I have been in one hell of a rut the past month.

Whatever reasons I have for this situation right now, in this moment, this is also just what seems to happen to me this time of year. I start hibernating or I have a down-turn in energy. I need lots more alone time. (Like, not reply to a text for 5 weeks, alone-time.) I also need some autistic recovery in the form of narrowing all my focus onto a project or special interest. (At them moment rehabbing my new-to-me, very antique Singer 66 so I can reupholster our couch---by which I mean niche AF.)

Maybe rut isn't the right word, since in reality, being in this ebb of my energy cycle isn't a problem. What's more, I've learned through bitter experience that fighting this cocooning phase (1) does not work and (2) is a fast path to burnout in the new year.

However, I've also learned that just 100% embracing this low energy phase with abandon is not considerate or thoughtful of future Sam. Future Sam has, historically, come out rested only to have all their new energy being drained into starting from zero momentum, responding to overdue emails, texts, and trying to rekindle motivation for certain projects.

So this year, I've decided to have my cake and eat it to: I will fully embrace rest and autistic recovery AND I will show up enough that future me doesn't have to pull everything together from a cold start. I can do this because showing up for future in some capacity isn't antithetical to my current need for rest.

How do you keep things moving when your brain is pickled by over-work/winter hibernation/chronic illness flare-up/burnout brain fog?

There's a cure that's nothing short of magic: A practice of stream-of-consciousness writing first thing every morning. Which is where the idea came from for the Advent Calendar of Writing Prompts to Unlock Creative Flow.

Julia Cameron's Morning Pages are an exercise I refer clients to all the time. When I was coming out of the worst of Long Covid, it was one of the most impactful practices for shedding brain fog. (Which anyone with Long Covid will tell you, is no small feat!) You write in the morning non-stop 3 pages, every morning. And you watch your creative blocks melt away!

What I love about this exercise is that it's one that meets us where we're at, rather than immediately pushing us to be somewhere else. Like a low-impact stretching routine for our brains---which I fully believe is the reason it's so g-d effective. You can't do it wrong! All you have to do is show up.

It's like taking your brain/thoughts/creativity where it is currently, and gently introducing it to the very next step to something.

This is how I'm unpickling my brain to keep showing up in a way that meets my restful capacity. And I'd love for you to join me!

How it works: Every day, for 12 days you'll get a free-writing prompt. Take that prompt and start writing out by hand 2 pages or 3 pages---or set a timer and see what comes out over 20 minutes! Pick a goal for length or time and stick to it! Then just keep your pen moving non-stop. Lay out whatever is in your brain, relevant or not. Wait for magic to set in. Enjoy, sleep, repeat.

Cost: FREE. Just click one of those rosy buttons and you're in! (I know, right?)

What makes this 12-day Advent Calendar of Creative Change I'm running special, is that, while I LOVE the Morning Pages, it does call on more "will-power" than I think it needs. My 12-day calendar is an even gentler and more effective way to get those creative juices going!

FAQs no one's asked:

• How can you have prompts for "free writing"? What are you, the MFA police? The prompt is just to get over the hump in getting started. Cameron's practice asks for some willpower to get the habit going. I, as you well know, am super anti the idea that any practice requires willpower as a path forward. Prompts are a way to ease into the practice, which, if you keep going with it, will lead to all the magical place Cameron promises without draining your willpower.
• Isn't an advent calendar supposed to start on Dec. 1st? What are you, the Christmas police? From one neurodivergent to another, fuck a deadline (and/or fixed start date). While we're at it fuck capitalist and imperialist ideas of Christmas. Anytime is an amazing time to start---plus, if you start the Calendar today, you'll wrap before the New Year! (Which come to think of it, isn't even most humans' New Year, so no reason to overly invest in that day either!)
• What if I can't write every day? First of all, I think you can. I really believe you can make this work and that letting yourself show up everyday for 2 short weeks will feel awesome. Having said that, if you miss some days, fuck it---pick up wherever you're at! Here we celebrate the average, not the streak.

Got other Qs? Hit that reply button, sugar cookie! I'm all ears.

Love + solidarity,

Sam

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P.S. - Did you already sign up for the Advent Calendar of Creative Change and are following through the prompts?? Thanks, sugar!! Thrilled to have you! Why not get a writing challenge buddy? Forward this email to someone who's had enough creative blocks for the next two years and is ready to try something different!