Author: artbychristinemallabandbrown

I'm an artist based at the Spode factory site in Stoke on Trent. I paint, draw and create digital art. Contact me at mallabandbrown@aol.com

Simpler

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Your life without a computer: what does it look like?

I do try not to be online all the time, I don’t use a pc or laptop, but who needs them when you’ve got a phone? I think sometimes my brain is permanently plugged in…..

It’s those little hits of seratonin? They give you a brief hit of pleasure, and if I am not blogging or drawing digitally I feel empty.

But I know it’s not good for me, I find myself following vlogs and different pages and sites. I’ve got worse since I hurt my leg, and I know as I recuperate I need to do more physical things. I have to take the phone though, to measure my steps!

Things I would do without a computer.

Not get lost, I can read maps,

Not miss my favourite TV shows

Get more exercise

Go to my studio

Actually paint and draw with real, physical art supplies!

Meet with friends more.

Trumpet playing

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What skill would you like to learn?

I started learning pre covid, but I couldn’t afford frequent lessons. Then the pandemic happened and I stopped learning. I thought I would pick it up again, but I’d got out of touch with people.

I don’t know whether I will try again, I need to make a decision because if I don’t I will never know if I could have done it.

So I’m going to have to get my trumpet out when I’m well and see if I can make the right noises. It’s not just my mouth, but my arms need to be in better condition to be able to hold the trumpet and manipulate the valves. If I can’t I won’t be able to play it.

If like other skills it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something, it means it’s highly unlikely that I will ever be much good. But I can try.

Two appointments

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Sitting waiting for two housecalls. I booked them in my diary last week and got up to tidy up, did the washing up and put a load in the washing machine.

Now I’m sitting and waiting. I’ve tried to find the email address and phone numbers for the visitors but they are on a bit of paper ‘somewhere’ and I’ve tidied it away ‘somewhere’. To find it I think I’m going to have to go through all the papers I piled up in a big pile to get them out of the way.

When you make an appointment it would be good to let the person know if you are going to be delayed as a courtesy. I know I’m old fashioned. But I wish I knew what was going on!

Everything

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What details of your life could you pay more attention to?

Recently I’ve been putting my head in the sand and taking avoiding action. Anxiety will do that to you. Pulling my mind and life back up out of it is hard work.

A lot of it is external, caused by things out of my control. But even so I must pay more attention to things. I must not let things to continue to spiral out of my grasp.

The plan is to look at easy, medium and hard things to do. Trying to do one or two or even three of them a day.

What I found was that trying to do all three one day exhausted me, made me too tired the next day to do anything more. I think I am a bit burnt out? Maybe getting things done less quickly and trying to build up is the best way to go?

Anyway I’m going to try and get back to normal soon.

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Getting organised

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What’s your #1 priority tomorrow?

I’ve been disorganised and muddled for a while. I need to get some semblance of organisation back in my life.

So, I am trying to use my diary more, and not ignore it. I’ve got into the habit of moving things on instead of doing things. I’ve got to stop. I think I mustn’t overload myself with plans.

My main problem is procrastination. Like a rabbit caught in the headlights, I get worried about how I’m going to get something done, that leads to anxiety, and I find it easier not to do the thing that needs doing.

Life has a way of getting involved, things crop up and stop you in your tracks. Pain and anxiety mix into a cocktail of disasters. The world spins you round the wrong way and everything gets out of kilter.

So now I have to start getting over things, I need to break my fears down into achievable goals, or I will just sink into a deeper mess. Getting organised is definitely my number one priority.