The 6 Step Creative Kickstart (part 1)

(FYI - I’ve recorded a voice over for those of you who would rather listen while you work. You might hear my puppy in the background and you do get a little bit more silliness from me. )

For the past few months, I slowed down work and I relished in summer break with my lil’ family. Sure, I taught art classes and camps (image below) and I still worked on a few big projects, but the work load was light and our adventures purposeful. The time you spend taking the world in is just as important as the time you spend giving back to the world. Yet, the little transition back to work can be tricky.

If you’ve ever taken a short break from your daily duties, a vacation, a long weekend, maternity leave, or any type of pause for personal reasons then you know that returning to work is sometimes daunting. Even if you love your “work” (which I do), coming back to the journey after a pause or stop can bring a mix of emotions with it. Sometimes it’s joyful, exciting, overwhelming, stress inducing, or everything in between. I find this to be one of the hardest parts of any job – Starting up again.

Lets focus on that moment. The moment you know that break is over and you will be returning to your desk, your office, or studio. Let’s talk about how we can make the transition easier. This is the portion of the journey when you’re finding your way back to a normal day of work. I’m starting with Step 1 today and I’ll send Step 2 next week :)

FREE Worksheet HERE

The best advice I have to approach a comeback is to treat it like a road trip. If you stop for a few nights or for any amount of time during your travels – getting back on the road means you need to check that your vehicle is running smoothly, make sure you’ve packed all your belongings, check in with your people, consult a map for directions, and stock up on all things that make traveling fun.

So, let’s reflect, get set, and go!

DOWNLOAD Worksheet HERE

First things first, check the motivation bank…are you actually re-charged or are you zapped? I always joke that I need a vacation from my vacation. Sometimes “breaks” are exhausting. For different reasons than how work is exhausting. Sometimes vacations, long weekends, or pauses from your regular scheduled program includes planning, traveling, re-calibrating, moving, caring for someone else, remodeling, and a thousand other tasks that are usually on hold while you’re working. Often breaks can feel like a different kind of “work”. So before you go back to the grind, ask yourself if you have enough energy to be productive. Did you get to specifically recharge? Or do you need a quick moment to rest or reset? And what does that mean to you? Even a few minutes of deep breathing and meditation can have huge benefits. Or maybe an indulgent nap is in order.

Where is your current energy level?

I feel like checking your battery comes in handy not just when you’re coming back from a big vacation, but every morning. You can just check in and see if you need something. Take a deep breath or give a big sigh just to say “okay, lets go…lets do this”.

Here are 5 things I did at the end of my summer vacation to reset and recharge:

1. Finished a FANTASTIC art book I started: We Need Your Art by Amie McNee

2. Enjoyed a few breweries with my lovely husband.

3. Drank my coffee in the backyard soaking up the morning sun.

4. Took a walk around a lake with a beautiful outdoor art installation.

5. Listened to ASMR Bakery Youtube channel to relax.

See the Substack below for a handy dandy Productivity Flow Chart to check in with your own productivity level every now and again.

This post is a part of a monthly post by the Illoguild. This month we are discussing the topic of “How to Overcome Illustration Challenges”. For me, it’s coming back to my studio after I’ve been away for awhile. I hope this helps you. I hoped you found some nuggets that help you now or in the future. You can keep your cheat sheet handy for whenever you need it.

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That’s all I have for you today! This Substack is free. If you read all the way down or listened, THANK YOU! I’m so happy you are here! I hope you found a little gem you can use. I’ve taken a little break for the past few months and I’m happy to be BACK!

See you next time!