Adding Structure
As I’ve been digging into some of my roadblocks so I can have a smoother workflow, I’ve realized that not having structure is part of what’s causing my overwhelm and lack of follow through, or rather, diminished capacity for follow through. I thought it would be a good idea to format the newsletter to make it easier for me to write as well as easier and more enjoyable for you to read. Without guidelines I tend to get rather rambly, which doesn’t blend well with project updates and other art announcements, of which I plan to be having a lot more of! Each newsletter will now have 3 sections: What I'm Working On, What's On My Mind, and On My Radar.
Another change will be offering an audio newsletter as a part of the Extended Version subscription. A friend of mine mentioned that with their hectic life they don't have many free moments to sit and read, but they often listen to podcasts while they do other things. They suggested I do a podcast, which is definitely not my jam (speaking of being rambly...), but I realized I could add audio so you can listen to the newsletter instead of reading it. I'm still exploring how to best deliver it since I don't want to pay for any more services. For now I'll be uploading the recording to Soundcloud and linking to it.
To gain access, you can sign up for as little as $1 a month!
Okay! Let's dive in!
— WHAT I'M WORKING ON —
As I mentioned in the last newsletter, I’m working on a projection mapping project to launch the week of the Spring Equinox (March 19). Last week I finished the mandala that's going to be at the heart of that project. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen the progress videos I posted as part of The 100 Day Project. On day nine I announced that I’d be sharing the finished mandala in my newsletter. As promised, here it is!
If you’d like to see the color mandala as it will be projected and get a more in-depth look at the project before it’s launched, subscribe to the Extended Version!
To check out my 100 Day Project on Instagram, click here to visit my profile and click/tap on the 100 Day Project story highlight.
— WHAT'S ON MY MIND —
Lately it’s been clear to me that I need to have some sort of throughline guiding the work I do, both for my own clarity and for that of my audience.
Many questions have come to mind: What drives me? What feelings would I like others to have when they encounter my work? What do I want to express?
I recently listened to an episode of the Somebody Gets Me podcast titled “How do you define yourself?” that suggested coming up with two words that describe you and underline what you do. The words I came up with were curiosity and honesty. Curious was not a word I previously would’ve used to describe myself, but when others have casually mentioned it as being how they think of me, I realized it rang true. (Sometimes we can only see ourselves more clearly through another point of view.) My favorite work has come out of trying different things just to see what might happen, so I’ve been letting curiosity lead more as I’ve been venturing into unknown territory.
As far as honesty, my particular style tends to be a little too straightforward which can be overwhelming or off-putting. I’m learning how to balance honesty and privacy and it’s been somewhat challenging. Not everything needs to be shared but I do believe there is a benefit to letting people in.
Another word that keeps coming up for me is magic.
To tie back into curiosity, my favorite art makes me pause and wonder. Daily life is so frenetic and anything that can pull us out of that pace, even for a minute, is special. That’s the kind of work that I want to create—something that adds a little bit of magic and wonder into our lives.
— ON MY RADAR —
If you followed me over at Substack, you may remember this and I thought it would be fun to bring it back. Sometimes I’d write about rather heavy topics and wanted to end on a lighter note. I’d share what's been present for me, like what I’ve been watching, listening to, or tools or tips that I've encountered that have helped me. Here’s what I’m into lately!
Watching: Loudermilk on Netflix. Former music critic and recovering alcoholic Sam Loudermilk (played by Ron Livingston) leads a Sober Friends group (like AA). It’s a perfect blend of Office Space and High Fidelity. It’s only 3 seasons (I just started season 3), but there are rumors a 4th and 5th season could be in the works if Netflix chooses to pick it up.
Listening: I've found two YouTube channels that have been clutch in helping me focus while I'm doing brain intensive work. One is more upbeat, dance style music and the other is more meditative, ambient music. When I'm trying to come up with ideas, I work best in silence. When I need to just get the work done (which is when my brain likes to tell me about all the other things I should be doing), I listen to a song on one of those channels. Since they're at minimum 3 hours long, I can just let it play and focus in.
Tools That Have Become Indispensable: SkedPal. (Amazing tool, horrible name.) As I mentioned in the beginning of the newsletter, so much of my overwhelm comes from not having good structure. I joked to my friends and therapist recently that what I need most is someone to take my brain, organize everything, then tell me what I need to be working on.
While watching tutorials on YouTube, I got an ad for Motion, an AI calendar tool. It seemed like exactly the thing I need, however I was curious about reviews so I took a look at a few Reddit threads. Someone mentioned that they used SkedPal, which is a less expensive alternative to Motion. I looked it up and started the free trial.
I can make to-do lists until the cows come home, but no matter how hard I try, I struggle with prioritizing the tasks and fitting them into a schedule. I either don’t do enough or I do way too much and exhaust myself. With SkedPal, all I need to do is put in the length of time of the task, the time of day that I want to do it, and the AI creates a schedule for me automatically. It time blocks an hour if you don’t specify the length of task, and you can create custom blocks of time aside from the standard mornings, afternoons, or evenings that it provides. For example I have a "focused work" time block from 10am-12pm, which is when my brain is sharpest, so I choose that block of time for my idea generating work.
I’m still learning how to use it proficiently because it’s a VERY robust tool, but it’s helped me accomplish so much more than I usually do each day without feeling burnt out, as well as helped me plan out and organize really detailed projects, like my mandala projection.
I’d highly recommend the free trial and would be happy to answer any questions you might have about it! Here’s a link for 10% off your subscription if you sign up!
I hope you enjoy the new changes! I'm always open to feedback if you have any suggestions or comments.
Until the next newsletter, be well!
Giesla
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