see also —>
“I’ll fix this in post”
“I’ll remember where I put my lens cap”
“I can get this done in an hour”
and my fave:
“I’ll take January off and rest”
🫠
As photographer and creative myself, I know these all too well - and so do the people in my communities
Today on a coaching call, we dug into “what if we actually just rested in January like we intend to every year?”
The issue with being a creative and having a brain that’s spicier than the average person is that we either think we have all the time in the world or absolutely none at all
Or - we just squirrel out and decide to build a whole new business instead of JUST DOING THE THING that will actually make us money and bring us more business
As someone like this myself, as a parent of people like this, as a spouse to someone like this and as a coach to many creatives like this - I can tell you for sure that you aren’t alone but boy does it feel like it, right?
There’s a lot to be said for finding your people - so if you haven’t yet, prioritize putting yourself in situations so you can
It helps more than you know. AND - you can learn how to make your brain work FOR you I promise
But usually it looks VERY DIFFERENT from what you’ve been taught
If you want to dig into all this, hi - that’s what I talk about here 💜 welcome to the island of misfit toys - it’s super fun here - but I also help you actually DO the things to make the $$ without burning yourself out ✨
As a fellow creative who often struggles with the same challenges mentioned, I’ve found that embracing true rest—even if it feels counterintuitive—can be a game-changer. One thing that really resonated with me is the idea of committing to rest in January instead of pushing myself to immediately deliver or start new projects. For years, I caught myself saying things like “I’ll get these all edited by tomorrow” or “I can get this done in an hour,” only to end up overwhelmed and burnt out. What helped me was learning to listen to my unique creative brain, which often jumps between hyperfocus and distraction. Instead of fighting it, I started scheduling small, manageable tasks and gave myself permission to rest fully in between. This approach helped me rebuild energy and focus without guilt. Finding a community of other creatives who understand these struggles has been essential. Sharing experiences and tips has not only reduced feelings of isolation but also sparked accountability and new strategies. For example, I learned to replace vague intentions like “I’ll fix this in post” with realistic goals and deadlines. It’s also important to recognize when you're avoiding the tasks that bring in income by starting new unrelated projects. I used to squirrel out this way, but coaching helped me focus on the core work that moves the needle financially. This balance between rest, focused work, and community support transformed my creative process and business growth. Remember, making your brain work for you may look very different from traditional productivity methods. It’s about honoring your rhythms and finding personalized strategies that prevent burnout and keep your passion alive.