There was a time when I could easily set aside hours to relax, recharge, and dive into my creative projects. But this year, life has been unusually demanding, both at work and at home, and I’ve had to actively carve out moments for myself.

July and August, in particular, have been relentless. The calendar filled up with so much “adulting” that my creative spark started to flicker. From our air conditioner breaking down to internet outages, from various health appointments to an endless list of responsibilities, it felt like every time I tried to catch my breath, something else demanded my attention.

Just when I thought I might get a quiet weekend, life threw in an unexpected hospital stay and nights of poor sleep, followed by yet another week of nonstop obligations. Even the weekend after that was swallowed up by more tasks and errands.

And now, here I am today, finally with a rare stretch of free time. I should be thrilled, ready to craft, play a video game, read, or binge-watch a show. But instead, I’m staring at the clock, half the morning gone, still undecided… and honestly, lacking the energy to even choose.

Sometimes it’s not about having the time; it’s about having the mental space. And right now, that’s the part I’m trying to reclaim.