Sometimes there just seems so much to do. Those books won’t write themselves, you know! There’s pressure to hustle harder and get our butts on the chair and write write write.
And they’re not wrong.
But sometimes sticking to our to-do lists, hustling, and being busy busy busy isn’t actually the best way to go about things. And I’m not just saying that because of the burnout factor, though that’s certainly a danger!
I’m talking about setting aside tasks in order to take time for dreams. Because the dreams matter.
Call it dreaming, rest, brainstorming, procrastination, or what you will… It’s important.
Putting in more hours and grinding away may work in certain situations, but we’re not machines. And our work isn’t always black or white with clear finish lines.
We need time to dream in order to feed our creative gardens.
In fact, sometimes our time away from our work can actually be extremely valuable! Research has shown that sleep can help us learn and process things better.
There is also research showing that “strategic procrastination” can improve creativity by providing more time for experimentation and for ideas to develop. Taking extra time to complete a task can give us more room for our creativity to flourish.
Sure, I still think productivity is important and measurable goals are good.
But being willing to step outside of the “hustle” is important too.
As writers, we should also be dreamers. It may be often overlooked but it really isn’t optional.
Our daydreams and moments away from our writing are in many ways just as important as when we sit down at our desks.
“A writer is never just looking out of a window or staring into space. They are building a universe to share with the world.”
Brenda Ashworth Barry
Like so many things in life, it’s a balance. Your writing process and life rhythms won’t match mine or anyone else’s, and they may change from season to season.
But when life gets busy (as it is wont to do) – don’t forget to be taking time for dreams, my dear writers! Because the dreams are where the magic happens.
