Starting tomorrow, I am taking a social media break for….wait for it….THE REST OF THE YEAR. Who’s with me?!

Let’s have a very honest conversation for a second.

Instagram is awesome for when you are trying to establish a creative routine. It’s the perfect tool for anyone trying to master a new skill, because it holds you accountable to sharing your progress online. But what happens when you’ve actually established a routine over the course of a few years? What happens when you are in such a routine, that your work starts to feel repetitive and stagnant? That’s where I’m at right now.

I’ve been posting on Instagram [almost] daily for 3 years (with some random vacations sprinkled in between), and lately I am feeling more than a little burnt out. While Instagram is a wonderful platform, sometimes it can feel like all eyes are on you 24/7. While this isn’t really true, it’s important for artists to have space to test out new techniques, without feeling like the work has to be “worthy” of social media. It can be hard to create your best work in the spotlight.

I will be treating this time off as a mini artist residency. It is the first time I’ve taken time off for my work, and not for vacation. For the remainder of the year, I will be perfecting my craft, and learning new skills. I will be reading, studying, and taking courses. Honestly, I can’t wait!

As the weather cools off, this feels like the perfect time of year to hole up in my studio and get to work. This hiatus couldn’t have come at a more perfect time, because it will also allow me to be truly present with my family and friends during the holiday season.

Can anyone else relate to these feelings of social media exhaustion? While you may not need to take a lengthy social media hiatus, are there ways in which social media is keeping you from growing as an artist?

Since I won’t be talking to you all until 2019, I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Talk to you in 2019!

*The Etsy shop will remain open through December 14th, and then I will be closing that down as well.