Lately, my mantra has been “If I’m not writin’, I’m dyin’.” Given the way this industry works, we creative types can’t always count on timely responses or contracts or payments, so I feel as if I always have to have something going out, to maximize my chances of having something good coming in.

But now, I have a vacation coming up, and it’s the first long one I’ve had in a long time. I’m excited, of course, but also nervous. I don’t want to be the kind of lame-o who works through their vacay, but I also don’t want to lose creative momentum. When I get back, I’ll be starting on a revision of a new project, and I hope to get some feedback on other stuff that’s currently under review with my Trusted Readers. And then there’s that picture book biography I’d love to attempt.

My solution is to pack my writing journal, my reading material for the picture book bio, and my copy of The Gifts of Imperfection. That way I can get some actual work done (in the form of research) without doing any actual writing, I can journal some ideas or work out any work-related separation anxiety I might be feeling, and I’ll have Brené Brown if I need some perspective.

If you’re a full-time creative, how and when do you take a break? And when you do, are you able to leave it (i.e. troubles, cares, laptop, social media) all behind?