End of Year Checklist: How to Finish the Year Off Strong—and Healthy! [Part 2]

End of Year Checklist:

How to Finish the Year Off Strong and Healthy!

Part 2

With all the presents having been opened and all the holiday food baked, stewed, and roasted, I hope you've enjoyed the holiday festivities. As the year comes to a close, and the post-holiday week is upon us, here are a few more points on our "End of Year Checklist" that will help us end the year with energy, excitement, and purpose!

5. Review Your Work

This is a new one for me. To be honest...in the past, I wouldn't review my work. I made it —now what's next? Maybe I didn't like what I made or I have a "vision" of where I want to be. I've always been about forward momentum but lately, I've been presented with the idea of truly sitting with my work. See what worked. See what didn't. Moving ahead in the career is definitely on all of our minds, but it is wise to take in your previous work. And by take in, I mean, really focusing in on the work, almost like it's new.

What I've discovered in doing this is that my voice is quietly hidden amongst the work. Themes, and ideas and techniques present themselves to me, and it has helped me shape and sharpen my particular voice as an artist. Some of these older ideas connect to what I'm creating now and sometimes, I remember ideas that I may have forgotten along on the way. 

Review your work, and appreciate it all, good or not, for it was a part of the journey to bring you to this point.

6. Unplug

Unplug, my friends. From social media, from television, from the phone, the inter-webs. Unplug from it all. Not forever, but long enough to where you can reset your brain and decompress. Especially from social media. My goodness! The dopamine hits that we get from scrolling is fine in short spans but in the long run, it isn't the healthiest. 

Turn your phone off. Put your phone in the other room. Go analog for half a day. Take a walk—don't forget to bundle up — or even stare out the window. I like to join my cat Edward as he keeps up with his soap opera stories, "What the Neighbors are Doing Today!" It's free of subscription and pretty interesting, if you ask him. 

Whether you are engaged in something else, or just staring off into a daydream, unplug from the fast-paced world, and catch up with yourself. 

7. Refill your Inspiration Cup

The Little Mermaid. Princess and the Frog. Gravity Falls. Absolutely Fabulous. Studio Ghibli. Lemony Snicket Books. Steven Universe...

These are the things, the media, I've consumed lately. These are my absolute favorite things. These are the movies, books, shows, etc that inspire me, that make me tick creatively. 

After a year of a lot of creating, which I am so grateful for, I know I have to refill my cup. Reconnecting with these inspirations of mine help me get back on track, redirecting me back to my creative compass. Just yesterday, I rewatched the finale of Steven Universe and cried like a baby. Mind you, I've seen it tons of times, but it resonates deeply and reminds me of the work I want to create, the type of stories I want to tell and reflects my creative sensibilities back at me as I grow as an artist. 

Make a list of what inspires you. From childhood to now, rediscover and reconnect with some of them. You'll be surprised how it can reveal parts of your inner self and get you back into your artistic spirit.

8. Sleep

Amidst all the activity, parties, get togethers, potlucks, dance offs, make sure that you are getting adequate rest. And I mean, actual rest. Take naps! Sleep in! Go to bed early! Just this week I took a nap from 4:30pm to 9pm, moved over to my bed and then slept from 11pm to 8am after playing Pokemon on my Nintendo 3DS. I was committed to being horizontal, no matter what!

Throughout the year, especially during the latter part, I know that we try to cram everything in and sleep is one of the first things to be "slept on"—see what I did there? But during this time, if you have the opportunity to as I know we all lead different lives, try to find restful, replenishing sleep. Your body and mind will thank you. 

*  *  *

I hope this list helps you garner some inspiration, healing and rest as the year wraps up. You deserve it! Here is part one of the "End of the Year Checklist" series, in case you've missed it! 

Stay tuned for the third, and final installment of this series, to round off our checklist. Till then, take care!

End of Year Checklist: How to Finish the Year Off Strong—and Healthy! [Part 1]

End of Year Checklist:

How to Finish the Year Off Strong and Healthy!

Part 1

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate! As we come to the end of another year, I always like to reflect on what this year entailed but more importantly, how I can bridge the gap to usher in a the healthy transition into the New Year. Never was a resolutions kind-of-guy, but want I do like to practice is the continuation of positive habits and ways of being. Here are some of my personal tips!

1. Warm Ups

Physical warm ups, mental warm ups, artistic warm ups, they all count! I'm an early riser so before I start my day, I do a nice stretch and then, with coffee in hand, I sit at my art table with all the items for my daily routine. I do my tarot and journal for my mental health "warm up." I'm coming to the end of my 5 Year Q&A journal, and it is wild to see you I've become over these past few years. Then, if a question sparks something in me, I expand in my journal journal, mapping out my thoughts, feelings, etc. Then, I sketch randomly, warming up my artistic brain. 

Whether I'm creating that day or not, the warms ups, all around, keep me feeling healthy and ready to go. Plus, being able to see where I've been and where I'm going is a great boost!

2. Get Your Energy Moving: 

Get your energy moving! 

Do mundane things, like chores, walks, organizing. Quiet and simple movement helps your brain shut down and reevaluate, rejuvenate and reset. 

Even have a dance party, by yourself, in your room. Celebrate a year full of ups and downs, victories and failures by taking a step back from productivity and a step forward to resetting your energy. Shake it out and let the mind relax and the body take over! 

3. Write What You've Accomplished and Scratch that Baby Off

I am the king of To-Do lists. 

My To-Do list has a To-Do list, and I love to fill them up and scratch off what I've accomplished. I even have a system where different types of scribbles mean different things. Yeah, it's a bit extra but hey! It gets me to the work and keeps me going. 

But this year, write a list of what you've accomplished. It could be artistically, or even just in life! Goals that you'd been working toward, things that happen to come to fruition naturally, little victories that brought you joy, comfort and a sense of productivity and relief. Write them all down and scratch them babies off! I have a yearly planner specifically for keeping track of what I've done and whenever I feel like I haven't done anything with my life, I look back at my scribbles and remember, the engine was healthy (enough) and keep me moving forward. 

4. Hydrate

Plain and simple. 

Hydrate. 

No worries, I'm not judging. You can drink while you read this. But I can't tell you how many times I was on the brink of a meltdown and all I needed was to drink some water. 

It is the element of life and a simple solution to help balance the body. Being a dancer, I love me some water, and I have sooooo many cute water bottles so there are "water stations" everywhere in my home. So grab that cup and let's toast our water together. 

Stay tuned for more "End of the Year Checklists!" Let's end this year with flying colors, together!