Finding my voice
Again.
For eight years now, I have taken on (and, in some instances, shaped) the voice of various brands. Small start-up publications. Major newspapers. Global magazines.
And I’ve been good at it. It’s been a rewarding career and I’ve had tremendous opportunities for growth as a writer.
But, this year, I find myself wanting to cultivate my own voice once again. I haven’t completely lost it, although it’s become quieter as I’ve prioritized the needs and goals of clients.
I spent my downtime in December asking myself a lot of the same questions I asked at the beginning of my career: How do I want to show up online? What work would I prioritize if I believed I could find an audience for it? What stories have I been ruminating on? How would my career look if I wasn’t taking opportunities out of the fear and anxiety brought on by this industry’s scarcity?
It feels like everyone is in the midst of a pivot. People are looking for work and consistent (and more!) income. They’re increasingly showing up in creator spaces hoping these platforms will provide the relief they’ve been searching for. I don’t think there’s longevity or fulfillment in chasing trends. Instead, I think we all have to find our thing. The content and perspective we can uniquely provide that few others can. That’s my focus for this year. I want to bring in paying work, but I don’t want to stray too far from my core mission and longterm career goals.
One of my favorite creators said it best:
Last week, I was crying to my fiancé and feeling frustrated. I was struggling to stick to my routine in the presence of a lot of downtime. He reminded me that the top of the year is always my slower time (as opposed to the end of the year, which is typically really busy) and made a really helpful suggestion. He said: What if you had two routines – one for the slower season and one for the busy one? That way you’re not trying to force a routine that doesn’t serve the moment you’re in?
That has been my work this week. Creating a new routine for this moment. Leaning into gratitude for the slower moments that will eventually give way to intense, fast-paced productivity. If this moment is fleeting (and it always is), I don’t want to squander it with self-doubt and anxiety.
January Check In:
Here’s how I’m navigating forming new habits this year:
Journaling - I haven’t journaled consistently as an adult. (Not even when a former therapist said I should be journaling for my own health, but also because my experience was a testimony that I’d want to share someday. I knew she wasn’t wrong but I simply could not face my traumas in real time, sorry!) I’ve journaled every day for the past two weeks and it’s been a great outlet for me. This will
have to shiftbecome more challenging to accommodate, but not impossible (!!!), once work picks up, but I currently journal as soon as I wake up each morning. I write and reflect for 30 minutes before I do anything else (yes, that includes touching my phone).Screen time- I haven’t monitored my screen time data in depth, but I have noticed that my phone has locked me out of my social apps less frequently than it used to. (I can’t tell you what these numbers used to look like, but my phone says my screen time is down 25 percent this week from last week.) I still have days where I struggle with doomscrolling, but I’m proud of the progress I’ve made.
Reading - Instead of doomscrolling, I’ve been pushing myself to grab a book and read more. ESPECIALLY before bed. So far this year, I’ve finished two books (“Come & Get It” by Kiley Reid and “The Chronicles of DOOM” by S.H. Fernando Jr.) I’ve also been reading Substack more, including The Lucky Playbook newsletter from Les Alfred. (This post in particular was popular in my group chat as my friends and I have been discussing how to avoid making content we think we should be making versus the content that is true to who we are.)
Sleep hygiene - I’ve been reading for an hour to an hour and a half before bed each day to avoid screen time late at night. (Traitors and The Pitt both release new episodes on Thursdays and I’m just a girl. I do have to have a day where I throw caution to the wind and giggle at the TV, sorry!) This has been a game changer, so far! My sleep score has improved and I’m noticing I’m getting deeper, more restful sleep. I’ve also been more mindful of eating or working out late at night.
Movement - I’ve been prioritizing my movement goals every day and I do think this has also helped my mental health. Even on the days when I’m not working out, I do some stretching and get on my walking pad. On the days when I don’t feel like it, I do it anyway. I tell myself I’m worth the hour of dedicated self care out of 24 hours.
How has your annual reset been going so far?