If you were here last year, you probably read about my thoughts on social media and how my digital consumption affects my mental health and creativity. No, it’s not a perfect journey. I still have my accounts, and I look at them from time to time. But it’s been a long while since I posted anything there, including art.

I must say, the effects of minimizing my mindless digital consumption are something I would want to carry on for the rest of my life. Of course, there are lapses, especially after a tiring day at work. And I think I perfectly said it in my journal that “I need a better coping mechanism from a day’s work”.

Lately, I found myself putting my phone down more each passing day. What replaced it, you ask? Aside from working on children’s book projects, here are some hobbies I picked up (again) after making an effort to take a digital break.

Reading Physical Books 📓✧˖°.

There’s nothing like the sound and feeling of crisp paper as you turn a page. E-books are okay, but too much screen time strains my eyes. This is one thing that I never thought I needed. When I read, I would picture the scenes in my head, and it ignites my imagination. My vocabulary is improving. My attention span is growing longer. I learn and I am entertained. Isn’t that a win? :D

Gardening ˖°𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

Let’s be real. The price of food is not going down, and healthy living can be expensive. I’m dreaming of a vegetable garden to sustain my family’s need for healthy food. So, I started reviving my green thumb. The excitement makes me wake up early!

Plus, I get to draw them. Not much, but still… haha

Sketchbooking ✐⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Aside from using a pen to sketch, I’m also exploring different mediums like watercolor, poster color, wax crayons, and aqua crayons. It’s more for fun practice than intensive study. I brought out all my art materials and just placed them on my desk so I can easily reach them whenever I feel like creating.

My Analog Desk

Journaling ✎ᝰ.₊˚⊹

Of all my hobbies, this is the most constant thing for me. When my mind is full, I write. When my thoughts are racing, I write. When something significant happens in my life, I write. When internal questions arise, I write. When I need to reflect, I write. When I have ideas, I write. Basically, journaling helps to untangle my thoughts.

I’m not the daily routine type of gal (except for the need to water my mini garden). Even my newsletters are sporadic! Well, isn’t sporadic a rhythm, too? In this day and age when we’re expected to follow a certain consistency, why not show up in a way that is sustainable for us?

The small steps I’m taking and the small decisions I’m making, they have been good for my overall health and mood. And as an artist, it’s helping me to be mindful of the sustainability between consumption and creation. While we want to be constantly creating, there’s still a proper time for everything — a time to take in inspiration and a time to bring forth one.