The daily grind
design, vids, and way too much more
Hey friends
Hope you all are doing well this week and having a good start to the month. I’m excited for the end of the year and feeling pretty good about how 2023 went for the most part.
Lack of focus
Lately, I have been feeling a little all over the place in my work and my life.
I’m finding it hard to be as productive and consistent as I used to be.
I feel like I hold myself to an ever higher standard than most in that department because of the identity associated with it.
I have pride in being someone who can do a lot, be productive, be consistent, and for long periods.
Lately, it’s been different though.
Even writing this weekly newsletter or coming up with a new idea for the hardcore series each week has become draining.
It doesn’t help that I’m feeling some creative block with the series either.
Working within these restrictions can be so freeing and help you come up with creative new approaches to the work. It can also feel restrictive and an added element contributing to a lack of fresh ideas.
Was pretty stoked about how this last one for Last Wishes turned out though!
I guess I’m in a bit of a creative lull or just a high-stress period of my life.
I also was reflecting on maybe I was doing too much in the past and now that my baseline is a little more comfortable and healthy it feels foreign to me.
I think I get worried about embracing the healthy balance or “mental health” approach to things too much and them just being a disguise to procrastinate or not get the things I want done each week.
On the other hand, though the time has been flying by, I feel like each week I do not have enough hours to finish all the things I want to get done.
It doesn’t help that there usually isn’t a singular focus either.
I’m working on videos, personal design work, writing, freelance stuff, admin, emails, accounting, etc
So much context switching that it’s getting stressful to manage my schedule.
It feels weird even complaining or reflecting on this too because I would have dreamed of this schedule and life years ago.
I guess that’s the wonderful part about the human brain. For better or for worse it adapts to whatever your situation is and uses that as the context for how you’re feeling.
For example, I could be stressed about money the same amount as when I was in college even though I am doing better than ever now.
The same reason celebrities have so many mental issues is because when everything external is handled the only place left is to look inward.
Life will always be full of problems it’s just trying to set yourself up for a life full of good problems.
Overall things are going pretty well though, I think I just need to reevaluate how I divide up my time.
How about you though? Do you have a focus right now in your career?
Are you getting the things in life that you want?
I’m just going to keep taking it one day at a time.
Much love and talk soon!
Stuff to Check Out
Fav Design of the week below
Weekly Wrap Up
Redesigning my Terrible Graphic Design Work from College
Last Wishes Album Art Concept
Thanks for reading!
I plan on keeping this newsletter free, but if you want to support, the best way is to buy me a coffee:)
Hire out! Then you can focus on the stuff you want to
I recently got promoted at my day job and I feel myself getting used to what I once felt too stressful that I can't focus on my design portfolio and looking into grad school. I'm excited for the new year so I can continue to grow in new ways!