About a month and a half ago, I wrote a post on what I thought would be the next phase of Uncoveries.
I usually avoid sharing future thoughts like that due to a fear of falling through. While a bit more reservation probably would’ve saved me from writing this current post, I have no regrets.
But the irony is deep today as I share a detour from the next phase I last mentioned.
My priorities and perspective have changed in the past several weeks. In that time, my husband and I have realized that we’re simply trying to do too much.
We’re building up our freelancing services while also trying to build up our websites, products and channels. In other words, we’re trying to build what one might call a side hustle while building other hustles on the side.
It’s not a strategy I’d recommend for anyone.
And it’s not just because of the financial challenges. It’s also the stress, overwhelm, and corresponding weariness that follow.
Frankly, it’s been hard f***ing work. There are days when I just want to quit. I’m mentally exhausted most of the time. What’s more, my enthusiasm for doing most things has been worn down to a bare flicker.
Trying to build too many things from the ground up will do that to you. When it comes to a major undertaking or project, I’ve found it’s really best to do only one at a time.
We’re trying to do three between my husband’s website, this website and consulting work.
Common sense would say that’s not smart. Our optimistic determination to make it work has led us otherwise, and in many ways, we’ve been paying the price for it—income-wise, sanity-wise, and energy-wise.
The good is, we have different options and upcoming opportunities available to us. The somewhat bad is that my focus on Uncoveries will be decreasing with the greater emphasis on the other two areas with higher potential.
I’m not sure what this means for Uncoveries. I know I don’t want the site to crumble and disappear.
Writing on this site has been immensely instrumental in my transition from working full-time, quitting, taking a sabbatical, exploring other possibilities and embarking on the path I’m currently on.
Taking the time to put my experience into words has helped me process and think through the emotional journey and growth I’ve undergone. It’s helped in reconciling my fears, insecurities, and illusions around concepts like success, failure, and expectations. I’m hoping the sharing of my journey has helped others in taking leaps of their own in spite of fear.
Right now, my attention needs to be elsewhere.
While Uncoveries will still be where I share my experience of enjoying the journey while figuring it out, I will no longer be publishing two or more posts a week. Even one post a week may not be likely. It could be a few weeks between updates, I just don’t know. It goes without saying that my previous plans of guest posting will simply not make sense at this time.
The only standing takeaway I shared earlier will be the increased candor and personal nature of my posts—just on a less frequent basis. I’ll be taking a break and focusing on our two main projects until the gigantic waves calm down.
If you’ve been following along my journey, I hope you understand. I hope you aren’t discouraged by my struggle, but inspired to continue fighting hard for what you believe in. Because any worthwhile undertaking is certainly not going to come easy. You’re going to need to sacrifice and keep working—perhaps without seeing any results for an undetermined length of time.
Maybe you’ll have to put a big project on simmer until later—just like I’m doing with Uncoveries for now.
While I’m somewhat sad, I know this is the right thing to do. Putting something on hold due to other priorities doesn’t equal failure. Pausing a project doesn’t mean that you’ll never get back to it.
But even if the project was a failure or you never picked the project back up, it doesn’t matter. What matters is the experience and lessons learned. I’ve learned so much since November of 2014 that it’d be ridiculous trying to list them all. There’s no true growth and learning without experience.
I’d like to express a big thank you to my readers for being an audience that’s helped me grow in the past year and a half. I apologize I’m currently unable to dedicate the time to providing the stories and content around better enjoying the journey we call life. Once I have a bit more energy, time and resources, I intend on digging back in. Thanks all for your support.