If there is one thing I have learned about the writing process, it is that sometimes the absolute worst thing you can do for your book is to keep staring at it. I’ve spent the last week practically barricaded in my room, wrestling with the plot of The Sterling Cross Files, and I legitimately started to forget what the sun felt like on my face.

It is so easy to get caught up in the grind. Whether you are deep in the trenches of world-building, studying for midterms, or just trying to keep up with the day-to-day chaos of life, the digital world can easily swallow you whole. By Wednesday, my brain was completely fried. I was reading the same paragraph over and over, and my posture was starting to resemble a bridge troll. I needed an intervention.

So today, I called an audible and enacted the mandatory “touch grass” protocol.

I slammed the laptop shut, dragged some friends out to the park, and completely disconnected for the afternoon. No phones, no character arcs, no stressing over deadlines or word counts. Just some much-needed fresh air.

Active recovery isn’t just for the gym; your brain needs it, too.

We spent a few hours just throwing a frisbee around, hanging out on the grass, and laughing until our sides actually hurt. Honestly, making eye contact with a golden doodle across the park and getting to pet a dog was exactly the kind of serotonin boost I needed to reset my mental state. It is crazy how much a few hours of moving around outside can completely wash away the stress of a frustrating week.

Sometimes you have to step away from the world you are creating to actually live in the real one for a minute.

If you have been staring at a screen all week, fighting your own version of writer’s block, or just feeling bogged down by the grind—this is your official sign to take a break. Go outside, soak up some sun, and give yourself permission to just exist for an afternoon.

-Zachary Starr

How is everyone else surviving the week? Are we thriving today, or are we just trying to survive until the weekend? Drop a comment below and let me know how you are taking care of yourself lately! 👇🌳