Take a deep breath, hold for five seconds, then let it out slowly.
We did it, we got past National Novel Writing Month. November is over. The breakneck writing pace and word counting are over.
But it supposedly takes three weeks to build a habit, and we’ve just had four and change. It can be jarring to come upon December 1st and not write. Or maybe you really want to keep up your steam and keep plowing ahead. There is merit to that, of course, and I’ll never tell anyone not to write.
But you need to relax and take a break, too.
In NaNoWriMo culture, December is basically a giant vacation. You collect your winner goodies, unclench your jaw, relax your shoulders, and catch up on all the hydration you’ve missed. Maybe you see sunlight for the first time in a month. Maybe you get to collect all the bribes and prizes your loving friends and family offered you.
Also in NaNo culture: January is editing month. But that’s still a month away, so we won’t worry about that right now.
Learning how to take a break can be difficult for some people. For people coming off of a solid month of work, it can also be difficult. There could be a niggling sense of guilt, or fear of letting your motivation go to waste. Ignore those. This is not the time for those. There is no work without rest; there is no creativity without periods of downtime.
For anyone who knows me, it’s a well-known fact that I love the spa. I don’t know what most people think of when they say spa—I never thought I’d be a spa girl, either—but there is a Korean spa somewhat near me that makes the drive worth it every time. I don’t always get a massage, but when I do, my absolute favorite is a full body scrub combined with massage. I come out of there so relaxed and soft-skinned I’m a puddle of goo. It’s my absolute favorite way to forcibly get rid of stress.
Massages are a great tool to unwind, and better yet, they’re usually by appointment, so you can book that bad baby in October and let the thought of it carry you through the month. They don’t even have to be professional; ask your significant other, roommate, sibling, child, or even cat to give you a back massage. Human touch has incredible soothing properties, and so does applying pressure. (Weighted blankets are great for a reason.)
Going out to a special dinner to celebrate is also a nice thing to look forward to and a way to break routine and do something special. Special = happiness. Maybe have an extra glass of wine with dinner to loosen those tight writing muscles.
Or maybe you’re just a social butterfly in general, and haven’t seen your friends for 30 days. Go out and party!
The point is, different people find different ways to relax and celebrate.
For things on a smaller-scale, not to mention cheaper and easier to manage repeatedly, try things like: meditation, starting a new TV show, yoga, cooking new things, taking walks outside (okay, maybe not in December, depending on where you are), or petting your pet. Soft furry friends lower blood pressure, and that’s something we all need come December.
Put together that puzzle you’ve put off, read the books that have piled up, watch the new movie that’s streaming, cuddle up on the couch with a special someone, take as many naps as you want, light your favorite scented candle, or even plan a vacation. Relax and do anything that isn’t writing for a little while.
I usually last about a week without writing (unless I’m in a funk). I like writing, and November, no matter how hectic, usually gives me a pile of motivation to work with, so I don’t take all of December off.
But I still schedule my spa day, collect celebratory dinners, and pet my cat. There’s less pressure to write, no deadlines to meet, no wordcount goals to hit or miss. Writing for the sake of writing after something like NaNoWriMo can be a pretty sweet reset in itself.
