Any of you also bad at taking breaks?

[smokesalty]

I'm making myself go on hiatus with my comic because I always overworking my wrist while working. I've recently brought myself a wrist brace that helps me use my wrist less while drawing.

I always say I'm taking a break, but I always end up working on my comic again because I love making it.

Do you guys have any tips for taking breaks/ having a healthy workstyle that limits needing to go on hiatus?

[Lensing]

I´m really bad at taking breaks becauseI don´t enjoy things that are not creative or communicative.
The only thing that I can recommend is going on walks. At least one 30 minutes walk a day.
Or riding the bike in the morning and evening and a 30 minutes walk during the day.
It depends on your daily schedule, day job etc. It also helps to free the mind or whatever you
call it.
I have a shitload of time but I´m also not good at taking breaks that´s why the walking helps
me, one problem is that I don´t enjoy things that are not creative or communicative

[GingerLoge]

I'm very bad at taking breaks, because if I do, there's no guarantee I'll be back to work, since it's hard for me to discipline myself. I try to do the "you have to work at the comic for at least 2 hours s day", and sometimes it works, but in some days my brain goes on "no, you're gonna do nothing today, cause you've had a bad dream and you're sad". So, to compensate that, the day after I'm going to draw 14/24 pausing only for food.

[MalonTheArtist]

YES because I feel like I'm wasting time if I'm not drawing lol...

[smokesalty]

for me it's the opposite- if I try take a break, and tell myself to only spend an hour or so working, I end up working for a lot longer because I enjoy making the comic which leads to me doing way more than I can handle

[smokesalty]

Most of my hobbies are creative, which sucks because my breaks have to me not making things constantly. The only non creative things I like is watching shows/reading, but sometimes all I want to be doing is creating.

I guess walking might help, I'll try it out.

[jurinova]

I used to have this same problem when I was much younger. Then the chronic pain appeared and I had to learn how to take breaks.

Exercise is a really good way to take breaks because it's also beneficial. Walking is a good way to get your body moving but it also can help you think. I get some of my best story ideas while walking, especially in nature. I also recommend upper body stretches and strength exercises, because that will help prevent wrist injuries that can happen from drawing too much.

I also recommend doing research! By that I mean read comics. Take a break by reading all sorts of different comics and study them to trick your brain into thinking you're not actually wasting time in anyway. All kinds of story telling media, like books and movies, can also work as an inspiration and a source of knowledge. I personally enjoy watching movies with a critical eye and constantly paying attention to the lighting and cinematography, and then draw inspiration from them. If you learn something new, that means your brain can't tell you you've wasted time.

Generally though, I think the most difficult part is just learning to relax. It's not easy, I know it isn't but in the long term it's a necessary skill. I've also noticed that after breaks, even short ones, I usually draw better and my head tends to buzz with plenty of new ideas. I personally limit my drawing time and if I have even the slightest feeling of discomfort in my wrist I stop and rest. I love my comic but taking care of my body takes priority, and that's the mind set that helps me enjoy my rest too.

[GingerLoge]

I enjoy making the comic too: this is how I bear 14 hours drawing! It's just... I'm kind of a procrastinator I think. so if I stop, I may not be able to start again.

[TheLemmaLlama]

Most of my hobbies are creative

But do most of them involve repetitive wrist movements? If not, I don't see why you can't use your other creative hobbies as a break from drawing :]

[Lensing]

The brain needs rest too, that´s something I found out when I was getting older and the sleep problems got worse.
It´s important to balance your activity

[TheLemmaLlama]

But ... but writing pages in a fit of inspiration at 3am feels so good :'D

[Lensing]

I used to drink and draw or make music all night and not sleep at all, it was great and I also enjoyed that.
Getting old sucks

[BLTX]

The day scheduled my fourth episode I told myself I wouldn't even be looking at my comic for a atleast 2 days.

The night I scheduled it I got a head start on illustrating my 5th episode and got it done before my fourth episode was released.

No. I'm not bad it.

[powerplantanimations]

I'm terrible at breaks because due to me being in the house 24/7, I got nothing to do but to think of stuff for my comic. Especially when I'm listening to music. I tend to get inspired to the point where I run back and write. I said on another post. I tried giving myself another writer to give me a break, but even then I have to tinker with the script.

[rajillustration]

yeah when you have carpal tunnel it sucks because everything fun, gaming, music, crafting, and drawing, all make the wrist worse. I learned that it really helps to physically leave your work station/computer/wherever you have those temptations, and park yourself in front of a screen or a book, and do something that requires no wrist movement. The brace helps because it reminds you when you are using your wrist when you shouldn't, but going out on a walk, visiting a friend, or even taking a nap--gotta undo the habit of turning to activities that lean on those tiny hand movements in order for your hand to properly rest and repair.

[system]

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