Hello fellow tinkerer 👋 -

Happy Wednesday. My kids are counting down the days to the end of the school year (seventeen). We shift to a summer routine. My kids go to summer camp and my oldest son joined a running group in preparation for high school cross-country (which he will join in the fall).

Transportation during the school year is easy because my kids take the bus. Summer involves a lot more driving.

1) Reflection:

I go through different bouts with writing. Sometimes I move at a frenetic pace; sometimes I feel like I can barely write anything. In addition to the other changes to our summer routine, I spend a lot of time outside, often walking several miles per day.

Lately, I've been contemplating my writing "muscle" and wondering if there's a more sustainable way to maintain a writing habit than a series of highs and lows. Or perhaps that's simply the life of a creative person?

If you do writing or other creative work, I'd love to hear about your creative habits. Do you feel like your creative energy varies?

(PS: I really love the book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey. I may need to give it a re-read.)

2) Tip:

I've been on the move within my own home a lot lately. We wrapped up a big home improvement project so I've been putting everything back in order, painting, and cleaning.

When I'm working in the house, I like to listen to podcasts (currently American Scandal). I wear a running belt (like this one) so I can tuck my phone into the pocket. That way it's easy to maneuver around without my giant iPhone in the pocket of my sweatpants. I also use the running belt when I'm mowing the lawn or traveling. And, of course, when walking or running.

3) Product:

Over the years, I’ve become very good at working while traveling. As long as I have my laptop, I can work from anywhere. Even on family trips, I like to maintain my morning routine so I’ll usually keep things moving in my business before everyone else wakes up.

It’s my dream to take lengthy “workcations” once my kids are out of the house. I have a bucket list of places I’d like to visit (in Notion, because I’m a geek like that). I can see myself spending at least half a year living a digital nomad life and the other half at home.

This Nomad Workation from SafetyWing is so enticing. A month-long workation in Mexico City? Yes, please. If I win, I promise I will figure out how to take the trip and manage my kids remotely. 😁

You can enter to win by clicking here. Entries must be received by May 16th.

That's it for this issue of Tinkering! See you again in two weeks.

Cheers,
Anna

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Want more ideas?

→ Join the waitlist to be notified when my new course — 30 Days of Online Writing — becomes available.

→ Ever thought about moving your family to another country? Check out this episode of Fresh Starts podcast with Christine. (I met Christine at a conference a few years ago and I've been a guest on the Fresh Starts podcast myself)

→ Read my interview with Ashley Coghill about navigating parental leave and its impact on her career.

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