In my last post I mentioned that I wanted to get back to unplugging on Wednesdays. It's something I started back in the spring and I haven't been as strict about it as I used to be. I've got more work coming down the pipeline, plus the stresses the holidays can bring, so I thought it would be good to make it a goal this month. That goal seemed to resonate with a number of people, so I thought I might expand on it a bit.
Why I unplugged
Last March I was illustrating Fuddle Learns to Cuddle. I was under a tight deadline and I had a lot of work to do. I would do the day job from 8 to 5 and then come home and illustrate 6 to 11:30, then on the weekends I would put in another 8 to 10 hours. I was also doing some freelance writing with Gamespot (somehow), and training for the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston. Oh yeah, and I was trying to not neglect my wife and bulldog. It was a rough period, but we needed the money and we knew the work would lead to better things (it has), but I couldn't keep it up.
After a few weeks, I had to reassess my priorities. I was under contract to finish the book and I already paid to run the race, so I told my editor at Gamespot I needed a break--after the terrible review I turned in, I think he could tell I was spreading myself too thin--and he was cool with that. So I took off a bit of responsibility, but that wasn't enough. Brooke suggested that one night a week I "unplug." Just stop working, don't even go near the computer. I chose Wednesdays because that's when Lost came on, and it would be nice to watch it together. That little break was exactly what I needed.
But--I'm about to get all Levar Burton on you--You don't have to take my word for it!
Starting fires without burning out
After I finished the book I started a digital painting cIass at Schoolism.com with Bobby Chiu. If you've never heard of Bobby Chiu, you may have seen his work (he did the concept art for Tim Burton's upcoming Alice in Wonderland film). He's an incredible artist, excellent teacher, and he's got an inspiring story. Working his way from nothing to having his own studio, he chased his dream and caught it, and he's all about helping other people do the same.
I was watching my cIassmate's critiques and noticed a fellow cIassmate asked Bobby about his success and how he could duplicate it. Bobby said it was all about momentum.
"It's like making a fire with two sticks," he said. "You keep rubbing them together, faster and faster, and soon you'll get fire."
Bobby is a big believer in hard work over raw talent. If you really want that dream job, you've got to hustle. That whole momentum thing struck a chord with me. It was validation for my constant work in March, and my feverish pursuit of my dream job--to write and illustrate books full-time. If Bobby could do it, I could too. I turned 25 on June 25th and decided this would be the year of the grind, the year I pull my kindling together, the year I make fire.
So I dove into my cIass with Bobby, pushing myself to improve, soaking in every word on his assignment critiques. I also got back to reviewing games for Gamespot, started editing my own children's book I'd finished in the winter, and picked up some work from the people I met while illustrating Fuddle. I let the whole unplug thing slip away, and I started to feel it again by August. My cIass with Bobby ended, but instead of taking a break, I immediately filled the space his cIass occupied with more work, bad idea. I was getting tired, frustrated and my motivation to actually do my work (and that whole day job thing) was at an all time low. I asked Bobby how I could keep my fire burning without burning out.
"Master your on/off switch," he told me. "You master that and you'll never be unmotivated."
On/Off switch? Sounds a bit like unplugging to me. If you take those breaks, and more importantly know when your body and mind need those breaks, you'll be much better off. Give yourself some time away from the computer, your work, your nightly pursuits, Twitter, Facebook, blogging, whatever. I took his advice an got back to my unplugging, and he was right! I finished my children's book, pumped out a ton of freelance work, and most importantly, spent some quality time with my family.
I don't know if you've ever tried it, but when you're rubbing two sticks together to make fire, occasionally you have to stop to blow on it.
What does unplugging look like?
So what do you do once you unplug? Whatever you want! While it was on, I would watch Lost with Brooke. During the summer, I would read a book, play a game (for fun, not to review), take my dog out, let Brooke use the "good computer," get in some exercise, or sometimes just zone out in front of the TV. To me unplugging just means no keyboards, no work. I sit in front of a monitor all day, sometimes it's nice to sit somewhere else.
For those of you that chose to add unplugging to your goals this month, I hope it does as much for you as it has for me. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it. Your Facebook friends will be there tomorrow, and your emails can go unchecked for an evening. If you don't let the spark get some air, it will never be more than a spark.
