Hi Artists,Â
Around this time a couple of years ago, I did a 3-month moratorium on shopping.Â
A friend texted me last week to say hey, I’m thinking about giving up shopping for a while – what was the hardest part?Â
I thought about it for a bit and wrote her back:Â
Honestly, just the first couple of days. Just like changing any habit. Once I got out of the habit of looking at stuff, I just stopped. Also being clear about my boundaries. Like for me, I didn’t consider the occasional superfluous face mask at Whole Foods or whatever cheating. I think a better question is what do you get. I got my attention back. A lot of time. A lot of confidence when I wasn’t comparing myself or my home or whatever to pretty pictures on the internet.
And then I thought about the first time I did #the100dayproject and how I gave up drinking for the entire duration. If I have time to have a glass of wine, I have time to make something. If I have time to binge-watch Netflix, I can find five minutes to create. If I have time to scroll social media…well, you get the idea.
(Fun fact: if you spend 30 minutes a day on social media, over the course of the year that’s over 180 hours…which is over a month of full-time work!)
I don’t say this to make you feel bad. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with having a glass of wine or watching Netflix (both of which I quite enjoy).
You might not have the time or energy to do a project this year. I get it. (There’s a lot going on!). But if you’re on the fence or if in past years you’ve struggled to find the time or the energy, take some time to do an honest assessment of what you’re consuming and how you’re spending your time.Â
I, for one, could definitely spend less time on TikTok! I mean, I will spend less time on TikTok 😉
And then, remember: it’s not what you give up when you stop scrolling or shopping or drinking, it’s what you get back.Â
Confidence. Time. Energy. Presence. Personal growth. Connection. Community.Â
We start one week from today. It’s not too late to pick a project and get started with us next Sunday. Think about it, and if you have any questions post ‘em in the comments or join me and Elle for a bonus round Q&A today at noon Pacific on her Instagram @elleluna.Â
XO,
LJT