The instructor’s drawings are shown here, with course details and my own drawings to follow. I’m not criticizing those who set New Year’s goals. Cheers to Taylor Kay Phillips for taking over Lyz Lenz’s Dingus of the Week and advocating for people to enjoy their resolutions. This year, Robert Talbert’s My Start/Stop/Continue for 2026 has deeply resonated with me. Although he initially criticizes resolutions, his advice to “Go Analog” is worth noting.
Inspired by an Instagram ad, I joined the Art Makers Club at the end of the year. This began when our son wanted to join our advent plans using digital art instead of watercolor. He mentioned using Procreate, which I already had, leading me to buy the membership. The Kickstart Your Creativity with Procreate course excited me. I love tracking my progress, and the course’s tracker was appealing. The tutorials are short and taught by a supportive instructor, helping me use an app I already owned.
The membership also includes additional courses like Imaginative Map-Making and Dreams: Animation for Everyone. I have progressed in my drawings since January 3, 2026, despite my lack of prior art classes. The progress tracker shows my improvement, and I look forward to future projects, including drawing a bird. I also bought Daily Drawing Prompts by Jordan DeWilde, which complements the structured courses. The first exercise involved tracing my hand and adding details, which helped reinforce my skills.
I aim to keep my definition of regular creation broad. Alan Levine’s year of daily photos in 2025 inspired me, even if he didn’t always reach 365 days. I don’t want to set a daily goal, as my streak habits are growing, and I don’t want to pressure myself. I’ve used the Bend App for 280 days of stretching, allowing streak resets. I wish for a similar setup for my emerging daily creative goal but am not ready to establish a system yet.
I’ve decided to stop checking work emails on mobile devices to boost productivity. Annie Murphy Paul, in The Extended Mind, highlights the benefits of using large displays for more effective thinking. I feel more focused and productive on my large monitors at home and work. Avoiding mobile email checks also helps prevent negative feelings from unresolved issues. Emails requiring follow-up can wait until I’m back at my computer, allowing me to enjoy my time more.
As I commit to this change, I’ll revisit Robert Talbert’s guidance on academic email management and consider Brené Brown’s podcast on anxiety and functioning. Karen Costa’s podcast episode on role clarity and boundaries is also valuable. I’m considering creating a playlist for these resources. Continuing to find time for Jazzercise with my mom has also been beneficial, as I’ve been finding great workout music during my drives to Oceanside.
Original Source: teachinginhighered.com
