I rang in the New Year with three major deadlines on my plate–one contracted book deadline, one day job deadline, and taxes for two businesses.
After many late nights and early mornings, two out of three of my deadlines have been met.
I’m so thankful for these deadlines because they represent pieces of a dream—business owner and published author.
Regaining balance after a deadline is essential for stability in the other areas of my life. For the past 12 weeks, I’ve been running on adrenaline, doing what was necessary to get by. Now that I’ve submitted my novel, I have a bit more breathing room. I have time to do those things I’ve been putting off like cleaning my bedroom, refinishing a dresser, painting my dining room.
Whether you’re completing a writing deadline or another type, here are three tips to help you regain balance:
- Celebrate your milestone. Completing a deadline is a major achievement. Celebrate it by doing something you’ve put off. Maybe your to-be-read pile is growing—choose a new novel. Go out with friends you’ve been putting off to complete your deadline. Have a special family fun night.
- Take a break. Take some downtime to relax and refresh your mind and spirit. Sign up for that photography class you’ve been thinking about. Or practice for the upcoming 5K you wanted to enter. It’s important to put some distance between you and your project so you can review it again with fresh eyes.
- Get back into your routine. I don’t know about you, but when I’m on deadline, I’m out of routine. For someone who likes order, that can create chaos at times. However, when I must get the story on the page, throwing off my routine is necessary. Once my deadline is over, I can get back into my routine to make sure laundry is washed and put away all in the same week, groceries are stocked on a regular basis and the dust bunnies have been evicted.
Taking time to regain balance after a deadline will help you to be more focused for the next project that comes up. Additionally, it allows you to strengthen connections with family and friends, so they understand their relationship are important to you. Regaining balance allows you to realign your priorities and focus on those fundamental relationships that affect your overall spiritual, physical and mental health. After all, you’re worth it.