How writers can refuel creativity and unlock productivity by planning time off

With the right strategy for regular rest and recharging, journalists don't have to fall victim to burnout or writer's block.

I’ve just taken several days off work traveling through the Caribbean, and I didn’t recognize the upside until I got back. I love my job, which made me hesitant to unplug even though I hadn’t taken a day off in some time. 

To be sure, I push hard at work and in my writing, and I’ve become “good” at ignoring inklings of fatigue. I’ve found success relying on discipline and consistency, so it’s difficult for me to agree to stray, no matter how briefly. 

(There’s plenty to debate on the wisdom of this — but that’s for another day.) 

In any case, a week away from my usual responsibilities did me well and I returned rejuvenated. My first days back felt sharp. New ideas spilled out of my pen as if it were a faucet and I impressed myself with the speed of my own writing. 

Before the vacation, I hadn’t felt sluggish or uninspired, but the benefits of time off were still clear. 

Refuel creativity 

Even the most passionate journalists and writers are susceptible to burnout. The trade often demands long hours of writing and interviewing, which can drain creativity and enthusiasm. 

Then, when it comes time to sit down to publish something on deadline, some reporters face writer’s block. It gets worse when an editor is prodding you to move faster or start another assignment.

These happenings are routine for journalists. While there are strategies for navigating them, taking time away from the job can be critical to both everyday creativity and the longevity of a career.

Plus, time off can remind you of who you are when you’re not working. Simone Stolzoff, the author of The Good Enough Job, recently told me that those who are happiest with their jobs are the ones who can best reclaim their life outside the office. 

“People work all the time, and so they aren’t sure of who they are when they’re not working,” he said. “But because they aren’t sure of who they are when they’re not working, they end up working all the time.”

“The people who were ‘happy workers,’” Stolzoff added, “had a very clear sense of who they were when they weren’t working.”

It’s worth noting, too, that travel makes your writing better. When you're embedded in a new experience, novelty combines with existing thoughts, and fresh realities challenge preconceptions. 

Some of my most productive stretches of writing happened when I lived in Hong Kong and regularly visited other countries. 

Writers draw inspiration from the world around us, and when your base of experience expands, so does the material you can write about.

The science of taking breaks

Taking regular breaks is something I'm still learning to incorporate myself, but there’s plenty of research that illustrates how time off raises the ceiling for productivity and work. 

Take college students who study with all-nighters before an exam. Studies have found that marathon study sessions not only fail to bring greater academic performance, but also signal a higher likelihood of anxiety, insomnia, and depression. 

A University of Illinois study found in 2011 that students who schedule breaks have vastly improved focus and performance. Even momentary diversions, the researchers said, lead to better outcomes.

Studying for a degree happens on a smaller scale than the span of a career, but the idea holds: Not taking breaks doesn’t mean you’re doing more work. 

It’s more likely to mean that the work you do complete simply gets worse over time.

Schedule time to unplug every single day

Now, this isn’t to say you can only be productive by taking regular vacations. There are smaller ways to recharge that can keep you creative and effective.

I’ve been able to avoid burnout — despite minimal vacations — because I prioritize my health and fitness. I exercise every single day and that stands in as my daily “time off” from work. 

The benefits of regular exercise can’t be overstated, as they extend even beyond physical and mental health. But for our purposes here, exercise is a magic-bullet for creativity and productivity, as well as an incomparable antidote to stress and workplace burnout. 

My workouts are scheduled into my day just like a reporting assignment or meeting, and that helps me stay productive and healthy, while giving my brain regular time to rest. 

These daily, tiny breaks give me a chance to recharge, reflect, and separate from the stress of work. The gym anchors me and keeps me in equilibrium. 

Like a mini vacation, after a workout I'm always ready to work again.

All systems go. 

Complement this reading with Ernest Hemingway's legendary writing advice, how creative thinkers can improve their focus, and how to reach goals without thinking about them.