Hi hi,

As I settle into my annual month-long summer break, I find myself reflecting on my own rhythm of rest and creativity that has become essential to my work as a professional creative. This isn't just time off; it's a deliberate cycle of renewal, divided into three distinct phases that are crucial for sustaining my creative output and personal well-being.

The first phase is what I fondly call "cocooning" — a term I much prefer to the judgmental "rotting" often used to describe this period of deep rest. It's a time of unapologetic Netflix binges, midday naps, and guilt-free lounging. In a culture that often equates worth with productivity, embracing this phase of doing nothing can feel challenging, because we've been conditioned to believe that any time not spent being "productive" is a "waste". Yet, it's during this time that the mental static of daily stresses begins to clear, creating space for what's to come.

As the fog of work-related thoughts lifts, I transition into the second phase: play. This is where my summer bucket list comes in (more on that below). It's striking how, as adults, we often sideline play, viewing it as frivolous or unproductive. But in reclaiming this essential activity, I've found a wellspring of inspiration and renewed energy.

Finally, primed by rest and energized by play, I'll enter the creation phase. Here, ideas and words flow with an ease and abundance that feels thrilling. It's a potent reminder of how interconnected these phases are; each one laying the groundwork for the next, none skippable without compromising the whole process.

In other words, the rot is just as important as the creating.

I used to think this month-long break was an indulgence, a luxury ill-afforded in our fast-paced world. Now, I recognize it as an integral part of maintaining my creative performance and mental health. What could our lives and our work look like if we allowed ourselves the time and space to truly recharge and reconnect with our creative voices?

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The Hidden Costs of Being the Best: From Gymnastics to Literature

In the relentless pursuit of excellence, we often overlook the toll it takes on those we deem “the best.” Two recent examples from vastly different fields - gymnastics and literature - provide a stark reminder of the unrealistic expectations we place on high-level achievers. Let’s dive into these case studies and explore what they reveal about our culture’s obsession with performance and output.

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Simone Biles: When the GOAT Needs a Break

Netflix’s “Simone Biles: Rising” offers a compelling look at the struggle of one of gymnastics’ greatest athletes. Biles, known for pushing boundaries and collecting medals, faced an unexpected challenge during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics: “the twisties,” a phenomenon where gymnasts lose their spatial awareness mid-air. This crisis of confidence, coupled with the unique pressures of competing during a global pandemic, forced Biles to step back from competition.

The backlash to Biles’ decision reveals the toxic underpinnings of our performance culture. Despite her unparalleled track record, some labeled her a “quitter.” This reaction echoes the “work devotion” ideology I explored in “Hustle & Float,” where struggle and sacrifice are seen as prerequisites (or deservingness) for success, regardless of their long-term impact on physical and mental health.

Biles’ situation highlights a crucial point: it’s unrealistic and damaging to expect flawless performance indefinitely. Our societal narrative lacks room for the inevitable “descent” from peak performance, leaving athletes like Biles in an impossible position. We mythologize the journey to the top but offer no guidance for what comes after.

Colleen Hoover: The Price of Literary Success

On the other end of the creative spectrum, we find Colleen Hoover, the BookTok sensation with over 38 books and 50 million copies sold. A recent article titled “Colleen Hoover is a Wildly Successful Author. Why Did She Stop Writing?” delves into the pressures faced by creators in the public eye.

Hoover hasn’t actually stopped writing, but she’s grappling with the weight of her success. Every book launch now triggers thousands of TikTok reviews, critiques, and sometimes insults. She confesses, “Release days don’t sound fun. So I’ve been dragging my feet. It used to be so exciting, and now it’s not. And that’s the saddest part.”

As a fellow author, this part really shook me, because it's the goal we're all striving for. What does it mean if it ends up not being what we wanted at all?

The Paradox of Success

The parallels between Biles and Hoover are striking. Both at the pinnacle of their respective fields, they struggle with the pressures of maintaining their status. Their experiences echo a theme I explored in a previous dispatch: success and failure are often two sides of the same coin.​

As we dream of reaching the summit in our own pursuits, it’s worth considering the price of getting there - and staying there. Perhaps the wiser path is to focus not on wins and losses, but on the work itself. As Elizabeth Gilbert wisely noted, “I will always be safe from the random hurricanes of outcome as long as I never forget where I rightfully live.”

Where in our own lives can we release the pressure and redirect it towards creation? Towards the love of the task itself? These stories remind us that sustainable success isn’t about constant, flawless performance, but about finding joy and purpose in the process.

As we navigate our own paths to achievement, let’s remember to create space for rest, reflection, and the inevitable ebbs and flows of performance. In doing so, we might find a more sustainable - and ultimately more fulfilling - approach to success.

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An "Anywhere Writer" Update: Lowering the Bar to Raise It

Last year, I made a commitment to become an “anywhere writer.” It wasn’t just about productivity; it was a promise to myself to integrate writing more seamlessly into my life, regardless of location. What followed was a months-long experiment in tools, techniques, and self-reflection that taught me an unexpected lesson: sometimes, progress means readjusting our expectations. In other words, sometimes you have to lower the bar in order to raise it.

I started by scrutinizing my actual writing habits while traveling, not the idealized version (lol) I’d constructed in my mind:

1. My smartphone, not my laptop, was my most frequent writing companion, especially during short windows of time.
2. Outlining remained the backbone of my writing process.
3. I tended to work on multiple projects across genres simultaneously.
4. When exploring new places, my phone was consistently more accessible than my laptop.
5. Hotel rooms still provided the best environment for deep, focused writing sessions.

This self-analysis was humbling. The romantic image I’d cultivated of writing in charming cafés across the world didn’t align with my reality (I hate lugging my laptop around). But recognizing this discrepancy opened up new possibilities.

I shifted my focus to a more practical question:

How could I use my smartphone to meaningfully advance my writing?

This reframing proved transformative.

As someone deeply committed to outlining, I realized that this foundational step—often the most time-consuming and intellectually demanding part of my process—could be the key to truly mobile creativity. This insight led me to search for iOS-compatible plotting apps that could accommodate my workflow.

Despite my long-standing loyalty to Scrivener for desktop writing, its mobile version fell short, particularly for plotting. Plottr offered versatility but lacked a mobile app. After some research, I discovered Story Planner, which provided seamless synchronization between Mac and iPhone. This technological bridge allowed me to engage in story architecture during spontaneous moments—waiting for trains, in coffee shops, or navigating airports.

By aligning my tools with my actual habits, I created a system that not only fit my mobile lifestyle but enhanced my creative output. This “lowering of the bar”—embracing the limitations of mobile writing—paradoxically elevated my productivity and engagement with my craft.

In our current digital landscape, where work and creativity are increasingly untethered from specific locations, understanding how to harness everyday technology for creative purposes is crucial. My experience suggests that by embracing the tools we already use daily—like our smartphones—we can transform mundane moments into opportunities for creative growth.

This shift in my approach to mobile writing also revealed an unexpected benefit: reclaiming control over my devices. For years, smartphones have promised the ability to work from anywhere, yet too often they've become conduits for endless social media scrolling and compulsive email checking.

By adopting a purposeful outlining app, I found myself fulfilling the original promise of these smart devices. Instead of being controlled by notifications and digital distractions, my phone transformed into a tool for genuine creativity. This change wasn't just about writing more; it was about redefining my relationship with technology.

In doing so, I unlocked a sense of freedom and agency that these devices had long promised but rarely delivered. It's a small but significant rebellion against the attention economy – turning moments typically lost to mindless consumption into opportunities for creation and self-expression.

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Summer Bucket List

After the last dispatch, I got a bunch of emails asking for more details about my summer bucket list. Here are some of my items:

Drink:

• Try new alcohol slushy recipes: I've bookmarked a frozen Aperol Spritz, a frozen Sangria, and this white wine & watermelon slushie.
• Also a fan of iced teas: this hibiscus one seems perfect for summer.

Eat:

• I've been wanting to try this Pide.
• These no bake chocolate peanut butter protein bars.
• Experiment with grazing platters.

Watch:

• C-drama The Story of Yanxi Palace. [Viki]
• K-dramas: Miss Night and Day & Queen of Tears, Wonderland [Netflix].
• Sunny (An American Expat in Japan is gifted a domestic robot named Sunny that she bonds with as she's processing grief) [Apple +].

Read:

I always prioritize books written by friends and am so lucky to count so many creative talents in my community.

• ​"How To Make Herself Agreeable to Everyone." by Cameron Russell
• ​Visual Detox: How to Consume Media Without Letting it Consume You. by Marine Tanguy
• ​Primal Mirror by Nalini Singh
• ​A Curse of Queens by Amanda Bouchet
• ​Everything & Nothing: A black man's reimagined soundtrack of the future by Joel Leon

Other books on my list:

• Non-fiction:
  • Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
  • Present Shock by Douglas Rushkoff
  • No Nonsense Spirituality by Britt Hartley.
• Fiction via Booktok:
  • Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
  • The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
  • The Villa by Rachel Hawkins,
  • the Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
  • This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune.

Do:

• Skillshare: Check out this Botanical Doodling for Self Care course. And this acrylic painting one.
• Biking: Found this easy biking loop around the vineyards near the farm. ​
• All the Yoga classes with Kassandra!
• Plant more flowers in our garden.
• Pick wild blackberries
• Make Fig Jam
• Make s'mores
• Try bottle cutting

Chill:

• Swim and lounge in the pool.
• Journal in the garden with my idea notebook.
• Nap on my outdoor couches with Pixel

If we're connected on Instagram, you'll see I've added a Summer List highlights to track my progress. I hope this dispatch inspires you to take some time to cocoon, play, and create this summer.