Starting tomorrow I’m on Week 4 of the Artist’s Way which includes the dreaded “reading deprivation.” Due to being in luteal phase with PMDD, my OCD, and my battle to start accommodating myself/rejecting perfectionism so I can be consistent, here’s how I’m doing it:
ZERO social media and news (goodbye Tumblr for a week)
No Youtube, TV, podcasts from when I wake up until dinner. (my mental symptoms are much worse at night so I need to distract them for my safety)
If I want to read, I can only read non-fiction. (I have so many interesting non-fiction books that I haven’t read in favor of fiction.)
All music is allowed, including lyrics (some people only do instrumental and I just… that’s too much for me)
Prioritize projects I’ve been putting off, such as reorganizing my collage ephemera. Once I have begun a menial task, I am allowed to re-listen to my favorite D&D podcast, but only old episodes)
I feel this is a good compromise between keeping my mental health stable and follow the purpose of the exercise (reducing external content so the inner creative self can be heard).
I’m basically trying to focus on the little kid in my soul feel safe to speak while holding a rabid dog at bay.