Hilary Mantel Quotes

Going off the grid is always good for me. It's the way that I've started books and finished books and gotten myself out of deadline dooms and things.

There are times when you sit down, and you're just like, 'Man, I don't know if I can do it right now.' Take a second - go to the woods and just hang out, or go to Yosemite and check it out. Be in nature for a little while; clock out - which is super healthy, especially for creative types. Honestly, for everyone. Everyone needs that at times.

To create well I have to be in a good mood, happy and cool.

Your best ideas, those eureka moments that turn the world upside down, seldom come when you're juggling emails, rushing to meet the 5 P.M. deadline or straining to make your voice heard in a high-stress meeting. They come when you're walking the dog, soaking in the bath or swinging in a hammock.

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.

It's very important that we re-learn the art of resting and relaxing. Not only does it help prevent the onset of many illnesses that develop through chronic tension and worrying; it allows us to clear our minds, focus, and find creative solutions to problems.

Most people have their best ideas when they take their minds away from problems they're trying to solve.

I find DIY really therapeutic. I lose myself in it, because you can concentrate on the task and not think about all the other stuff going on in your life.

I have to take time occasionally to get away from the pressures of this business. If I don't, I think I would get stale, and that would show in my music.

I use music to focus, like an internal motor.

I don't get to listen to music, but I find time to rest.

I've never gotten a good idea while checking Twitter or shopping.

When I start getting embroiled in heated debates and feeling stressed, I just turn everything off and disconnect from the world. I simply tell my colleagues and friends that I am not well and need to cancel all meetings for a day or more. I take it easy - go for a long hike, take a vacation somewhere, or just stay at home and read.

I don't know how to get bored. I need to learn to rest.

You don't have to work for Google, or any of the other firms encouraging staff to pursue personal projects on company time, to use slowness to unlock your creativity. Anyone can do it. Start by clearing space in your schedule for rest, daydreaming and serendipity. Take breaks away from your desk, especially when you get stuck on a problem.

I don't listen to music when I'm writing, but I often do when I'm reworking, editing or when I need to relax.

You're able to do more when you're not clouded with wasted anxiety.

A vacation for me is when I'm home and I'm writing.

I'm very easily distracted unless I have music on. Listening to music while I brainstorm makes me think of scenes that would fit the mood of the music I'm playing.

But then I go through long periods where I don't listen to things, usually when I'm working. In between the records and in between the writing I suck up books and music and movies and anything I can find.

Creating something I can use is the best stress reliever.

When you're going bad, sometimes you need to relax more. I've always been intense. I didn't need to be more intense.

I will sleep all day; I love staying in bed with my dog and reading and not getting up and checking my phone. And that gets me into trouble because I have things to do, and that's not very productive.

I think a lot of us feel the need to always be connected, and finding time to relax and sometimes play is something that I think we all need to make more time for, especially me.

It's very challenging to get the right balance between relaxing and working.