In a writer’s world, no two sweeter words are ever written. I wrote those two words this past Tuesday when I finished my current manuscript, and THE END to a story is always a cause for celebration. It’s also a time to regroup and de-stress before diving into the next story and upcoming deadline.
First things first, I must clean my office. During the last week or two of writing, when it gets very intense because my deadline is fast approaching and I have to scramble (and burn the midnight oil) to make up for all the time I’ve goofed off, my office becomes a catch-all. I have piles of papers and other things covering every bit of surface on my desk. Piles of mail that I have to go through. A stack of “must do” items that I need to take care of as soon as the book is done. A list of writing related and promotional things that have to be taken care of (like updating my website!!). There’s another pile of stuff, courtesy of my husband, and I know it’s more stuff that I’ve neglected during deadline dementia that needs my attention. It takes me a good day to go through everything, but when I’m done I can see my desk again, and it’s such a wonderful feeling! (Even if I know it won’t last long!)
Next, is cleaning the house. Not just a quick surface cleaning like I’ve been doing for the past few weeks, but really taking care of the nitty-gritty, down and dirty stuff. Cleaning the showers, toilets, refrigerator, mopping the tile floors and vacuuming the cobwebs that have sprung up here and there in various corners of the house. During this time the dog gets a much needed bath, too. I love a clean house, and even though I know it won’t last long, I can at least enjoy it for a few days.
Now, comes “me time”. Time to relax and de-stress before diving into the next book. I need a hair cut and color badly, and that’s first on my list. My finger and toe nails are chipped and are looking pretty scraggly, so a manicure and pedicure is definitely in order. There’s movies I want to see at the theater (The Lake House with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock), and movies I want to rent that I missed when they were on the big screen. I’ll go to lunch with girlfriends and read a few books from my to-be-read pile.
Life will be very good for the next week. This is like my vacation time from my job, and I plan to enjoy every moment of it, because too soon I’ll be right back into the writing frenzy and another deadline fast approaching.
So, how do you like to relax and de-stress?
Janelle Denison finds it hard to believe that it’s been nearly 25 years since she first started writing romance novels. At first, it was a way to pass idle time while her husband worked swing shift, but before long it became an obsession to get published. Luckily, she kept at it (it took her over 5 years to get that first book published!) and is now a Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and USA Today Bestselling author! Now, after selling over 45 plus novels, she finds that her Plotmonkey pals help to keep her stories fresh and unique, and she can’t imagine writing a story without their input. Janelle lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, along with two teenage daughters that keep life interesting.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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I do a lot of what you mentioned – read from my tbr pile, visit with friends (I was lucky enough to spend the weekend with some great friends at Lori Foster’s event), catch a movie or two. I like to relax with a really good cup of girly coffee (French Vanilla or 1/2 coffee, 1/2 hot chocolate) while sitting outside reading with a gentle breeze blowing. Luckily the weather has been cooperating and it hasn’t been too hot lately.
Sometimes take a quick nap if time allows – it can really energize you. And every once in awhile at lunchtime I like to go to the park near work and either sit at one of the benches and gaze at the pond or swing on the swingset. It’s wonderful.
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Hi Janelle:
I like to de-stress by reading a good book by the pool. I find that in you put on some soothing music and lay back in a louge chair, life is pretty much perfect till the kids discover you. Then I just close my eyes and imagine I am at the beach.
I can’t wait to see “The Lake House” some of my girfriends and I are having a girls night in a few weeks and that is on our list of must do’s.
I hope you enjoy your break from writing, but don’t wait to long. We can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
Patty
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I like to de-stress doing many of the same things you mentioned. Reading a book is always a HUGE treat for me!!! :) I have a VERY active toddler to whom I give the majority of my free time from work, so I can only read once he’s gone to bed. By then, I’m usually pretty tired myself!
So, anytime I can squeeze in a few pages of reading, that nurtures my soul!
I also love to pamper myself with getting my hair done, manis, etc. although I confess that I treat myself to those things not nearly as much as I should!
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Relax & Regroup! Nap, read, nap, read, nap, read. Pretty simple, but it takes a lot of effort.
Oh, and shop. How in the world did I forget shopping. Now that’s relaxing! Glad you’ve got some time to unwind. Enjoy!
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When I need to de-stress I love to read. It just relaxes me. I like getting my hair done, doing my nails (fingers & toes), giving myself a face mask. You know really any kind of pampering will do the trick.
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The beach by myself with a book. I love to listen to the sound of the ocean while I’m reading. The beach with friends is fun as well but the de-stressing time is more by myself.
Pedi-cures, movies, and always reading.
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I actually just did one of the things I do in search of relaxation. I had a facial and eyebrow waxing this morning. Ohhhh it was so good too!! The compliments on my skin weren’t too hard to take either. LOL!!
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Congratulations on finishing your manuscript. (y)
I de-stress listening to music or reading a good book.
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Congrats on finishing your manuscript. I like to de-stress by vegging out in front of the tv, reading a book or taking lots of naps…I am a nap girl. I also like a hot shower or bath while the kids are asleep. Nothing like a bubble bath to soothe the soul. I also like to get away every six months or so and have a ‘night’ away, although, it is always too quiet (I think I have been so conditioned to having little noises and interruptions around, it is sometimes WAY too quiet). I am looking forward to sitting by the kiddie pool this summer, reading books while having my adorable little boys playing in outside. Heaven.
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Sleep or read (@)
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Congrats Janelle on finishing your book. (y) I bet it is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.
I don’t know what I do to destress. It seems like I’m under loads of stress all the time. I know one thing I do when I’m under stress is clean the house or work in the yard. Let’s just say the house stays really clean. My yougest daughter has Type 1 diabetes and is 15 years old. Just the problems of a teenager is enough to drive you looney add in the diabetes and sometimes the stress and guilt is off the charts.
I do try and make Saturday my bubblebath night. I grab a book and hide in the bathtub for an hour. I think that has to be my biggest treat I am able to do for myself.
(dog)
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I actually like to go for a ride around town or just sit at one of the beaches in the area! Peaceful! (*)
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I either work in my flower garden or read a good book to relax.
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Congratulations on finishing your book. If I am trying to destress I like to be alone with peace & quiet maybe talk a walk, curl up with a good book, take a bath, drive over to the ocean as it soothes my soul. Any of those will do. I hope you get a lot of good “destressing”. :)
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When I want to destress, I take a good book, and either curl up on my bed and read, or find the easy chair and have a coffee and read there.
I also like to have music playing in the background, usually a country station.
Congratulations on finishing your book………. :)
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What a great post. I’m glad to see I’m normal. Sometimes I think I’m the only person in the world who lets things go when I’m writing. Dh will probably be a little more understanding when I sell a book :) He’ll be trained regardless.
To de-stress after I finish a book, I READ a ton, I try to get the house clean, and I catch up on my Netflix movies.
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i try to sleep and play on the computer and of course read
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I take a nice long bubble bath and have a glass of Asti.
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Destressing…ah. I like to do all the stuff Janelle does…esp. clean my office. But it hasn’t happened yet and I’ve been done with my deadline for two months. Now I’m back to writing, so who knows when this space will be cleared!
I love watching movies when I’m destressing. And episodes of Charmed. I’m trying to catch up!
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I like to read of course – lay on the couch with no one to bother me and having nice food handy to add the the pleasure.
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Anyone ever notice how much “de-stress” and “distress” look/sound alike? Hmm…there’s a message in that. :s
I haven’t de-stressed in a very long time. But my minor depressurization is occuring every night when I go to bed and give myself a half hour of pure reading enjoyment–anything I want. I have so enjoyed getting back to my reading this year. I’m on a Stephen King re-read kick right now and just finished Rose Madder, which I’d only read once (and really enjoyed!)
Leslie
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I like to read. I also like to go get my nails and toes done also.
Tomorrow night I will be (d) with my girlfriend Dawn while my hubby and son are at a baseball game.
Congrats on finishing your book.