes I close my eyes and let my mind wander back to the farm I grew up on.
I have coffee and cats with Christ each morning on my chaise lounge. It’s a quiet moment to start my day. Thanks for sharing J. D. 🙂
Linda, I also bought this book after you recommended it in a writing group. Scheduling time does make a difference. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Barbara, I need to add that book to my list too. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks Barbara. The book really helped me, and I hope it will do the same for you.
DiAnn, thank you for inviting Linda to post this week. It’s a great inspiration.
Linda, thank you for a fabulous reminder. I try to reserve Sundays and some Saturdays for my other pursuits – gardening, sewing, and fun things with my husband. And remember the example that Jesus gave us when He took time away and to rest.
P.S. I love the graphic on your website home page. I’m also intrigued by your book recommendation for The12 Week Year for Writers so did a bit of research on it. Sounds helpful.
Hi Karen, Linda does a wonderful job with her writing and creativity. Thank you for blessing her and me!
Karen, I hope you find the book helpful, and I appreciate your comments. I’m just sorry I’m so late in responding. Sunday afternoons have become my oasis of rest.
Thank you for that great reminder. I used to cozy in a chair at my table with an assortment of crayons, and color the pages of children’s coloring books. (A very breathe worthy time for me.) I haven’t done that recently. Your post has prompted me to get those crayons and coloring books out again and breath in His peace. Such a simple thing but very soothing for me—a tidbit of rejuvenating time. ❤️
God bless!
Terry, what a creative way to relax while using the gift of color. Thank you!
Terry, it is a wonderful way to relax. I have been doing other things recently, but I think I need to break out the coloring books this weekend. Thanks so much.
This is an excellent reminder. I think scheduling doing nothing time is easier for some than others. I try to keep Sundays for that. My adult children seem to have no problem doing that in their time off. But I seem to feel I must be accomplishing something, forgetting that rest restores our souls and demonstrates faith.
Debbie, I so agree with you. We can’t serve God when we are exhausted. Thanks for the reminder.
Debbie I had a hard time with resting at first for the very same reason. Sometimes I need reminding that rest is productive in its own way. My cats help me remember because they know how to enjoy a moment of just snuggling up on the chaise lounge together with me. Thanks for responding.
Finding me time with a spouse in the house is difficult. I can’t even imagine anyone with children having me time. I work full time as an editor, reserving evenings and weekends for my almost 55-year marriage, but that’s “us” time. I work on my writing and reading when he’s out of the house on mission work. If I didn’t purchase a book for a year (will never happen!), my TBR stack would still be daunting! I can always be sure of one thing–I will never face boredom!
Peggy, I love your philosophy to have “us” time as a priority. Because my husband works with me, we have to leave the house for a beneficial rest.
Peggy, I live alone and my TBR pile is still daunting. 🙂
Scheduled “nothing” time…I love that idea! Because the to-do list really is overwhelming, and it often feels as if I can’t allow myself nothing time or hobby time. Thank you for sharing this perspective!
Tama, I don’t know about you because scheduling nothing time is hard. Seems like we’ve been prewired with “gotta be doing something,” which isn’t good for us or biblical. Thanks for your comments.
Tama, thanks for your response. I got a little overwhelmed the last week with my to do list, so I’m late to respond. I’m taking my own advice tomorrow afternoon. Anybody want to color?
Good thoughts!
I’m learning to add “me” time as well as catchup time for when I can’t get all the pieces done in my schedule or I just need to catch up on a creative thing I want.
Cathy, I call that treat-time, but even then it’s hard for me to do. Linda’s blog post helped me see the value.
Cathy, thanks for your response. This week has been a challenge to fit all the puzzle pieces of my schedule together, but when I take a moment to do something creative, it energizes me to tackle the rest of my to-do list.
This speaks to me. I’m always doing something but it seems like it’s for everyone else and I’m left out. Then I’m upset because I didn’t have time for writing or just for me.
Sandra, we simply need to draw a few boundaries, and that usually means with ourselves. Be blessed and may you find rest.
Sandra, thanks for the response. I hope you carve out a little time to do something you enjoy this weekend.
Hi Linda. Hi DiAnn. Its incredible. I’ve never taken the time to rest. Not a daytime napper. Nor anxious. My Dad used to do things quickly and I’ve inherited his fleet feet😊. Now that I’m older, God gives me to rest. He’s created my schedule, and Linda, its like you were a fly on the wall in my home. Your advice about finding something you enjoy and adding it to your schedule in order to experience joy and renewal is now a part of my lifestyle. I used to work like the energizer bunny and could multi-task like my life depended on it. I’ve slowed down. I love lettering, drawing, and picture book writing. I’m praying that one day my books, which glorify God, will be on bookstore and library shelves. Can’t wait to read your current releases. May God bless you richly.
Thanks, Dawn, finding the perfect activity that relaxes us and allows us to create fits perfectly into God’s design for our lives. It’s all about balance. Thank you for your kind words.
Dawn, thank you so much for your kind words. I love lettering and drawing and am trying out painting. I pray God will use your writing for His glory.
I must have down time every week, sometimes daily. My physical and mental health requires it. I have learned the hard way.
Even when when I was young and healthy my body had a limit. When I pushed too far my body would shut down for a few days.
I do everything within my power to avoid that now.
Sheila, I so understand! Remember the days of pajama parties? I could never make it all night without rest because I’d get physically sick. We all need to listen to our bodies.
Sheila, I understand. I can tell a difference when I don’t take breaks. I have a fur ball who reminds me when I’ve spent to long at the computer. She just climbed up in my lap to remind me my bedtime is here.
Wonderful advice, very timely…need to follow it right now! My book launch is today, and I’m in the throes of sending out all kinds of messages. But I will make time this evening for rest…and look forward to it! Blessings to you….
Nancy, may your book launch be a blessing to you and readers. Make sure you have Room to Breathe.
Nancy, congratulations! Make sure to get some rest and do something you enjoy to energize you for the next phase.