As a creative, you have a number of people that you deliver to – individuals who believe in your craft and because of this have followed you closely to savor every part of your creativity. However, there are times when you want to take the back seat for a while to breathe in and out, to enjoy some rest, and to come back refueled. Considering that there are individuals who are used to seeing your creative work regularly, you may need to find a good strategy to execute your plan.
Creative, and need a break? These tips are your best bet
You can just decide to switch off your online presence whenever you want to but there are ways to go about these things as a creative and here are a few tips to help you do it better:
Communicate ahead of time
If you value your community so much, it is important to let them know that you will be going on a break and will not be available for some time. You can be generous enough to give them the time frame. If you are sharing this information in August, you can say that you will be away for the first two weeks of September or the whole of September (use your time frame). Giving them a time frame already tells your community that you will be back. So, instead of brooding over the fact that you will be away, instead, they begin to count down till when you will be back.
If you can, tell the community why you will be away
Of course, you can keep any piece of information away if you think it is too sensitive to have it out there. But, if it is information you can share, go ahead. You could tell the community that you will be away for two weeks because you have to prepare for exams or you will be gone from social media for three weeks because you will be out of the country on honeymoon with your partner. Letting your community know why you are leaving temporarily can give them a sense of belonging.
Read Also: How to build an online creative community
Let your followers know what to do if they need your help during the break
To further show that your community members mean a lot to you, provide a way for them to reach out to you for help or support during the break. If you have a website or email where they can drop their concerns, let them know. However, be truthful; let them know that you may not be able to respond immediately or sometimes, you may not be able to check the emails during the break but whenever you can, you will try to attend to them.
Make sure you express how much you will miss being away from creating
When communicating the information, reiterate that you will miss writing to them or being on their screens (depending on what you create). However, let them know that the break is very much needed and in no time, you will be back, and this time, with a new wine. Remind them of how much their interactions mean to you and how you can’t wait to return with the best content that will blow their minds.
A workaholic doesn’t necessarily equate to a hardworking or successful person. So, whenever you feel like it, take a break and never feel a pang of guilt.
