Simon Says... Screw Productivity, I'm Going Back To Bed.
On cutting yourself a break and that dangerous "go, go, go" mentality.
Welcome to Simon Says, a weekly newsletter from Rachel Simon all about freelance life—from the inside scoop on just-published stories to advice on how to pitch to what it’s *really* like to leave a cozy full-time gig for the chaotic, unpredictable world of invoicing (jk, freelancing, but IYKYK).
Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time in bed. After the alarm goes off at 7:30 (okay, 7:50 after a few snoozes), I get up briefly to feed the pets and brush my teeth, but by 8ish, I’m usually back under the covers. I don’t go back to sleep; instead, I catch up on my phone, read a book, and snuggle with my dog, cat, and husband. It’s typically 8:45 or even 9 before I rise again, get dressed, and begin my day for real.
These mornings make me anxious. The hour-ish I spend being lazy in bed could be used to get ahead of those emails, or work out, or take Ellie for a walk. There are so many other things I could be doing , things that would make me feel accomplished and productive and efficient. Every time I look at the clock and realize it’s already nearly 9, I get frustrated by how much time I’ve wasted.
But is it wasted time, really? The thing is, I love these mornings. They’re relaxing, and easy, and they give me time to gather the energy needed for a day full of writing and pitching and emails and edits. I love how much more reading I get done, and how my mind doesn’t race the way it does later on once I’m in front of my laptop with a giant to-do list. And of course, I love getting to spend more cozy quality time with my family, the pets sleeping peacefully and Kurt right next to me.
So why do I get mad at myself for going back to bed? Because it’s a remnant of that “go, go, go!” mentality I had for so many years, where (like so many other 20something New Yorkers), I felt like I needed to be moving at warp-speed at all times to keep up with the pace of life around me. It didn’t matter that I was losing out on QT with Kurt or much-needed sleep, or that I felt so worn out each afternoon I could barely concentrate; I had convinced myself that faster meant better, and that productivity was the only goal.
But I’m in Raleigh, not New York, and I’m 28, not 23, and I know now that there is so, so much more to life than being Ambitious with a capital A. I don’t have to be constantly rushing in order to get the things I want done, and in fact, the slower I go, the more focus and motivation I tend to have for the tasks in front of me. If I can give myself that grace with work, why can’t I do it with my mornings, too? I’m certainly going to try.
Here’s to lazy mornings, however you spend them, and cutting yourself a damn break.
And now, onward:
Some Stories I Wrote Last Week
I had a lot of stories go live last week! They are…
An interview with author Annie Hartnett for Shondaland about her new novel Unlikely Animals, which is extremely good and well worth a read.
Two anniversary gifts roundups for Brides, the first of which is focused on wool, aka the traditional seventh anniversary gift.
And the second of which is all about porcelain, aka the traditional 18th anniversary gift.
For Real Simple, I wrote a review of this super comfy and cute pastel sweater I bought from Target a few weeks ago.
Also for Real Simple, I reviewed the American Eagle mom jeans I bought during the same shopping trip and am obsessed with because they actually fit my petite self!
Over on People, I spotlighted a pair of cloud-like sandals from Amazon that have tons of great reviews for their comfort and variety.
On Daily Paws, I rounded up the best pet-safe cleaning products, from laundry detergents to disinfecting wipes.
And lastly, for Daily Paws, I wrote about a woman with spina bifida who relies on her two dogs for support and helps train service dogs for other people with disabilities.
The Inside Scoop
Each week, I’ll pick one story I’ve written (new or old, if needed) and explain how it got from pitch/assignment to publication. This week, it’s the Annie Hartnett interview on Shondaland.
As many of you know, I’m a big reader, and when I heard that Annie Hartnett (the author of 2017’s excellent Rabbit Cake) had a new book coming out, I knew I wanted to get my hands on a copy and talk to the author herself. I pitched a profile to my Shondaland editor, and when she got on-board, I reached out to Annie’s reps to schedule the interview and get an ARC (aka advanced reader copy) of the novel. I read the addictive, hugely entertaining book in a few days, and then chatted with Annie over Zoom a week ago. I turned our convo into a profile that tackles not only the book but her writing habits and new projects, and it was published on Monday!
Other Work/Life Stuff Of Note
Sending your weekly reminder that if you pre-order my book Pickleball For All and send me proof, I’ll make you a custom crossword puzzle! It can be about you, a loved one (it makes a great gift!), or even a piece of pop culture. Up to you!
Coming Up…
Reminder that if you’re in NC, my next Creative Nonfiction class starts on May 18 and runs for six weeks! You can sign up here. I’ll also be holding a pitch workshop at Raleigh’s Quail Ridge Books on May 1, which you can sign up for here.
Also, I’ve been working on a fun story this week (out next week!) that involves getting to talk to restaurants and food businesses in the Triangle, and it’s always so great to get a chance to know my city better. Raleigh is the best, y’all, and I highly encourage you all to come check it out if you haven’t.
That’s it for today, folks. Thanks for reading, and talk soon!
-Rachel