On Bad Days

If today is a bad day, then tomorrow will be better, and if tomorrow is a bad day, work smarter.

Smarter can mean take a break, or it can mean slow down my process or think before I act.

Actually, today was a good and productive day (in fact, the whole week has been). I got set back by a few minor mistakes, turned around once or twice, and changed my mind on what I was making (which required unstitching and restitching quite a bit). But I took joy in knowing that remembering these steps and missteps I made today means that tomorrow I will work smarter.

I’ve learned that when I am emotionally distraught because perimenopause has taken over, I need to listen to my restlessness and stop working before I make more mistakes. I’ve also learned that I am definitely not creatively functional before 10:00 AM, but I can easily work from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM nonstop, not even to eat.

Knowing these two things (merely two examples out of many more) has meant I know how to set better boundaries with myself, my art, and others. Just these two things alone have helped me develop a better weekly and daily schedule and balance in my work time.

I love bad days, in a weird sort of way. They may not be very productive in terms of produced art, but are very helpful in terms of producing my art.