Hi there!

I found some treasures for you:

• Found Art
• "Toddlers are more likely to interact with their parents when they're sharing a paper children's book rather than a tablet."
• An interesting article about a children's author from Utah, Brandon Mull, and losing his muse.
• My break from social media has continued. Here is what I am working on:
  • I am illustrating winter Holiday activities and coloring pages.
  • I am revising one of my older picture book dummies.
  • I am nearly completed with my next poetry book, just putting it together at this point.
  • I plan to release a new poetry project soon, although the format is still up for debate.

It is typical for me to take on a lot of projects all at once. But, honestly, I think the primary reason is that I love coming up with new ideas. I love thinking about the result and imagining all the places I could go with it.

I am a starter.

Finishing is a different story altogether and what happens is my attention splits between many other things. Multitasking makes it much more challenging to complete a project and finally realize what I started.

Coming up with ideas and starting a project is an integral part of the process. It is who I am.

But multitasking is the result of:

1. Cluttered Priorities
2. Excessive Workload
3. Stress / Anxiety
4. Distraction
5. and Fear of Failure

It is hardly productive.

Here are some steps you can take to avoid multitasking when you have multiple projects on your plate.

1. Set clear priorities. I prefer to set priorities and make plans for the following day before work ends in the evening. At that time, my priorities are already at the top of my mind. When the morning arrives, it takes a lot more time to get into motion. If my priorities are already aligned, then reorientation is quicker. The other benefit of this is that it signals the end of the day.
2. Once you set clear priorities and define your workload, think about what you can do drop. Think about where you can reduce friction. For me, social media is friction. It is a huge time investment with very little return. Social media is what I do in my free time.
3. Reduce stress and anxiety in whatever way that you can. Honestly, there is nothing wrong with seeking therapy, medication, or both. I know that reducing anxiety is not always possible alone.
4. One of the best ways to reduce distractions is to declutter your workspace. That may include putting your phone away from where you can see it. You may need to take some time to identify your distractions before working on them.
5. If you are like me, you may spend a lot of time thinking of everything that could go wrong with a project, the potential criticisms, or even unwanted attention you might get. The best advice I have ever heard to combat this problem is to focus on learning. Essentially it is a change in mindset that will prepare you to go into a project knowing that not everything will go your way and that you can still get the most out of the experience.

Best of luck on your projects!

If you enjoyed this newsletter​, please consider sharing it with a friend.

xx Cory

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