Hey, you! Today I’ve got an important announcement to share.

Thus declareth my parents: I have to take a break from writing and blogging, for hopefully no more than eight weeks.

WHY?

I have physical and mental burnout. Since I started blogging and writing seriously in 2016, I’ve been running at a breakneck pace.

Fast forward to now, and I’m running three websites, two YouTube channels, and writing a series of historical fiction epics with the goal of being traditionally published.

You know me: pedal to the metal until the car crashes!

Well… the car has crashed. My health and creativity have taken a serious downfall.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, “BURNOUT”?

• No sleep. Not only am I exhausted all the time (literally falling asleep at my desk!), but I wake up three or four times during the night for no reason.

• Real stress. I treat myself like an adult in my head, not a student, so I give myself adult-like work hours in hopes of accomplishing mountain-sized dreams. But because I’ve been taking on too much and taking care of my health too little, I’m unable to accomplish even a third of my weekly to-do lists. Everyone thinks I’m going to start sprouting gray hair at 20.

• Lack of creativity. I hardly ever lack inspiration, but some days I just sit and stare at the screen with no motivation to write at all. I’ve given all that I’ve got.

• Health problems. All that adds up to exhaustion, fatigue, and weariness, which I found out kids aren’t supposed to have? XD

OH, AND A DEMONIC ATTACK.

Did you read my healing testimony on my lifestyle blog?

Well, that didn’t make the devil too happy. Nosireebob.

And then I expounded on it fully here. I painted a huge target on my back with that one.

He freaked out and attacked my health again, hoping I’d feel silly for declaring Jesus is still in the miracle-working business while I deal with rheumatoid arthritis in my knee.

But a team that’s undefeated had to have played a few games. If he thinks he can try to turn the volume down on what I believe, I’ll rip the drums out of his ears.

Of course, the devil’s shooting himself in the foot; I can’t wait to see how much huger of a testimony I’ll have when I overcome this flare-up!

But I need to take some practical steps, too. Like getting enough sleep. Doing fun, meaningless stuff. Finding exercise that won’t hurt my knee. Eating healthier. That sort of thing.

I DIDN’T WANT TO TAKE A BREAK.

Everyone doubted I could keep up with three websites and boy was I determined to prove them wrong.

I am not a lazy person. I never take breaks. This isn’t the first time I’ve felt tired or stressed or dealt with arthritis. I’ve pressed through all that.

But then my dad was praying about my health, and God let him know that if we didn’t take care of my exhaustion and stress now, it was going to turn into something much more serious down the road.

I can sleep when I’m dead, I’ve always believed.

But I’ll be dead a whole lot sooner if I don’t take care of this now.

HOW LONG WILL THE BREAK LAST?

Hopefully, no more than a few weeks, but my parents haven’t set a particular time.

When I can sleep well and am refreshed and revived every day; when my health is under control; when I’m just bouncing to get back to work; that’s when I’m allowed to push the pedal through the floor again.

For now, I need to fill back up on gas.

WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR THIS BLOG?

I won’t be posting here during my break time. But since posting on my doll blog is super fun and relaxing for me, I’m allowed to spend an hour a day on that.

You may not be interested in dolls, but in case you enjoy my posts, I will still be mildly active there.

WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

Am I disappearing off the face of planet earth? No! Am I throwing my phone out the window and shunning all wifi to go live in the mountains? No! ?

You can email me anytime. I’ve got an hour a day to blog, so I’ll definitely keep in touch with anyone who dares enter into conversation with me. (Not many do.)

AM I LEAVING FOREVER???

You don’t know how many amazing blogs I’ve discovered that have been authored by someone who lost interest, took a couple breaks, and then finally left for good. (One person actually died and their mom posted the goodbye message! That was sad…)

Yeah, that’s not happening here.

*In Terminator voice* I’ll be back.

COULD I HAVE SUMMED ALL THIS UP INTO A FEW PARAGRAPHS INSTEAD OF MAKING A FULL-BLOWN POST ABOUT IT?

You bet! But is that any fun? No! ?

I’ll be back just as soon as I can.

For now, comment moderation is off, so have fun with that and I’ll have fun taking my break. (I plan on re-organizing my room, getting back into art, doing more swimming…)

You can email me here and keep up with my posts on my doll blog here.

See you when my tank is full and my engine is ready to rumble!

Madi out.