Really quick as I do a couple of other things, this month is cruel for creatives, I usually find. Even without the (gestures outside) there's a lot of self doubt, a lot of self loathing and a lot of suspicion you're wasting your time.

You're not. Promise.

Practice your art to get better. Practice your art to bring you joy. GIVE YOURSELF THAT JOY. I am INCONCEIVABLY FUCKING TERRIBLE at cutting myself some slack this month. Want to know how bad? 'Kay

I'm streaming in 35 minutes, and have spent the day building most of a newsletter special edition, most of a newsletter, planning a blog post, setting up three podcast guest appearances and replying to emails.

That's maybe half the total slate right now and I'm not saying that to be arrogant. I'm saying it to say running headlong at work going 'YESSSSSSSSS!' gets you exhausted, frightened and convinced you don't fit, don't work, aren't any good and are just pushing weight around

I am taking more breaks. I bounced off the outer edge of burnout last year and I will not go there again voluntarily. Neither will you.

So! What do we do?

Be honest. Be kind. Especially to yourself. Look at what you're doing and know No One Else Can Do This This Way. There are at least two jokes a week in TFL that are in there for no reason beyond them bringing me joy. Because in this god awful fucking year we ALL deserve some joy

TL:DR: Creatives, you may be feeling as shitty as I sometimes do this month. You're not. You are metal AF and you have got this. Now go drink some water.