"Yours are the only emails I actually open and read" - a regular reply in my inbox since 2009...and I'll bet in yours, too, once you subscribe and learn by pure, lazy osmosis to become the most compelling writer around. That said, no promises on improving your moral character.
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Hey! Got book + TV recos for you. But first — I know I’ve told you about last year’s July experiment, which this year became a tradition (and pretty much seeped into August): While I didn’t take the month-and-change off work, I took it off the clock. No appointments, no Zooms, no podcast interviews, no 1:1s for Shrimp Club, nothing scheduled. You might be saying, “Um, I think that’s called ‘vacation.’” No. Remember, I was still working. Still writing you these emails. Also, posting on social, welcoming new members into Shrimp Club, attending writing sessions in Terri Trespicio’s New Rules Studio, and, of course, doing my 750 Words ritual. (301 day streak, baby.) The difference was, I was operating under my favorite conditions: a blank-ass calendar. Nothing where I’d have to look at the time or set an alarm, knowing I’d forget to look at the time at the time when it was almost time to be on time. If you can’t tell, I have a complicated relationship with time — and LOVE not being bound by it. I love a life where, instead of looking at the time, I'm looking at this: Or this: Or, of course, this: So how’d my experiment go? A+++++++. Again. Which is why I decided to continue living this way year-round. Not all the time, mind you. I still have to go on podcasts. I still offer live workshops now and then. For 8 months a year, I lead Shrimp Club hot seat calls on the 3rd and 4th Tuesday. And so on. But I had the idea: What if, during the rest of the year, I went off the clock for the first half of every month? If you love waking up and seeing nothing but space on your calendar, and your life allows for this setup — even for just one month — I highly recommend it. It’s been bliss. I’ve written (if not as much as I planned), I’ve read a lot (for me, anyway, I’m slow), I’ve gone to the beach spontaneously without having to look at my day and “make sure I don’t have something I’m forgetting about.” READING/BINGEING REPORT I just posted this 👆 on Instagram, but the at-a-glance list is: DOLLY ALL THE TIME - Annabel Monaghan OMFG. So ridiculously good. Would you do this off-the-clock thing? I'm aware that most people can't -- 9-5 job, kids, other things that make it a non-starter. And some (bless) love a crammed schedule! They find joy and self-worth in being scheduled up the wazoo. Not me, but if that's you, more power to ya. xoLaura PS - I still have spots open for Shrimp Club. I may or may not do another round starting in 2027 — so if you were thinking, "Oh well, maybe next year," make that this year and apply. Love Shrimp Mail? Forward this to a friend so they can get in on the action and sign up below.
Thank you for reading and sharing, |
Laura Belgray (Talking Shrimp)
"Yours are the only emails I actually open and read" - a regular reply in my inbox since 2009...and I'll bet in yours, too, once you subscribe and learn by pure, lazy osmosis to become the most compelling writer around. That said, no promises on improving your moral character.
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