Starting things back up (Patreon)

I'm back and feeling a lot better.

I'd like to say thank you to everyone for the likes and comments on the 'pausing' post, it certainly made me feel a bit better about things at a time when I was very low. <3

Reading the concerns raised along with finally having some space to reflect, I'm going to restructure the way I work to try to make sure this burnout does not happen again. 

To give some context. The first week was tough, I felt like a failure when I was not working, so did something that I've wanted to do for over 6 months, build the logo in 3d and set up a new banner image. It was not until the second week and I'd fully put down 3D for a bit that I realized just how wound up I was. Once I had a chance to step back and breathe, I saw just how badly this had affected me. I didn't really allow myself time to do fun and relaxing activates, and whenever I did try to do them I felt guilty for not working. It should have been a warning sign that I kept putting off redoing the logo. I should have had some free time somewhere in the last 6 months to do it. However when I finished work for the day, I'd either worked so late into the night (or sometimes early morning) and it was time for bed or on the days when I did have an hour here or there I certainly didn't want to use them staring at the same 3D viewport so it just kept being put off.

I've also identified several other harmful tendencies I'm going to stop. If a piece needs the extra time and I can't get it done for the progress report I'll post it up on the next one. Trying and failing takes time, (as does trying an succeeding) if I'm trying something new and it does not work, Rather than beat myself up, pull out all the stops and get something out for the progress report no matter the cost to myself and my sleep, I'll instead document what I've done and work at a measured pace on something else. No more insane all nighters. 

And I'll be changing up the when posts happen, Executive Producer update posts and polls will go up on Wednesday, Progress reports on Friday and (this one will most likely make the biggest difference) weekends are now rest days.

I know that a change in my work routine will likely mean content comes out slower, and I realize that some people might stop supporting because of this. At the end of the day I'd prefer to produce content at a measured pace to avoid slipping back into the pernicious/blinkered 'work at all cost' headspace and risk having another period where I have to pull the emergency break.

With all that said I'm going to ease back into things. This week I'm working on a little fun intro for the start of the ott and racc animation that I already did a bit of work on during the first week I was off and still winding down.

I hope you all had an enjoyable festive period and lets hope 2022 is better.

See you all Friday :)