Hi softies,
Does anyone actually like job hunting? I’m currently looking for my next role, and the job market in my field (and in most fields?) has been completely soul-crushing for the past 3 years. I picked a rough time to get into the field of UX writing/content design, but have managed — through the kindness of others and my own dedication — to eke out a space for myself. And now it’s that time again, the time of sending emails and LinkedIn messages to all my contacts, not-so-subtly asking if they have work for me. I wonder if there’s a single freelancer out there who enjoys the process of looking for more work.
Financial stress has a serious cyclical impact on my emotional and physical health, but I’m trying to offset some of it through more regular exercise and staying committed to my hobbies. I hope I can be an example for anyone else who is going through the same thing that you don’t have to sacrifice all your free time to chasing down a job. Things that make you happy, or even just distract you pleasantly for an hour, are worth doing.
3 things I’m reading:
I’m re-reading Circe by Madeline Miller. I recently got the most stunningggg limited edition copy and it’s probably the most beautiful book I own. I’m enjoying Miller’s interpretation of the Greek myth of the witch Circe immensely, probably even more than the first time I read it. Miller’s books are an absolute must for anyone who loves classical mythology.
Still readying Martyr! and not sure how I feel about it yet. It’s one of those books that I have to finish to know what I think of it.
Daniel Lavery’s posts about his silly little dogs always make me smile.
3 things I’m writing:
I hand-wrote a thank-you card for my physical therapist and am going to give it to her on our last session on Friday. I’ve been seeing her twice a week for six weeks now and the health of my back is vastly improved. Plus, I’m lifting (small) weights a couple times a week now? What’s that all about?
I collated all the writing fragments on my Notes app and put them on my Google Docs “frag files” instead. I usually write down random phrases on my phone while I’m walking, driving, or waiting somewhere if anything comes to mind, but I always forget to do something with them until weeks or months later. I used two of them to write little 300-word journal entries and was happy I could get so much personal writing done. I think Soft Hobbies really is helping me stay accountable with creative writing!
I wrote like five reviews on my Letterboxd. Lmao.
3 things I’m hobbying:
I had a watercolor hangout session with my friend Nava. Painting with friends is so relaxing, and the chill nature of watercolor makes it extra lowkey :3
I’ve done three dance classes already this week. I’ve been taking classes at PopRox for about three months now and I adore their classes, their instructors, and the studio’s welcoming vibe. I’m so happy that I took the chance and overcame my fear of failure and the unknown to become a student there. I don’t dance for anything other than fun and exercise, and I hope to keep dancing for a longlonglonglonglong time.
I’m putting down Pokemon Ruby because the second gym leader is too hard and I don’t want to go train my team for an hour in the wilderness. How did I rack up over 200 hours on this as a literal child? I might switch to FireRed, since that’s another cartridge we have laying around for the GBA SP.
Softly yours,
Auzin