BOOKS THAT HELPED ME THROUGH BURNOUT

I talk a lot on here about burnout and how creativity has helped me heal, and ironically be more creative. I recently shared a reel on Instagram with trending audio all about it too! In my last major project I also explored how travel helped me heal as well, but in reality is was obviously a whole bunch of different things, including creativity, travelling, support from family and friends, therapy, sports, and also reading! I’m absolutely no expert, and I’ve only gotten into better practice of reading fairly regularly in the last few years, but I found reading to be incredibly beneficial for me specifically through my most recent and longest period of neurodivgent burnout. So here’s a list of books I’ve read over the last couple years that I really feel shaped me into a healthier and happier person that I’d recommend to anyone similar :)

ALSO if you struggle with reading, consider audiobooks!?!? I listened to more than half of these as audio on long drives as they are often narrated by the author which for me is super engaging! 

UNMASKED & How to be You by Ellie Middleton -  ADORED these and to be honest basically any of Ellie’s content

The Year I Met My Brain by Matilda Boseley - I thankfully discovered this the year I got my ADHD diagnosis and the most significant takeaway was validation that this shit is really hard so its valid that sometimes I really struggle!!

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May - LOVED this, from an autistic female author all about navigating the slower and harder periods of life

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn - unfortunately this book now has horrendous press because it turns out it was all a lie… AND I thought the film re-make was incredibly disappointing, but ignoring that I really loved the book and it made me challenge my perspectives on a few things! 

Homesick: Why I Live in a Shed by Catrina Davies - Similar vibe to the Salt Path but hopefully true… and incredibly relevant to my experience of being a creative in Bristol and moving to a cheaper alternative to have more time to be intentional, connected to the earth, and creative!

Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs By Jordan Stephens  - this also fits into the ADHD category but it more focused on his personal experience which is I imagine fairly relatable for many people. Also lovely poetic writing which isn’t surprising considering his background in music and lyricism! 

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Notes on Heartbreak by Annie Lord

How to Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong by Elizabeth Day

These 3 weren’t particularly life changing but it’s just real life stories (from female perspectives and largely centring heartbreak but also careers and general life) to remind you that we all fail, which all made me laugh and feel better about myself :)


The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin - LOVED this, it’s definitely more focused towards music oriented creatives and potentially writers, but I feel it’s beneficial for all creatives and enabled me to claim being an artist far more confidently!

The Hustle Cure by Sophie Cliff - premise is in the title. It’s specifically aimed at women and I’ve recommended it to almost every woman I know!

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama - a short and simple but incredibly wholesome book centred around following little cues found in the library 📚 

MY FIRST WORKSHOP AND EVERYTHING I LEARNT

I’ve been an illustrator for over 6 years, and up until fairly recently this meant containing myself into fairly limited parameters, but following the development and expansion of my practice, especially in more recent months at Scunthorpe Studio School, where I created as not just an illustrator, but also an animator, muralist, and workshop facilitator; I’m now feeling more flexible and varied in terms of my creative capabilities, and depending on the situation, I’ll often introduce myself under the broader umbrella term of an artist instead!

After hosting my first workshop, I’m obviously by no means an expert, but I do feel far more equip to run more in the future. - Some of my key takeaways from the learning and research in the lead up to my first workshop are:

  • Include a schedule along with objectives and outcomes, participants love to know what they are doing and when. Be sure to have at least a 5 minute break so guests can regulate.

  • A workshop is likely to be more impactful if they are leaving with something tangible.

  • Add a short survey or questionnaire at the end to get feedback, this will be greatly beneficial to improving your services.

Providing this information can be done either through a print-out or digitally using a slideshow of some sort. Because of the nature of my workflow being largely digital, I opted for slides. I kept the writing fairly minimal, as no one likes reading off a screen, and also included animation examples to aid engagement, but the majority of the workshop was far more hands-on, and the slides just acted as an introduction and guide.

The turnout for the workshop was unfortunately less than I’d expected and planned for, however, I can confidently say I made it work as I received really positive feedback from all the participants, including 100% saying they would recommend this workshop to a friend, 10 out of 10 on the enjoyment scale, and quotes such as “Such a great time where you learn a lot and have fun. The tutor is so helpful and friendly too.”

Below shows the mixed media outcomes from both groups!

HUSBAND AND WIFE ILLUSTRATION

Last week my older brother got married to the love of his life, and so I gifted them a wedding illustration of them both to celebrate their wedding day!

I printed the digital illustration onto a card and my amazing friend helped me make a cake to celebrate!