(Not Quite) Losing It Podcast

Episode 8: Is Social Media Killing Your Creativity?

Many creatives use social media as their primary way to connect with inspiration and to find an audience. But… how can we make our phones creative tools instead of the place where all our discretionary time goes to die? The short answer? Just be more intentional and less impulsive. Easy, right? 😅 We definitely don’t have it all figured out, but we’ve got some good ideas worth trying. This week’s Good Fight Spotlight: Neeli Brisky [https://www.instagram.com/neeli.brisky/] , a very talented photographer and videographer Katie’s used for years to capture precious family moments. This week’s leave snack: Where and when do you normally get sucked into social media? Make a plan for an analog activity or a more intentional use of social media during that time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notquitelosingit.substack.com [https://notquitelosingit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 7: Practical Ways to Squeeze Creativity Into Your Busy Life

We definitely don’t want to be like those parenting books that tell you what you’re doing wrong (which you already knew), but don’t offer any practical advice on how to actually make changes. In this episode, we compile a bunch of actual road-tested strategies to squeeze creativity into the nooks and crannies of our busy lives. We hope some of what we share will be helpful to you, and we would love to hear your ideas! This week’s Good Fight Spotlight highlights Callie Murray [https://www.calliemurray.com/] whose debut novel The Brunswick [https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780800747787_the-brunswick] comes out today. Today also happens to be our very own Brynn Barineau’s release date for Jungle of Ashes [https://www.historythroughfiction.com/store/p/jungle-of-ashes-paperback] so go out and support these moms who are doing the dang thing, y’all! Leave Snack for this week: Look for one part of your day where you can take something you already have to do and make it a little less mundane and a little more creative. Whether it's packing lunches, listening to music, making up stories or songs with your kids — where is an opportunity to notice and add some creation? Maybe make yourself a creativity first aid kit to take to ball practice, for example. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notquitelosingit.substack.com [https://notquitelosingit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 6: Mom Guilt

Wrapping your entire identity in motherhood isn't good for you or your kids. So why do we still feel so bad when we make time to be our own person? Here’s a little excerpt from our discussion: Melissa: What does it mean to be a woman? To be an ambitious woman? To have hopes and dreams and goals in addition to loving being a mom? Brynn: Just being a mom does not fully satisfy me. I want to do things other than raising my child. And I feel terrible admitting that. Katie: Or is pursuing other things inversely related to the quality of my kids’ lives? Is every moment I spend on anything else somehow hurting them? And of course — your creative moments process things and help you, which can only make you better as a mom. Not just on the surface level of your kids seeing you do something creative, but if you can sort your brain out, you don’t blow up as much. Melissa: You don’t lose your temper and then feel guilty about it. I am 100% a better mom when I’m writing and have a creative project going — that’s how I process what I need to process. Katie: It lengthens the rope, so you’re not so short in the moments when you need a little extra patience. Leave Snack: Keep noticing the art-worthy moments in your day. And also, in the spirit of our mom guilt episode, spend a little time — journaling, talking to a friend, drawing, making a cartoon, whatever works for you — pondering this: What kind of experience do you want your child to have one day, if they choose to become a parent? What advice would you give them if they came to you with their own parental guilt? And then ask yourself: could I offer myself that same advice? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notquitelosingit.substack.com [https://notquitelosingit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 5: Creativity in Different Stages of Motherhood

Our expectations for ourselves need to take into account to the real constraints of our current season of life. At the same time, if we wait until “things calm down” to start prioritizing our creative selves… it might never happen. So where does that leave us? Basically, we argue that it’s going to look different at different stages of life, but no matter how busy you are, you can find ways to affirm and stretch your creative spirit. We offer practical, low-effort ways to intentionally preserve that part of yourself. Even if you don’t have time to make art, you can be training your artist’s eye. Leave snack: Choose at least one day this week to be intentionally observant — look for one art-worthy moment, sight, interaction, experience. Capture it quickly: write it down, voice-memo it, or text a friend. Bonus: Spend five minutes with it — doodle it, write about it, or express it in any form that feels natural. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notquitelosingit.substack.com [https://notquitelosingit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 4: Defining Creative Success & Goal Setting

In this episode, we decide that tying success to external outcomes like wealth or fame is a recipe for unhappiness. We discuss what our goals should look like in general, what kind of guidelines we should set for ourselves, and discuss our own specific goals. The homework for this week is to think about and write down specific, attainable goals for your own creative endeavors. Good-Fight Spotlight: Check out Hannah Miller’s embroidery on instagram [https://www.instagram.com/larkinandloudesigns/] Check back later this week for some goal-setting worksheets/templates/resources. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notquitelosingit.substack.com [https://notquitelosingit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]