As the winter weather continues to arrive with flurries of snow and cold winds, I have made the conscious decision not to open my studio for at least another few weeks.
I’ve not stepped foot in the studio since I closed mid-December, and if you had been following along on my Instagram, you’ll have seen I had been running a series of festive workshops for the community over the space of 6 sessions from the last week of November.
They had taken quite a large proportion of my time to plan, from writing up the lesson plans, organising the venues, and gathering materials. But with all of that being said, when it came to actually facilitating the workshops, we had a wonderful time.
We chatted away about our shared interests in crafts (from knitting, crochet, paper folding, card making to the equipment and tools we use), we shared stories, and discussed how quickly Christmas had come around (once again) and what was on TV this weekend that was worthy of a watch.
However, what I hadn’t quite taken into consideration was the toll of running the workshops, alongside the increase in school commitments as a parent and the dynamics of everyday life. I came back feeling completely drained of energy. My social battery was depleted, all I wanted to do was crash out on the sofa with a cup of tea and a biscuit before heading back out on to the school run.
With this in mind, I decided to slowly unwind the two weeks before Christmas. I still made sure essential work was done. Emails answered, marketing work was created and scheduled ahead of time, and invoices were sent off.
Previous years have looked very different. I had run my product-based business since 2013, and every Christmas I worked until the last posting dates of Royal Mail. Working every hour of the day, and making the most of the festive orders whilst also missing out on friend and family meet-ups, trying to get ahead of myself for the coming day. Of course, when I had my daughter, I could no longer run to the same tune, and ultimately had to pull back on the quantities of what I could make and offer at the time (and the loss of income compared to previous years).
Not being able to give so many hours did provide me with the insight that what I was doing wasn’t sustainable in the long run. I always knew that, but I made the most of the position I was in at the time and just guessed some day I wouldn’t be.
However, as someone who loved the work I was doing, the hours and time spent working seemed to have no concept, and I could have sworn 3 hours would disappear in 5 minutes! The way I was in my business became a way of life, and fast forward to today, I still sometimes struggle with the slower pace that I choose to carve out. It can very often feel like I’m not working enough, not making as much ground as I’d like, or not in the ‘circle’ of online makers smashing it.
Luckily, the work I’ve put in (in relation to me becoming a holistic creative therapy practitioner) has allowed me to not only think, but see differently. Through a series of painting, journaling and meditation, I can see the benefits and good that have come from scaling back and being present with my family.
Over the festive break, we have enjoyed plenty of cuddles on the sofa watching movies, sleeping in later (than usual - which is still relatively early with a young child !), spending time outdoors, and for the most part - just not having to be anywhere.
It’s honestly been so wonderful. I haven’t thought too much about work (something I feel blessed and privileged to be able to say), and with that, I also haven't planned for anything in the coming year, not planning New Year’s resolutions, a new business plan or a radical 10x income strategy.
Previous Hannah had, however, arranged for 2026 workshops back in the autumn, as well as some opportunities to volunteer (more on this later), and the rest I had to trust would happen in due course. Which sounds a little scary, but as someone self-employed for 14 years now, it becomes your ‘normal’ and the only thing you can do is carve out some sort of consistency through multiple income streams. (If you’d like to hear more about those, I can go into greater detail in another post.
Also, with the weather being unpredictable comes the uncertainty of being able to book in certain work. Schools have either been closed here or running with delayed starts, which has meant needing to be flexible more than ever.
In the coming weeks, I’m hoping to make it into the studio, but what I’ll make or work on, though, is a different question altogether!
The only real plan I have for now is that I’m hoping to have more answers when spring arrives, and the slightly lighter evenings and warmer air provide a renewed sense of energy.
Until then, I’ll be working away on my coursework and applying myself to the marketing work I have scheduled in.
with love,
Hannah x
P.s. Let me know if you’ve already started planning for the year ahead, or if you're someone who is awaiting the spring. 🌸
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