Hi Reader,

Last Tuesday, I spontaneously decided to attend my 10-year college reunion, which started on Thursday. I didn’t actually go until Friday evening, but it was still a wildly fast turnaround, especially for someone who likes to plan every single detail of a trip before setting foot outside the front door.

The reason for this sudden decision isn’t important.

What happened when I got there is.

I took a break from chores and work (including the podcast, but I’ll be back next week) and simply enjoyed reuniting with old friends.

It’s crazy how much has changed in the past ten years. People showed up with new spouses, new babies, and new careers that have nothing to do with their college majors.

I revisited the room where I first started writing fiction freshman year, attended a lecture about political tribalism that ties perfectly with the themes I write about, and danced until midnight just like I did when I was in a college dance group.

I came back tired but excited to dive back into life again.

Sometimes, when our writing has slowed down or feels blocked we think the answer is to try harder. Write more. Gamify it. Cowork.

All of those strategies can work, especially if your block stems from resistance, but sometimes the answer is to step back and stop temporarily.

Do something different, something fun, something that gives your brain the break it needs to let your subconscious take over.

You might surprise yourself.

Better Writing & Living

Need a creativity boost that doesn’t involve dropping everything and driving to another state? Try boredom.

If you’re anything like me, you have a hard time slowing down. You constantly want to be “better,” which means listening to educational podcasts while walking the dog, watching an online course while doing the dishes, or listening to an audiobook while I fold clothes.

All of that input feels productive–it’s learning, after all. But I’m slowly coming to terms with the fact that there’s no need to be “on” all the time.

After all, some of my best story ideas have come to me while I’m brushing my teeth without listening to a bedtime meditation.

Constant external stimuli can actually weaken creativity and even affect mental health. The antidote: allowing yourself to be a teensy-bit bored (or building periods of intentional quiet into your day–I’m sure some of you can already sit in silence without wanting to crawl out of your skin).

Don’t believe me? Here’s what Tianna Soto has to say in her article “Turn Boredom into Brilliance” in the Spring 2026 issue of Women’s Health:

If you feel like you’ve been running 100 miles per hour trying to do all the things, all the time, it might be time to add small doses of boredom to your life (too much is also a bad thing).

Want to learn more? Check out these articles, also from Women’s Health magazine. You can also find the article referenced above in the current issue if it’s on newsstands near you (yes, I still subscribe to physical magazines, and I will until the last one is printed).
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1. ​Boredom Has Become The Enemy, But Psychologists Say We Actually Need To Be Bored. Here’s Why.​
2. ​Boredom might be the health and happiness tool you’ve forgotten how to use​

Better Reading

I’m still reading Quicksilver by Callie Hart and still enjoying it, though I didn’t bring it to the reunion. That’s a bit shocking for me. I don’t think I’ve traveled without a book since elementary school, but as it turns out, I don’t need to fill every second of every day.

Have a wonderful week and happy writing!

Olivia

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