Creative living journal #22
Creativity Month starts in May!
Welcome to the Creative Living Journal series where each week I document the goings-on as I navigate fitting creativity into everyday life – these entries are sent out every Sunday.
On Monday 5 May we start Creativity Month!
What is Creativity Month, you ask?
It’s a 4-week program for our paid members where we’ll set a monthly goal then weekly goals for a creative project.
Each week I’ll send out a new video at the start of the week discussing how to go about planning for the week ahead, and members can post and discuss in the comment thread. Then at the end of the week I’ll send out a progress post where I’ll share my own project progress and members can share theirs too.
Members, you can make the challenge what YOU want it to be, but I’ll be urging participants to create small, achievable goals. Creativity Month is for easing into a creative practice rather than creating like crazy and producing a huge amount within a short time. It’s a gentle program for participants to celebrate creative achievements no matter how big or small.
I’ll be sending out a post with more details about the program within the next week, so stay tuned for that, but do reach out if you have any questions.
Monday
Sleep-in …
School holidays …
I’ve been having a social media break – my brain has had almost complete shutdown since the launch of Tubowgule: A Sydney Opera House History. My coping strategy seems to be hibernation, blocking out almost everything except time-sensitive, necessary work or communication. I don’t do this on purpose, I just find the days pass and I still haven’t been able to communicate online or via phone or text. I struggle with this generally (staying on top of communication), but after a full-on period of time where I feel like I haven’t been able to stop and take a breath, it hits me hardest. Burnout perhaps? I think that’s what it is … or maybe my way of avoiding the kind of burnout that would send me into hibernation for months?
I also finished reading Deep Work by Cal Newport and now that I have names for what I generally used to call admin stuff (shallow work) and big projects (deep work), it’s somewhat easier to recognise the difference between the two and prioritise. Though, I am finding that if the shallow work is ignored for too long I become stuck anyway because I don’t know where to start when I do have time to catch up on the shallow work … A work-in-progress, as always.
Tuesday
My nephew slept over last night, and so the three kids are going wild on this rainy day!
A super special delivery of woven earrings and stickers from my dear friend Pauline arrived – this was such a beautiful surprise gift and it made me teary and so very grateful all at the same time. Check out the pics below 😍
Wednesday
Slow start to the day – seems to be the regular this school holidays. We’re all exhausted and so in need of this rest time when we can take it.
Watching a little of Evelyn Skye’s latest book club video before I dive into editing work.
Playing catch up with messages and emails and things …
Slowly coming back to life …
Wrap up
The week has been slow-ish. I’ve been struggling to get out of bed and get moving in the mornings, but school goes back next week so perhaps back to a more regular routine will help?
I’ve been doing a fair bit of weaving … tends to be after dinner or during moments when sitting in our front living room. Has felt nice to be doing something that keeps my hands busy while not taking up too much brain space.
Oh and I made a card (see pic below) for my sister
’s birthday! I’m actually really happy with how this turned out!
Your turn
What have you working on this week? Join us in the weekly creative chat and tell me all about what you’ve been up to.
I acknowledge the Darkinjung people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I am writing from today. I walk, talk, write, and create with respect on this land, and I acknowledge the enduring connection the Darkinjung people have with this Country; I thank them for their care of this Country, and I pay respects to the Elders past and present, and extend that respect to any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here reading or listening.