GoalsGoalsGoals

Don't stop working towards your goals. I put a Mach-E on my vision board 5 years ago and guess what? Now we have one. Ok, it's technically my husband's car but I get to drive it when I want. Sometimes a goal my look a little different than you thought it would, doesn't mean it's not an accomplishment.

Goal: To get better at art creation and make it a daily habit so that I can get more freelance work and more $$$

Problem #1: I spend a lot of my free time staring at screens: phone, ipad, tv, laptop.

[Solution: block yourself from turning on the screen by working in your office and deleting apps from your phone/ipad]

Problem #2: When I do sit down to draw or sketch I feel overwhelmed and guilty for not knowing what to focus on. Plus the dishes need to be done! I said I'd finish that knit project for [insert disappointed friend's name here]. So that means I'm still being lazy for focusing on something that is taking away from something else.

[Solution: brainstorm some 3 things to focus on if feeling lost, but let the creativity flow without guilt if an idea strikes or something is sparking joy]

Problem #3: Whatever I make isn't good enough to sell or get freelance work. Why am I bothering to work on it? It's trash.

[Solution: Tell that monkey on your back to take a break.]

So, the the issue with the solution to problem #1: I have an office...it's really more of a den. Doesn't have a door or four walls. My family walks by and can see what I'm doing any time. Which, if I'm being real with myself, is no different than if I'm working in the living room. I think the main reason I don't use it is because I want to be comfortable while working at home and it forces me to have to sit in a office chair. I've always wanted a lounge-y type office with a big chair I can relax in. But we never have room for stuff like that. Also this "office" room is messy. And even when I blur my background on zoom or teams I can still see how chaotic it is and it's embarrassing.

Reading: One Dark Window, Rachel Gillig

• It's my book club pick! I'm really loving the story and the unique magic system. Not one boring part so far.

TV Binging:

• The Dead Boy Detectives, a cheeky spin-off of Sandman. Sad because it only got one season.

• Wayward: an interesting story that took inspiration from those re-programming camps that kidnaps teens and tries to "fix" them, but the story is also tangled up with this town made up of cult members who graduate the program.

Stuff I'm working on:

• A Notion template that has a schedule for improving art and helping with daily art practice.

• SD Book Crawl logo competition. Yes, it's mostly spec work but I

  like the challenge and even I'm not picked (or don't make the deadline, because let's be real) I hope to have something I can use in my portfolio.

• An app design for my app concept my spouse is developing for me. I've never tried to do UI/UX design before. But, again, I think this will force me to get some new skills that aren't too far from what I already know with graphic design. I know I run the risk of someone from my company reading this, but I'm needing an increase in pay as everything gets more expensive and being just an in-house graphic designer isn't cutting it. My next career goal is to most likely a UI/UX designer out of all the options I've thought about.