The Ugly Truth Series #7 - Change is as good as a holiday
The seventh in a series of illustrated truths gathered over 18 years - an entirely honest and personal project.
All hail Easter. Not just because of the choccy eggs, but it’s the start of a new season of work for me.
I’m almost two years into my independent journey and there’s certainly a pattern in how I seem to work. I chuntered on about the desire to work seasonally several times throughout last year in my intuition blogs. It would seem that manifestation s**t really works.
My autumns and winters are packed with intense, back to back work, that in truth, makes for a pretty sedentary lifestyle. This is then followed by the emergence of spring and an inner calling to slow down, smell the roses, work less and get out more. Make space.
The bad (aside of winter chub and a serious vitamin D deficiency) is that it’s bloody tricky when I’ve the opportunity to always be 100mph. I’m lucky I know, I’m not complaining. But as a bit of a workaholic and with waitlists calling, I still struggle with my outdated, corporate notion of busy = success. Silly me. Why do these old ways of working take so bloody long to reset?
Self-initiated seasons.
So going to Ireland last week and taking some time out marked the start of my spring/summer season and a much needed break. Small biz owners are renowned for not taking time out and putting work ahead of health. I totally fall into this camp.
Anywho, back to my point.
The out-of-studio was on and my clients were (reluctantly) informed I wouldn’t be available for 10 days. 10-whole-effing-days. (The angst was real people.)
I planned ahead, working extra on what needed to be done in advance to carve the required time out, speaking to my collaborators and extended team to be sure all would run smoothly in my absence and off I went…
Did the world fall apart?
Did my business collapse?
Hell no.
Did I benefit from coming away from my muse, business and passion for a week plus?
Christ yes.
The Ugly Truth.
As much as I love my business and what I do for a living, I struggle to separate ‘me’ from the work, they’re completely combined. I’m not sure where the ‘off’ switch is. I’m not sure there is even a switch.
I often write in the bath (like this post, TMI I know) and ideas and concepts are always floating into my head while walking - so much so my notes app is always jammed with weird and wonderful snippets.
Because my purpose is defined by being creative and I make a living doing exactly that - I totally fail to separate these two worlds.
I mean, who says they have to be separated at all? (My instinct says they don’t.)
I did my best to stop and though I took my laptop, I often myself without it or even my phone. I even took my watch off at one point. (That’s Ireland for you.) I stayed off social media (for the most part) and as a result, the break away from my routine, work and current pace did me the absolute world of good.
“It’s all too easy to be head down and always on the go, to get so wrapped up that we forget to enjoy the bloody journey along the way.”
I can’t tell you how to solve this. Im still learning.
While off, enquiries and new business nuggets dropped into my inbox, attempting to lure me in. I stayed strong. Senders were automatically informed of my return. It was really hard not to hop onto email and fire up again. (Ok so I may have sent two emails - a couple of briefs out to copywriters and artworkers. But that was it - honest.)
So my week away… what wisdom did it bestow upon me? Shitloads as it turns out.
🌊 A change of routine is so good for you - they say change is as good as a holiday. They’re totally right.
😴 Resting it up good - I knew I was tired. I didn’t realise how tired I was until I stopped. Rest is still so underrated and unpracticed in this modern ‘hustlin’ world.
🚨 Your own space is important AF - It’s a non-negotiable for me, but I realised how much of my ‘space’ I’d given away and how unbalanced I’d gotten.
✈️ Getting some physical distance always helps - when I actually had a change of scene, it gave me space to think about other things and get clear on what I really want to be focussing on.
📍A new perspective - I’ve come back with solutions and angles to things that wouldn’t have occurred if I’d kept going. It really does work.
🍑 Fresh ideas - I’m bloody flooded with them. (Time for the notes app again.)
💥 Renewed energy and excitement - And to boot, Ive a renewed excitement to come back to ideas I’d parked previously.
🙌🏼 A new sense of optimism - I can feel the change in season and mindset, I went independent to shape my life and work how I wanted to. I sometimes forget that I’m in control of it - to remember it is so bloody exciting.
🥱 I realised I don’t dig the ‘gram so much - I didn’t miss anything and didn’t have the FOMO. No noise - bloody lovely.
IN SUMMARY
💥
IN SUMMARY 💥
I urge you to try and pencil some time. Anytime. Even if not away somewhere - take a break, change your pace. It’ll do you the world of good.
Enjoy my loves.
********
Illustration my own
********