Being Alive is Supposed to Include Joy
on Leisure Ethic, lost sparks, and why your energy matters more than your content calendar
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Yesterday as I was making breakfast, I put on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast…specifically this episode:
And let me tell you, the amount of times I stopped — spatula in hand — to really listen to what he was saying was wild. Every few sentences had me thinking, ‘I’ve got to share that!’
The episode covers a lot of ground on hustle culture and rest, but what I chose to share was this one thought that came through towards the end: being alive is supposed to include joy. Here’s why:
All too often, we get so wrapped up in the day-to-day that we forget that life is for living. Life is not meant to be optimized at all times, or supposed to be a race or competition.
This is something I frequently think about within my own life and with my clients. I believe so deeply that there is a balance between work and life, but not in the work-life balance way you see positioned all over social media.
Instead, let me introduce you to a concept called Leisure Ethic, one of the best concepts I’ve learned in a while, from my friend xanthe appleyard.
Leisure Ethic (n): not to be confused with work-life balance, or life-first business, this is a practice within which the work itself becomes a source of pleasure.
If you’ve been reading Open Book for a while, you know that authors are personal brands, and that if you’re an author, I understand that likely means you’re striving for a life surrounded by creativity.
But often, life instead looks like X amount of hours at the computer writing, a few more on calls with your book coach or editor, and then a few more on top of that, making Canva graphics that (no offense) very few people care about. Throw in some family time, and then it’s off to bed.
Where’d the creativity, the joie de vivre go?
This came up yesterday in my two client calls: my first client is resistant to starting a Substack, and the other lost the spark to complete her manuscript. On the surface those sound like different problems, but they might be stemming from the same place underneath: both women forgot that the work is supposed to feel good.
When you’re running a personal brand, your energy matters. If your spark is gone or you’re operating with resistance, the brand feels it, the content feels it, the reader feels it.
For the author who was unsure about Substack: we’re starting with a blog hosted on her website.
For the author who lost her writing spark: we pushed back her brand launch so she can regain her manuscript momentum.
In both cases, we found a path forward that fit them specifically, and at the end of the day, their audiences will be better off for it.
Ways to get your spark back
The biggest piece of advice I could give you is to stay curious and present in the world. For those of you who like more tangible advice, I recommend the following:
Julianna Salguero‘s 10 List concept. The idea of creating a list of 10 things you want to do with 0 consequences if you don’t, because this is life and not homework and nobody should be grading you on it (including you) has gone viral on Substack Notes, and for good reason! It’s a fantastic way to remind yourself to spend time on personal interests without sacrificing daily obligations.
Spend time with your creativity. I encourage you to wake up 30-60 minutes before you need to, to be alone with your creativity. I’ve been doing this for years, and it’s become my favorite part of the day. I pour my coffee and either get back in bed with a book or my journal, put on a face mask and step outside to check on my garden, sometimes even curl up on the couch with an episode of a show I can’t get enough of. Either way, the point here is to start your day on your terms, before the world makes its demands. You’d be surprised what this does for your energy and creativity!
Do something because you can. Another Substack find from Kate Citron! You’re living a creative life on purpose, which means you don’t have to constrain yourself to intense morning and evening life routines bookending your workday. This concept is about reconnecting with the freedom of time, and doing one thing a day during traditional work hours, that you wouldn’t be able to do if you were in a traditional job. Try it. I dare you.
Connect with others. Get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to connect with others on a daily basis. Writing can be a lonely sport, but you don’t have to go at it alone. You never know what will come out of a conversation, whether it’s inspiration, accountability, or a new friend.
Life Between the Lines: What I’m enjoying this week
Tell me, what has worked for you in the past, when you found yourself stagnant or sparkless? Share your ideas in the comments to keep the inspiration going!
xx
Jessica Sorentino is an author brand strategist with over a decade of experience, including time at both Simon & Schuster and Macmillan Publishers. She believes nothing promotes a book better than a passionate reader, and works with authors to position their books as the next recommendation on every reader’s list.
