Monday Spark: Give yourself a break at the weekends.

I should never have written this post.

This weekend I could definitely have used a break. The last two weeks have been incredibly busy, and I was planning on a 100% work-free weekend.

Then on Friday afternoon my laptop finally died. So off I went to the store to buy a new one. As you know, changing computers involves a ton of work, moving files and reinstalling software. (I still have half a dozen or so programs to install.)

So much for my weekend of rest and relaxation.

And, had these Monday posts been on any other topic, I would have shrugged and skipped my usual Monday publication. Better to take a few deep breaths and relax.

But I am writing this, because it occurs to me that I’m probably not alone among freelancers in failing to take the breaks we need.

For example, I usually write this Monday post on the previous Thursday or Friday. I do that so I can keep my weekend free. But when I’m really busy, like last week, I sometimes think to myself, “Oh well, I can always get that written at the weekend.”

If you really are in the habit of staying away from your desk at the weekends, it’s OK to make a small exception on rare occasions. But it can also be the beginning of a slippery slope. First you get into the habit of doing one work-related task at the weekends, and then another, and then another.

Before you know it, there is no down time in your week. Your mind is on your work every day.

It’s tempting to think that working every day is a sign of being dedicated and productive. And in once sense it can be. But over the course of a few months, if you never give your mind a chance to relax, you’ll almost certainly begin to burn out…and become less creative.

Remember, it’s not just about the hours you sit at your desk. It’s not just about hard work.

Success in any business venture is also about giving your mind the space to think creatively. And creative leaps rarely take place when you are hunched over your keyboard. They are more likely to occur when you are out in the garden, playing catch with the kids, driving with your loved ones to the movie theatre, or while you’re on the treadmill at the gym.

This is when the sparks happen.

So if you have allowed your work to creep into your weekend, I would recommend that you change that habit. This is the advice I give to my coaching clients. Organize your work well, and work hard during the week. But at the weekends, give yourself a break and allow your mind to relax, and weave its creative magic.

About the author: Nick Usborne is an online writer, copywriter, author and coach. Read more…