Welcome to Morning Pages, a newsletter sharing inspirations to help you cultivate creativity and fulfillment.
Hi friends,
Hope you’re doing well. I just came back from a week staying in the lush and serene White Mountains in New Hampshire. This region has become our favorite getaway destination. I look forward to coming back and showing you the breathtaking foliage in the fall season.
Since moving to a four-season climate area, I’ve become much more aware of the seasonal changes around me. I learned a lot about growth by watching how nature restores and how local businesses operate in high vs low seasons. Many creators and artists that I follow also have enjoyed honoring their creativity in seasons. In a broad definition, seasons can be special climate conditions in a region or any time pattern that fits someone’s natural rhythms.
These observations made me realize how important it is for me to align my work with the natural rhythms and my curiosities.
Here are a few thoughts on working in seasons.
1. Working in seasons enables us to achieve without burnout
When Nathan Barry, founder of ConvertKit, started a weekly podcast, he was struggling with producing high-quality content consistently. Just ten episodes in, he started to feel stuck. He felt the podcast quality was low because he was rushing to meet his deadline every week.
To deal with these ongoing pressures, Barry decided to create his podcast in seasons. He set out to produce ten really high-quality episodes on a specific topic and then stopped. Barry suggests that working in seasons allows us to commit to what we’re working on without reaching a point of burnout. Here are some examples in his words
A 10 episode podcast season that you can truly craft into something meaningful. A 90 day season focused on writing and launching your book. A 5 year season dedicated to building a software company.
Working in seasons has been an integral part of how I operate my coaching business. Instead of having a rolling basis of enrollment, I only enroll and accept new clients at specific times of the year. Because I was not available to take on clients on-demand, I probably have left money on the table.
But in the end, it’s important for me to have a sustainable practice and not burn out my passion for coaching. Working in seasons protects my focus and keeps me grounded. Also, it makes space for my own personal growth development, which always contributes back to this newsletter and the services I offer.
2. Working in seasons puts focus on actions and commitments
As James Clear recommended: “Highly focused people do not leave their options open. They make choices. If you commit to nothing, you’ll be distracted by everything. The great irony of this is that by limiting your options and remaining focused until you master a skill, you actually expand your options in the long run. Life-changing optionality is a byproduct of providing great value, which can only be achieved through focus.”
If you have known me for years, you probably have seen me experiment with many different mediums over the years, from Chinese ink painting, block printing, weaving, figure drawing, pigment making, to jewelry making. These different mediums have all come and go in seasons based on my natural curiosities. Some lasted every day for 100 days. Some lasted every week for two years. I still don’t know where these experiences would lead me. But I hope someday in the future, I’ll be able to connect the dots looking back.
Working in seasons has helped me overcome the challenge of loving an idea of doing it, rather than the act of doing it. It provides opportunities and experiences that may expand our options in the long run.
If you give yourself a season to explore a new skill, you’ll be able to test whether the daily pursuit of improving that skill is a joy or a pain, without the pressure of continuing with it forever.
3. Working in seasons forges deep connections with nature
One benefit of working independently is to manage my own schedule. Since moving to Maine, I’ve noticed a shift in how I observe the passing of time. Time is no longer those digital numbers that appear on the screens.
It’s when you have to move back your beach chairs during high tide. It’s when you can smell the seaweed near the shore. It’s when the lights on the Nubble lighthouse became visible from afar. It’s when every summer rentals decorated their porch with colorful flowers and window boxes.
Although we’ve only been living here for less than a year, it’s crazy how quickly you begin to take the proximity to nature for granted. So slowing down for the summer was an intentional choice. I have enjoyed spending time outdoors, investing in my own growth, and doing other creative experiments.
As much as we love talking about work and life balance, in nature’s talk, there’s no such thing as a perfect balance. The days and nights shift. The tides change. The flowers bloom and harvest. Perhaps a new perspective is not about finding the perfect work and life balance or having a stable routine.
It’s about focusing our energy, time, and attention on finding our own natural rhythm that enables us to restore, create and grow. It’s about having the strength to know that true productivity is not measured by speed. Sometimes the best thing to do is to pace yourself so that you have the endurance to finish what you started.
Looking for a season of transformation?
Didn’t I just mention that I work in seasons?
You’re in luck. Because right now I’m in the season of accepting new clients and opening enrollment for my group program. I only do this twice a year. So the next chance would be Jan 2022.
🔭 1:1 Energy Leadership Coaching
If you’re a creative leader or manager looking to direct yourself toward a fulfilling life and reclaim your creative power, I'd love to connect and support you through 1:1 Energy Leadership Coaching.
Below are the common topics I support my clients during 1:1 sessions:
Direct yourself toward a fulfilling and creative life
Clarity on the work that only you can deliver
Focus your energy where it matters
Leverage your unique strengths
Quiet your inner critic
Prioritize your time
Gain tools, skills, and support to consistently take action on what matters
If you have been thinking of reaching out, now it’s a great time. Please fill out the inquiry form on my site. If we’re a good fit, I’ll set up a complimentary session for us to connect. Look forward to hearing from you. ❤️
🚀 Design Career Jumpstart Program
If you’re not yet leading or managing in your role, but you’re looking to expanding your influence, I invite you to check out my group coaching program Design Career Jumpstart. It’s designed to support IC designers to lead and communicate with confidence, align your growth with your highest values, and know where to take your career next.
The enrollment will close at the end of August. The program will be from mid-September to mid-October. Don’t miss the last opportunity to join the community and excel with a solid group of designers and learn from amazing design mentors from Airbnb, Google, and more. 😍
Thank you for reading this volume of Morning Pages. All views in this newsletter are my own. If you’re enjoying this newsletter and want to express your appreciation, spread the word and support the studio for the price of a cup of ☕️.
Yuan Studio offers a series of coaching offerings to support creative professionals to play bigger in their careers and lives. Want to get in touch? You’re welcome to comment here or reach out on Twitter and LinkedIn.