Why is it so hard for us to take a breath and unwind? If you’re like me, you have this nagging feeling that you should be doing something most, if not all, of the time. Even if you don’t have children, in addition to addressing work demands, there’s always something to cook or clean. There’s a yard that needs tending, and the pups could stand to get bathed, or groomed, or trained, or all of the above.

And then, of course, there’s the writing that may or may not have gotten put off. As most of you know all too well, I talk a lot about making sure to time block those writing sessions, and to take advantage of free moments when you might be able to pound out a page or, as I’m doing right now, a blog post. But you also have to make time to unwind with a few of your favorite things.

Misha, my Aussie-mix pup, knows all about that. He’s not a huge toy guy, but he makes a point of including the few he cares about in his routine. These days, the smushy bunny that sits on the living room armchair he has co-opted regularly serves as a pillow once he has gently mouthed it. Bringing in the tennis ball that he discovered at the bottom of the pile of dog toys was a new move and a definite bonus. At night, he brings a stuff-less chipmunk toy onto the bed or the ugly yellow and black striped wiener-dog-meets-a-single-winged-butterfly. After a quick, contented, soft chew, he puts his head down and goes to sleep.

Replenishing your tank by unwinding in your favorite way impacts everything from your physical and mental health to your productivity. It’s amazing how much your subconscious kicks into gear without providing any indication that it’s doing anything at all. And suddenly, that scene or phrasing that you couldn’t quite figure out becomes quite clear when you get back to your writing.

So, as much as I want you to make time for your writing, I’d suggest you also carve out time to unwind.