This week I have been working hard, both at the day job and trying write potentially profiting things. I keep trying to establish myself as a “real writer” and honestly, sometimes I feel a bit like Pinocchio. After 30 + years of struggling to take myself seriously it dawned on me this morning that there has to be a point when you stop. This point should not be reserved for the moment when you can’t keep your eyes open anymore. You do not have to wait until your brain feels like gravy. You do not have to wait until you run out of clean clothes and you must do the laundry. You do not have to wait until someone else has to use the computer to do their homework.



At the day job, the end of the day comes, and I log off and go home. Sometimes I work overtime, but if I do, it’s a decided amount and I go home. Then what do I do when I get home. Work some more! The work is often more fun than the day job, but it’s still work.



I’ve read articles, even taken classes on the importance of showing up for your writing and taking it seriously for the job that it is. But as important as it is to punch in, I’ve come to realize I need to punch out as well. I need to hold “reviews” with myself on how I can do what I need to do more efficiently in the time allotted, and try to work only during that time allotted with minimal O.T.



Next week I am going to make a schedule. A full fledged, post it on the fridge, this is what I’m gonna do, schedule of when to write, what to write when, when to network. When to be online. When to be offline. When to be in training. I will keep track of what seems to work, and what doesn’t. Maybe I will even give myself some PTO.



Relaxation should be something we choose to do, something we plan for and look forward to. Not just something that happens when we can no longer hold our own heads up anymore.

Gretchen Lee Bourquin is the author of the novel No Sensible People, available in print from Lulu.com and Amazon.com. A preview of the 2nd edition is available as a free download for a limited time via her website.