It’s that time of year, when I start to overthink what a “year” means, since time is an illusion, or a flat circle, or something along those non-lines.
But we’re apparently in the final month of *waves a hand* whatever 2023 has been, and as The Bloggess said over on Threads, “I don’t want to brag but I’ve almost stopped accidentally writing the year as 2022.”
Perhaps you, like me, have been deep in reflection about what you’ve accomplished (or tried to accomplish) this year, and perhaps you, like me, are experiencing a sense of overlapping ennui and overwhelm — maybe even a little touch of regret. There is so much to do in this life, and the single-serving eternities we’ve been granted can seem so small.
One thing that helps me is going back through my journal(s) for a birds-eye view of what I’ve learned and how I’ve changed (and hopefully grown) since January. It’s good to give ourselves credit for how far we’ve come, and grace for how far we haven’t.
With that in mind, I’ve narrowed down a long list and decided that what follows are the items I’d like to share with you — things that, hopefully, will inspire you, inform you, and even help you stay hydrated. And most of them are free!
Make It Happen by Jen Carrington
I discovered Jen Carrington back when I first began to consider approaching my writing career as an entrepreneur. She’s been a kind and inspirational guide, and her free Make It Happen audiobook (delivered in bite-sized podcast episodes) set me on the right path. Grab a pen and a notebook and start with Chapter 1 on Apple Podcasts or her website.
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
This book was recommended to me about a hundred times by a hundred different people (slight exaggeration) until I finally caved and read it. Four Thousand Weeks completely changed the way I think about time management and how we spend our lives, and I highly recommend journaling along to process your own thoughts as you read.
Ambient Video Backgrounds
I’ve used rain sounds as white noise to block out distractions while I write for years, and this year I discovered that I really enjoy accompanying visuals that set a relaxing tone as well. There are a ton of these on YouTube, but here’s one I return to often.
My Water Bottle
No one is paying me to share this with you — I just really like this 22-oz Takeya water bottle. It’s soft-coated glass with a solid-feeling straw, and doesn’t leak when you (inevitably) knock it over. I carry it with me everywhere. Hydrate or die-drate!
Co-Writing Sessions
I had a really awful realization earlier this year that I had isolated myself to an unhealthy degree. It’s one thing to need time to oneself as an introvert, and another to remove oneself from society entirely. If this sounds like you, connect with a friend and/or fellow creative person, set up a Zoom or Google Meet room, mute yourselves, and get some writing done together. It helps.
(Note: I used to host a series of create-alongs on YouTube, and you can still watch the replay videos here.)
Skin Cleanse by Adina Girgore
This isn’t writing-related, but as I have been an oily-skinned acne-haver for the majority of my teenage and adult life, I am obsessed with skincare. This summer, I stumbled across this post on Substack (warning: contains adult language), which led me to this book, which encouraged me to experiment with not using any skincare products at all. I splash water on my face in the morning and evening, and about once a week I do an oil cleanse. Several months later, my skin is clear and comfortably hydrated, and I’m never going back.
“Trope Talks” by Overly Sarcastic Productions
This YouTube series has been going on for seven years as creator Red explores our favorite tropes in fiction and dissects how they work (and how they don’t). I have learned so much from her about the craft of storytelling, and I’m excited to share this series with you.
“Prioritize Your Writing” Worksheet
This resource I admit I made — and many of you already have it. But if you don’t, you can download it for free here (PDF)! The worksheet itself is extremely simple, but it’s also really effective in keeping you focused on your craft.
The eight items I’ve listed above are by no means the only things that have helped me this year, but they are sharable and accessible and, for the most part, free (especially if you have a library card).
What has helped you most this year — as a writer or as a human being in general? I would love to hear in the comments below. 🙂
In the meantime, please take care of yourself, and stay hydrated.
Words & warmth,
Sarah