Sometimes days off are the most productive days
I've recently taken a few days off from working on my websites, and they've proven to be very productive days!
For as long as I can remember I've been in love with the written word, and absolutely love writing. As a side effect, I take a pen and notebook with me everywhere I go. I have for years.
That notebook is one of my best friends. Any time an idea pops into my head that I want to remember to pursue later, I jot down a little note as a reminder. It might just be a couple words to remember the idea, or a few sentences to remind myself where I wanted to go with the idea.
Over the last few days, relaxing and not actively thinking about my website, new article topics kept coming to me out of the blue. New ideas for site structure and navigation that would make the user experience suddenly materialized in my mind. New directions for related markets and an expanded reader base were clear as day.
Now I've got twenty pages in a notebook covered with dozens of article ideas, maps for navigation to improve my site, and outlines for articles that allow me to reach more people. All because I decided to take a few days off!
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Thanks for the response Michael. I'm sure it isn't news to anywhere here that this can happen, but I was pretty excited when I got back from my "time off" with enough ideas to keep me going strong for at least the next month!
Good skills Nathan, once we start thinking those ideas just seem to flow, that note book can be so handy. All the best as you bring those ideas online.
Thanks for the reply Alex. What I was really trying to get across was that I WASN'T thinking when those ideas were flowing. That's the real beauty of "time off". When we take a few minutes (or days as in this case) for ourselves, our subconscious has a way of throwing ideas at us that we never would have actively come up with.
I kind of thought that was what you were implying and can really relate some of the ideas that come are amazing when we are in that relaxed state. something to work with our routines so easy to get caught up on the hamster wheel.
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Nathan, you're onto something that needs to be shared! This is the best advice that I never shared! LOL
You need a break away from your routine. Break up the norm. If you don't take a break, your body will break you down slowly. Your thoughts are slower and those ideas just don't come as easy without serious work and concentration.
When you give it a break, you start seeing your passion another way. Curveball ideas come at you and you're taking a break! You've allowed your mind to rest and launch again at a relaxed pace.
Believe it, your eyes, ears, nose, mouth; your senses, need a break!
Great wisdom Nathan! Thanks!
"ALWAYS PROGRESS!"
Glad you found it useful. So many people think they just need to push through, they don't realize that stepping back every once in a while can be the answer they were looking for.