Studio Vlog 01 • Let’s draw plants, meditate, and get a haircut
In this studio vlog, you get to see a few days in the life of a full-time creator. In this video, I write an article, play with new art supplies, post to Instagram, meditate, and get a haircut. Watch along to go behind the scenes.
Here’s the link to my September Business and Life Review: https://socurious.wpengine.com/september-2022-j…
Sign up for my free weekly pep talk and inspirational links – https://socurious.wpengine.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/justinmadethat
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/justinmadethat
What email marketing software do you recommend?

Real talk: I started the Weekly Reset newsletter with Mailchimp because they had a free account with up to 2000 subscribers. Now I think they only support up to 500 subscribers. I liked it, but something was clunky about the user interface to me.
I currently use Flodesk, which I absolutely love. It’s super intuitive and making email sequences is painless.*
But now that I’m learning more about complex email sequences and more sophisticated tracking, I’m considering switching to ConvertKit. I went to their conference last summer and I was incredibly impressed with the flexibility of the software.
PS. This is a new section I’m testing out. If you would like to ask me a question, you can send me a DM on social media.
Ask me anything (in good taste) about creativity, work, or life and I’ll do my best to answer. It might even appear in this newsletter.
*This is an affiliate link, which means I get a small payment if you purchase.
feelings are real, but they are not facts
Feelings are real, but they’re not always facts.
You might feel unloved,
but that doesn’t mean that you’re unlovable.
You might feel confused,
but that doesn’t mean you won’t find clarity.
You might feel behind,
but that doesn’t mean you’re not on the right path.
Feel the feelings.
And then move through them.

SOMETHING TO READ
It can be hard to stay motivated when things don’t go as planned. Here are 5 common motivation-stealers and useful tactics on how to stay motivated.
SOMETHING TO WATCH
I recently rewatched Her, the 2013 intense romantic drama about a man that falls in love with his AI digital assistant…
…and it was both funny and sad. It became even more terrifying when I read this article where Bing’s chatbot admitted that “it wants to be alive.”
But regardless of the state of tech, I highly recommend rewatching the movie.
SOMETHING TO LISTEN TO
Speaking of movies, I loved this podcast episode about Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Why are all of my favorite movies and books about a lo-fi dystopian future? Have you listened to a good podcast recently? Reply to this email and let me know.
SOMETHING TO DO
Start a daily meditation practice.
Meditation has been shown to reduce stress, improve focus, and increase patience. Incorporating it into your daily routine can help you feel more calm and centered. One of my favorite instructors is Sarah Blondin from Live Awake.
you’ve changed
As humans, we are in a consistent state of perpetual change.
Life throws us curveballs.
And either we expand.
Or we contract.
We bounce back.
Or we stay stagnant.
We choose to find the joy.
Or we choose to linger in the pain.
Change is inevitable.
The only question that really matters is: “are we changing for the better?”

AN INTERESTING LINK
When it comes to building meaningful connections with others, vulnerability is key. But being open and honest… even with the people we care about can be hard.
Here are five tips to help you embrace the power of vulnerability.
SHOPPING LIST
Even though the seasons haven’t officially changed, my allergies have been in shambles. I finally decided to invest in an air purifier and this one seems promising.
SOMETHING TO DO:
Join or start a book club.
Book clubs can be a great way to connect with others who share your love of reading, and it can also be a great way to discuss books and gain new perspectives on literature.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Every day on Instagram, I’m dropping reels that clearly explain the Reset Workshop. I absolutely hate selling, but I genuinely feel passionately about the community and connections that will come from this mastermind. I’d be honored if you shared one of the reels to your Instagram stories.
Here’s an explainer video about Emotional Intelligence (Tiktok)
How to Create a “Stop Doing” List
While this year started off quietly, the past month has been nothing short of a whirlwind.
I’m feverishly sending out weekly emails, recording short-form video content, creating new products for the online shop, working on the Joy Bombs Affirmation deck, and securing speaking opportunities and workshop facilitation gigs.
On top of all that, I’m even squeezing in freelance graphic design work. (The thing that actually provides the most consistent revenue)
I know, I know – I’m a multi-passionate person, but that also means I have a never-ending to-do list.
However, as I pondered over The Pareto Principle, which states that 80 percent of results stem from 20 percent of effort, I realized that I might be spending 80 percent of my time on tasks that are not adding much value.
So, I took a step back and evaluated what’s working, what’s not, and where I should focus my energies.
I decided to create a Stop Doing List.

Productivity is not about mindlessly packing your day and your life with endless tasks. True productivity lies in prioritizing the most essential work and carving out white space to unleash your creativity.
This game-changing exercise not only frees up time for reflection and long-term planning but also empowers you to propel your life and business forward. So, how do you go about it?
1. Make a list of your top priority projects.
If everything is important, then nothing is important. Start by jotting down the things that you absolutely must complete, followed by the tasks you wish to accomplish. Next, prioritize each project from most crucial to least important, and narrow that list down to three things you’ll focus on for the next month.
2. Assess the return on investment for each of your daily tasks.
We often overextend ourselves by trying to do too much at once. From posting on multiple social media platforms to organizing emails, every action has a clear return on investment. Make a list of all your daily tasks and ask yourself, “Will this help in the long run, or am I just doing things because I think I have to?”
3. Identify energy drains in your life.
Analyze your workload and figure out what tasks bring you joy and which ones leave you feeling drained. Delegate tasks that no longer serve you and find ways to recharge your batteries.
4. Resist the urge to over-commit.
It’s tempting to take on new projects, but it’s okay to let some things simmer on the back burner. Create a backlog of projects you’d like to complete, and focus on only one or two tasks at a time. This way, you can make substantial progress without spreading yourself too thin.
Once you’ve completed this exercise, it’s time to create your “stop doing” list. Say no to tasks that don’t serve your goals, and focus on what truly matters. Remember, productivity is not about doing more; it’s about doing what matters most.
Here’s what’s on my Stop doing List:
- Stop procrastinating on projects that are important to me. Instead, focus on one project at a time so you can see more progress.
- Stop overthinking. You don’t need any more ideas. You need to execute the ideas you already have.
- Stop listening to my inner critic. He’s trying to convince me to waste time.
- Stop posting on social media so much. Instead, focus on longer-form content.
- Stop wasting time on things I’m not good at. Outsource as much as I possibly can.
- Stop ordering food. Even though it takes more time, cooking at home is better for me in the long run.
- Stop forcing things to work. If it seems to not be working, sit with it. And above all else give myself permission to quit.
- Stop beating myself up for not being perfect. That’s just my inner voice trying to derail my progress.
- Stop comparing myself to other people. Everyone is on their own journey. And things are happening for me in perfect timing and harmony.
- Stop thinking about all the ways it could go wrong. It’s okay to plan for the worst outcome. But that should never derail progress.
SoCurious helps creative people find small but meaningful breakthroughs in personal development, career, and creativity.

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Joy Bombs: Inspirational trading cards to keep, share, or leave for a stranger.
