Some counter-intuitive advice, or why I started this blog

I was exhausted a few weeks ago by the sheer amount of work that I had to do at my job. I was staying late, getting up early, and even waking up in the middle of the night in a state of stress thinking about what needed to be done, and how in the world was I going to get it done!?!?

Though I normally like my job (you know as much as most people like their job), in the past six months it had devolved into a boring menial task position, one that had me doing repetitive production work instead of actual design (I’m a sr. designer at a small branding agency). The problem was (and still is) that I am good at my job. Too good. I’m the one that people turn to to get the project done in time. I can work faster and more efficient than most people, and thus I often times get stuck doing the mundane tasks (make this powerpoint! do these five changes the client asks for! we have a meeting in 5 minutes and I need you to print and bind these four books!) because I can crank it out in time for the deadline. Usually.

But it was getting a bit ridiculous. I was being stressed and unhappy at the state of my situation. I also was going home and was not only exhausted but totally depressed.

And then I was given some advice that seemed totally counterintuitive. Instead of going home and ordering pizza delivery and watching TV (the equivalent to eat cheap candy, comforting in the short run, but ultimately empty calories and unfulfilling) perhaps I should work more. Perhaps I should pick a personal project and do that in my spare time – something that I cared about, something that was just for me. What spare time, I wondered in my head? But then I decided to do ignore that doubt and dive right in. This blog will track my ongoing process with that project.

I call it “Eat the Love” – and I hope you enjoy.