Work-Life integration to remind you that an overwhelmed career in the creative arts is a blessing, not a burden
Vol. 082
Work-Life integration to remind you that an overwhelmed career in the creative arts is a blessing, not a burden.
The key difference between a HAVE to and GET to mindset, and how work life integration can nurture this.
A quick bite:
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of work. It can be draining and feel like a burden. A few simple changes can shift this “I have to do this” perspective into a “I get to do this” perspective.
Continue reading below…
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the amount of things you HAVE to do in order to run your creative business?
This project, that project, invoicing, organizing, emailing, zoom calls, finalizing, refining — the list is eternal.
I sometimes get caught up in the HAVE to list, feeling burdened by all that I have to do to keep things moving forward. But, the fact of the matter is , a career in the creative arts is something that we GET to do.
That word change is a crucial nuance, and retaining this positive perspective can go a lonnnggg way.
I had a wildddd week last week. I won’t bore you with the details, but it was enough to just about make my head spin off my neck.
Oftentimes these weeks overwhelm me to the point of not being able to really enjoy any of it.
I find myself feeling the burden of “have to’s”. I have to do this, I can’t believe I have to do that. We have to get this out the door tomorrow…
But, this week was different. I WAS able to pull my head up and look around — I was able to appreciate that i GET to do these things.
We get to paint this mural for 2 days. I get the opportunity to review portfolios. I get the opportunity to draw and letter for a living.
Upon briefly reflecting, I think the innate optimism this week was rooted in that I’m in a place of work-life “integration” (a term my new studio mate and good homie Nick Friend turned me into).
I have always felt that work and life have a flowing relationship together, and the idea of integrating the two together is crucial.
At this moment — despite burning the candle and both ends — I am feeling fulfilled by the opportunity to create for a living, and I believe that is heavily supported by my simultaneous effort to be enjoying life experiences as well.
I was first perplexed by my own ability to not spill a single drop from my overflowing cup this week — but I realized it was book ended with rewards. It was bookended with play, adventure, experience and life.
We worked our BUTTS off two weeks ago… then we went to Crop design conference last week. This week was insanely busy. And now I’m off to Utah for a 2 day float trip to drink beers on the river and camp in nature with fellow adventurous souls.
Integrating life experiences — rewards — into your hard work makes life feel less like a hamster wheel and more like a fun race. There are actually rewards at the end! You DO get to reap the benefits of your hard labor.
Don’t get too caught up in the hustle and the grind, thinking that you HAVE to do these things.
We GET to do these things. We get to create for a living.
If you’ve lost this perspective, it could be rooted in a lack of LIFE integration into your work.
Find some time for you. It’s not ALL about the hours you put in. The experiences of life oftentimes will get you further than a few additional hours of work.
Have a great week, folks — find sometime to play and life experience to enjoy this week... We GET to do this!
Cheers,
Adam
