I spent the last three weeks completing a few long overdue chores and spending time with my family. In those three weeks, I attended an aunt’s memorial service, and an uncle’s birthday and had a lovely rosary dinner at my house. I also attended a picnic and caught up with old friends over coffee during this time. Easy to say, I was a busy bee and part of me was ridden with guilt at not having written anything on my Substack.
I remember coming home late every night and wondering if I should sit up, propped with my laptop and begin writing. I made a few attempts but the writing came up shoddy and unkempt. I was devastated. I had made up my mind to be consistent but I watched as my dedication fizzled away while my planner was filled with social events.
One Sunday, as I was heading to church, I was pondering on the word that had been drilled in my mind ever since I was a child. Sabbath. Sabbath in the Oxford dictionary is described as a day of religious observance and abstinence from work (the Sabbath), kept by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and by most Christians on Sunday.
Now we may not be religious but most of us have Sunday off from work. We all in some ways, rest it out from office work. We may spend it doing chores, spending time with family and using it like me, to work on my blog. While I am religious, I never took the idea of a Sunday rest quite seriously. But I was more determined than ever to use a little Sabbath rest to better my writing and productivity.
I realized that I do not have to feel guilty about resting on days when social engagements get the better of me. I realized that rest is inherently not a bad thing, irrespective of what hustle culture tells us. I don’t have to constantly be working to be productive. Productivity and being busy are not synonymous.
It got me thinking. How can rest improve myself as a writer? How can one day of the week help me make the most of the rest of the week? Can I use my Saturdays for writing and Sundays for rest? Would it help my creativity?
Now many of us think of rest as something passive but rather, rest is active. Active rest helps us generate new ideas and improves our vigour for life. Now you may ask me, Alinka, what is active rest and how can I use it as a writer?
Catch up on your reading
You can never be a good writer if you don’t read. Use your Sundays to read a new book or finish an old one. Research new and upcoming book titles that would be a great addition to your physical or virtual bookshelf. You can also use this time to shop for a few books that you can read during your commute to work.
Watch your favourite TV show
If you want to be a great writer, what’s better than to take some plot inspiration from your favourite TV shows? You can also build up your vocabulary especially if you like writing in a language that’s not your mother tongue. I love binge-watching Gilmore Girls because I love the extensive vocabulary used in the show. From where else would I learn to use the word ‘copious’ in a sentence?
Spend time with friends and family
Sometimes, all we need is to share some biscuits and tea with our loved ones and talk about life. The safe place that we receive can provide us with solace and boost our self-esteem. We will find answers to all our tough questions and find a place to vent our emotions.
Make time for hobbies
Yes, writing is a hobby but our other hobbies, however unrelated they may be can help us support our writing. If you love sketching, painting, knitting or crocheting, you can spend some quiet time by yourself and find new ideas and inspiration for your next writing project.
Move
Sunday is a perfect time to get in a workout if you can’t find time to work out during the week. Take a walk in the park, bicycle in your township or find time to do a little HIIT. You’ll feel energised and it will help you recharge your creativity.
Sleep
Last, get some good rest and catch up on your sleep. Sleep helps you relax and eases the tiredness of the long week. It also helps you improve concentration and alertness. Never underestimate the power of a good nap. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to start your next writing project.
Whether you’re an amateur writer like myself who also juggles a 9-5 or a seasoned writer with many books under your name, you’ll agree that a little rest can take your writing up by quite a few notches. Active rest when used correctly and efficiently can help you ease your mind, help you find new ideas and keep you on track with your writing goals. So remember, active rest is not just a little break but also a warm-up when you decide to write your next piece. Until we meet again, happy writing!!