I would love to think that I’ll be around to update again before the new year, but… c’mon. Let’s be real, people.
I’m finally on break, a reprieve from the very real burnout I was suffering (I love my job, and I adore my coworkers, but it’s just been a lot lately), and I’m hoping to spend today and tomorrow having a blast and a half with my family, and then starting my annual Big Clean. Weirdly, I’m almost equally excited about that…?? I think part of my burnout has been the persistant need for just a general reset, you know? Reorganization, cleaning, getting things in order and under control. The ambient disorder isn’t necessarily the cause of my burnout, but it’s certainly contributing. I’m looking forward to getting back on track now that I have two weeks with the burden of work taken off my plate.
I’ve also taken a very conscious break from any attempts at creativity over the last month for much the same reason — I was burnt out, and pressing it was not actually helping the situation, but exacerbating it. I decided putting a kibosh on my expectations of creative output until the new year was for the best, and instead I focused on what I wanted to get out of the upcoming year — goals, resolutions, and intentions I wanted to set for myself.
So, in the interest of my own accountabilty, I’m gonna show my whole ass here and post exactly what’s in my Goals and Resolutions doc right now:
✨Goals✨
Long Term (Ongoing)
- Language lessons at least 2x a week (more if possible!!!)
- Properly meal plan at least once a week
- Create weekly lunch menus so I can shop for them thoughtfully
- Read at night – an actual book – for at least 30 min.
- Two meatless meals a week
- Keep all my doctor’s appointments
- Spend at least one hour a day devoted to just Bear
- Establish Family Nights
- Focused workout 15 min a day (reassess after established)
- Start writing again – weekend mornings before everyone is up
- Begin curating my wardrobe more closely
- Start using Bluesky and Insta more effectively
- Build my Cara portfolio
- Consume more new-to-me media (TV, movies, music artists, etc.)
- Start a fun non-art project I really enjoy
- Establish a weekly reset day for things like pantry, drawers, fridge etc.
- Learn to read Tarot
- Start and maintain a Little Free Library
- Establish something like a TikTok or a YouTube
- Screen detox
- Get at least one tattoo and piercing
- Exhibit in at least 3 shows
Every year, I’m ambitious — I set a lengthy list of goals, and even if I don’t accomplish all of them, I usually make at least some progress on most of them, and honestly, any forward movement is a success. I am most passionate about the health and dietary goals, as health (mental and physical) are my top priority this year, as is centering my family (especially my son and my siblings) more solidly in my life.
Of course, my creative ambitions come with their own set of goals — as is tradition, in the form of an Art Bingo card, which I will post after the new year (but which is more or less finished — might tweak a few things, we’ll see). My overarching intention for this year with my art is to work more efficiently, to post updates more frequently, and to experiment more.
Anyway, I am wrist deep in watching Christmas television and getting ready for when my wife gets out of work so we can go out to dinner. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. Take care of yourselves, and each other.
All Your Crooked Heart 