Tag: creativity

Overcoming Writer’s Block During a Mental Sh*tstorm

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Image created with Gemini

I’ve really been struggling with what to write on here lately. My brain has been clouded with a bit of a shitstorm, & I’ve needed some time to see if the chaos settles.

It’s been months. I’m lucky I had a backlog of posts to ride on, but that well is just about dry. So… now what?!

Brainstorming

If you’re in a similar boat, let’s ask ourselves some questions :

  • Thinking : What’s been on your mind lately? What have you been thinking about a lot?
  • Feeling : How have you been feeling? That could be channeled into a “topic” post or a “how to deal with” article.
  • Knowing : What do you know in your soul during this chapter of your life? Or…what have you been learning about recently that you could share with others?

Ramble

Just roll with it. That’s what I’m doing right now, LOL! Roll with it until you hit the bottom — or better yet, a breakthrough. Set a timer if you want. Clean it up tomorrow, or next week. Just get something going.

Ask AI

Just about everyone does it these days. AI bots like ChatGPT & Claude are great at not only cleaning up fragmented thoughts, but even at prompting you to expand on your ideas. It’s not cheating if you don’t copy & paste AI-generated content.

Share

The most important part. Even if it sucks, even if you’re scared. Everyone’s got an audience & a community, and sharing helps us all find each other.

Writer’s block sucks, but you’re not alone — and you don’t have to be perfect to be heard. So hit publish, and let it out. Your people will get it.

🔥 Drop your favorite writer’s block hacks in the comments. Or just tell me what you’ve been avoiding writing. Let’s unblock together.

If you liked this post, please give it a “like”, share it with friends, and subscribe if you’re new.

Rock on!

Hibernate Like a Boss : Why February is the Perfect Month for Rest & Recovery

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Image generated with Copilot

While society is always telling you to “hustle harder!”, winter whispers something different – “Rest”. This is permission for you to hibernate like a boss. Rest and slow living isn’t laziness; it’s rebellion against burnout.

Sleep and Rest – Your Secret Weapons

Some people say “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”. While that’s true, you’ll die a lot sooner if you don’t get adequate sleep! Your body and mind heal while you get your beauty rest, which boosts your immune system and promotes mental clarity amidst life’s chaos. By resting now, you’re sharpening your edge for spring.

Trees go dormant and many animals hibernate – Shouldn’t we take the hint? I love to indulge in this rest and reflection time of year through couch naps and journaling. Come spring, I plan to emerge as a wiser, bolder butterfly.

Rest As a Ritual – Building an Evening Routine

The strength to conquer each day comes from clarity, not chaos. So it’s a good idea to wind down intentionally and maximize your rest time.

Rebel against your instincts if you need to :

  • ditch the doom scroll – swap your phone for a journal or a book
  • incorporate calming habits like herbal tea, dim lighting (warm white Xmas lights are lovely!), gentle yoga in bed, and ambient instrumental music or just white noise
  • try blackout curtains if you don’t like to see the ass crack of dawn (like me)

Slow Living Isn’t Weakness – It’s Power in Disguise

This is the ideal time of year for a few extra doses of self care. Naps, self reflection, and even occasional creative daydreaming now can do wonders for the busy months ahead.

Ask yourself:

  • What can I learn about myself right now?
  • What habits, people, or mindsets can I let go of?
  • What changes would I like to make this spring and summer?
  • What small steps can I make now to prepare for a vibrant year?

Conclusion

Rest isn’t just a pause; it’s an intentional rebellion against the constant pressure to always do more. Hibernate now so that you can rise stronger with clarity and purpose come spring.

This February, I challenge you to embrace the power that come from rest. Hibernate like a boss, and be sure to journal about the badass butterfly you’ll become. Take 10 minutes today to plan your hibernation ritual and commit to at least one act of rebellion against burnout.

If you liked this post, please give it a “like”, share it with someone you think would enjoy it too, & let me know in the comments below what your hibernation plans are!

PS – Just for fun, here’s a little coloring book page that you can print out or copy to color, or do with as you please! ❤

Created with the help of Copilot

My Adventure Starting a Craft Shoppe

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I’ve been crafting since I can remember. My mother studied art in advertising, & was really quite talented. We had very different tastes, but I respect her creativity. She could do lots of things I’m not so great with such as ceramics, drawing, painting, knitting, & sewing. I lean more toward jewelry making techniques, crochet, and random things. She taught me yarn crafts when I was a kid – loop rugs, knitting & crochet. I taught myself how to sew at about 15. A problem I have is that I’m a bit of a “Jill of many trades, master of none”, but I’m learning to use that to my benefit, while still trying to “master” everything hahaha.

inspiration
my current workspace

Where am I now? Well, my mother passed away from ALS when I was 15; we don’t have much of a family, so I live with my aging father to keep him out of a nursing home. My ex fiance & I were together for almost 11 years when he dumped me last year, & told me to “find someone who deserves me”. So, I did. I met Mr Wonderful through my cousins on my mother’s side, & it’s as though we were made for each other. But I’ll gush another time, lol. Point is, he encouraged me to open shop after watching me “throw together” bracelets & necklaces for my young cousins. I figured I’ve been tinkering with jewelry making for over 10 years, may as well see if I can make some money with it! The business end of things shouldn’t be too much for me. I wasn’t raised to be very organized, so I started reading up on how to be when I was a little kid. Now, I’m hyper-organized. Sometimes to a fault, but I can always figure something out. I’ve managed at a couple of the stores I’ve worked at in the past, one which had literally just opened & was being run by folks who had no clue about the business. My co-manager & I saved their asses to the point where they offered to pay for me to get a Bachelor’s in business. So, I’m sure I’ll have impressive Etsy skills with time.

I’m currently taking some mini business courses online, which have been helping a little bit. I was thinking about getting a certification in Business Management through my local community college, but I don’t want to affect any potential financial aid I can get when I go for nursing. My boyfriend wants to start a business together, so I figure I should learn as much as I can while he contemplates what we should do. Really, I’m trying to lean him toward crafting things for my shop, because he’s incredibly creative & meticulous. Time will tell.

Starting a business takes months of preparation…

…and you’ll still never be ready for everything. But I think I’m doing pretty good so far. I’ve been working on “building my brand” on social media, though I know it has room to evolve. I have 15 items to sell, & I’ve just about figured out a “beta” packaging & shipping plan. The only thing holding me up is acquiring the packaging, which is no big deal. I intend to launch soon, & the wheels can start turning freely. Wish me luck, & keep an eye on my shop as it evolves!!

Halloween Art Jar & ATC

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I always liked lots of little things displayed together in…bigger things. Dioramas, shadowboxes, jars…they’re neat! I bought myself & my cousin each a jar from a personal art sale down in the mountains of NY over the summer, & I decided to experiment with a jar of my own. Since Halloween was approaching at the time, I made a little Halloween art jar!

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Easy Assembly

I used lots of Dollar Tree items, including : a jar, black gravel, orange confetti, Halloween stickers, Mod Podge, & a fake tealight candle. I also painted a rock from the creek on my aunt’s vacation property & turned him into a ghost. I didn’t glue down the gravel because I didn’t want to risk being able to see the glue, & I just set everything together on top of it. That way, it can always be fixed or changed. I Mod Podged some fabric onto the lid, screwed it on tight, & wrapped some ribbon around it. It was a lot of fun to make!

A Little Something Extra…

I also tied a friendship bracelet around the lid to attach the gift tag I’d made (not really shown). My aunt appreciated the amount of work that went into the whole thing. While I was working on the tag, I decided to make an ATC (Artist Trading Card) to match :

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