Sometimes The Best Way to Renew is to Take a Break {Blogger of the Month}

by Jamie Smith, Miss April 2015

Ralph Marston renew quote

Have you ever had to just take a break? Did you feel like you were letting someone down or somehow not living up to your potential? 

I know, I’ve been there. I felt like a failure because I had to stop what I was doing and take a break. Sometimes, this is a day when I’m exhausted and have to take a nap despite having tons of client work to do. Or sometimes, the break is more profound and I’ve needed to step back for a month or two from being a part of an organization. 

There are times when I come back from my break refreshed, renewed and ready to get back to doing what I was doing before, only better. Then there are times when the break gives me perspective and I realize that the work I was trying to accomplish wasn’t a good fit for me. So instead of returning, I move on to something different and a better fit for me and ultimately the organization.  

I think that’s what drew me to this quote—the whole idea of how it’s OK to take a break. I am challenging myself during this month of being Blogger of the Month to stick with the Renew theme. So, I started looking for quotes and ideas that have to do with renew. Like most words and concepts, there are many ways to look at the idea of renew and renewal. I like how this quote takes on the idea that it’s not only OK but a good thing to take a break. 

Something I see a lot in different blogger groups, is that sometimes people need to take a break from their blog and somehow they feel the need to apologize for that. Part of me wants to tell people to stop apologizing! I know the feeling of wanting to be there for people. And there’s idea that we need to be consistent with our blogs for our own self-expression and also pageviews. 

I try to think of it this way: if it’s wearing you thin, are you giving it your best? Are you putting out your best content? I don’t think we should have to apologize for having a life outside our blog and that sometimes that life takes us away from the blog for a bit. 

When I have to take a break, I try to remember to not apologize and just pick up where I left off. Sure, I talk about what I had been up to but not in a way that I’m shaming myself for needing to take a break. It’s more of a “hey, this is what I’ve been up to and this is what’s happening next.” I tend to make that as a full blog on its own instead of starting out say, a recipe post by saying something like “hey, I haven’t been around in a while.” 

There have been many other times when I’ve needed to take a break to refresh my mind, body and spirit. Sometimes I’ve returned a stronger person, sometimes that strengthening as turned into me realizing I needed to make a more permanent break. How have you seen this in your own life? I’d love to hear your stories of when you took a break and how it made you feel. 

8 comments

  1. Katharine says:

    I know a woman whose boss told her it was very unprofessional to apologize for being gone, and even worse to give a reason. (She was keeping up his company’s blog, which was part of his Website.)

    Anyway, he said it was best not to take time off the blog, but to take needed time off other things, but if there was a mandatory reason then just to rejoin as soon as possible, and without comment.

    I’m sure it varies from site to site…

    So glad I do not work for him, but her plight gave me food for thought.

    • Jamie says:

      I don’t know if I consider it UNPROFESSIONAL to apologize, I just think it’s a way of shaming ourselves and inviting people to do the same when it comes to our personal blogs. For a company blog, they should really have backup in case the main writer takes a break!

  2. Peggy says:

    Thanks for posting this, Jamie. It has been almost s month since my last post. I have been feeling bad about it. I’ve even written the “sorry I’ve been gone so long” post in my mind. It might be a little longer before I actually sit down at the computer. I HAVE A SENIOR THIS YEAR!!!!!

    • Jamie says:

      Sounds like you have a lot to talk about! I bet a post that says “look at all the great stuff I’ve been focusing on” would be a lot of fun when you finally get the chance to write.

  3. Karen W says:

    I so needed this tonight. My blog has been stressing me out to the max lately. I’ve been sitting here contemplating some much needed changes, and here you are! Thanks for the encouragement.

    • Jamie says:

      I’m glad it helped! I think for me when I’m contemplating changes I really need to step back because I get so caught up in it all that I go a little nuts. When I step back I see things clearer.

  4. Ashley Ponder says:

    I appreciate a productive break. When faced with frustration over something in my life or a project I will walk away. I then focus on finding my inspiration through reading, just brain storming, or talking to a friend. Once I feel inspired again I am able to tackle it with more excitment and a better attitude.

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