When I talk to writers about the day-to-day operations of my office, I usually mention weekends. And that we have them.

I make an effort to stay away from the computer for business on the weekends unless there is some urgent reason to do otherwise. This may sound selfish, and perhaps it is. But I also try not to bother my clients on the weekends because I want them to have weekends, too. Writers tend to pay attention when an email from their agent arrives, and I want them to be free not to think of business on the weekends.

I understand that many writers have other jobs and commitments and that may mean Sundays are their only time to write. But I hope these writers will choose another time or day to take off. Why not Tuesday? Or maybe Saturday.

Here’s why:

I need at least a day or two every week just to live. “Living” means going to the library, picking up dry cleaning, buying groceries, getting the car washed. You know, the things everyone needs to do to function as a human. It also means fun things such as attending parties or discovering a new restaurant, as my husband and I did on a recent weekend.

If you don’t take any time off and change your activities, your brain never clears. If every day is a business day, all things become blurred.

Clearing your brain can involve activities such as polishing furniture, another recent weekend accomplishment. In other words, doing something more physical than sitting at a desk gives you a different sense of accomplishment. Then the next workday, you can approach your computer with a fresh perspective. Who knows? Maybe one of your characters will have an epiphany while polishing furniture.

Your turn:

How do you change your activities to clear your brain?

Do you write to put off chores, or put off chores to write?