Creating is hard work demanding all of one’s faculties. The attempt to create from a depleted state forges a mundane or mediocre result. You should be at your best spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically when you enter the creation zone. We create best from a rested, renewed, and energized condition.
Consider the creation story. While I believe God wasn’t exhausted from His work, He modeled a routine of rest – specifically from the work of creating. God ceased and rested.
2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Genesis 2:2-3
If your role is one of shepherding, encouraging, teaching, or influencing (that’s work of creating), you need to be at your best – renewed. How do you get there? Begin by ceasing. Put pause in the routine and quit creation activity for a moment. You’re actually better working less than you are working more. Sounds crazy I know, but it is true.
Ideas? Sleep, read, listen, contemplate, meditate (on Scripture and its application), journaling, game, sport, exercise, golfing, fishing, singing, worshiping, learning, piddling, tinkering, running, jogging, or walking – something different from your creating routine.
So, you have permission to take a break – not from me, but from God. You’ll be better for it.