Once or twice a year, I take myself away for a long weekend somewhere nice. I go on my own and I just focus on recharging and finding some peace with myself. Protecting this time has become essential to me, without it I’m not quite sure who I’d be.

Just recently, I went to Cornwall and fell in love with the south west coast. I walked and I read and I ate. I left London for 5 days and came back feeling grounded.

I’ve been taking trips alone for around 8 years now. I’ve gone on long trips and short trips. I’ve taken trains, planes, buses and ferries. While I’ve never done the classic backpacking through east asia alone (don’t come to me for trekking tips), I have become something of a master of a solo long weekend.

So I wanted to share some advice on taking some time away for yourself. I’ve written before, at length, about the importance of spending time alone and I still wholeheartedly back that. Getting comfortable in your own skin is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself. But I want to acknowledge the fact that I’m incredibly privileged to be able to take trips on my own, in a way that I know not everyone is. I am not dependent upon anyone else in my day to day, and no one is dependent upon me. I am relatively financially stable and I can take a few days away from work without worry. I am someone who (as an only child) was raised and encouraged to be independent, to step out on my own. I am also a massive introvert who relishes a little quiet.

Taking a few days to yourself doesn’t have to mean jetting off to a luxury resort (I never have) and in every tip I share there’s a huge amount of flexibility. But I know solo travel isn’t for everyone, and there are plenty of ways to get to know yourself without it.

For reference the trips I usually take are within the UK or Europe and are for 3-5 days. Personally, I go for places where I can get outdoors and walk. There’s something particularly powerful about being out in nature on your own. I try not to use my phone/digital devices too much beside navigation and checking when things open. I stay in airbnbs now, although when I first started travelling I was always in hostels. Hostels are great if you’re looking to make friends but now when I travel alone, I really do want to be alone*.

Plan with your comfort zone in mind

I know some people say the only way to grow is to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. But, first, I hate the term comfort zone. Second, there’s a difference between pushing yourself a little further and feeling like you’re jumping off a cliff. Like with a science experiment, I try to only push myself in one area at a time. So if you’re not used to spending time alone as a starter, and that’s intimidating, make the rest of the trip easy. You could stay close to home or go somewhere you’ve been before, just for a couple of days. If you want to go further afield but aren’t a confident planner, perhaps try hotels rather than airbnbs where you’re likely to have a little more support. You don’t have to do everything all at once.

Make sure someone knows where you are

I’m going to sound like your mum, but have a few scheduled check ins to make sure someone knows where you are and that you’re safe.

Know the key routes

This is another practical one, but make sure you know how to get from whatever station you’re arriving at to wherever you’re staying, without a phone. Print a map if you have to. But you don’t want to be caught in the dead of night (as I have been, more than once) in a different country trying to fumble with your phone while carrying bags, anxiously trying to get where you’re going.

Gut get lost if you can

If you can, get lost. Sometimes losing all bearings is the best way to find them in yourself.

Plan in potentials not schedules

While it’s important to know the basics, don’t over plan. Give yourself the freedom to have something catch your eye or to take longer than you thought it might. Go at your own pace and know that your pace might change.

Document as you go

One of the lovely things about travelling with other people is that you tell stories, and so make memories, as you go. How many times has a group trip resulted in an inside joke or that one story that gets brought out every year? When you’re travelling alone, it’s really important to actively document as you go, because you’re not socialising your stories in quite the same way. You could journal or take photos or even sketch what you’re seeing. But make sure you have something physical to help you remember.

Bring a book

A book can be a lifesaver on a solo trip. It’s something you can turn to when you’re waiting for a train, or food, or to find your next adventure, and it’s not your phone which is filled with updates about people you’re not with right now. Where I can I like to take a book that’s vaguely related to my trip. That might mean a book which is set in the same place as where I’m staying e.g. you could take the My Brilliant Friend to Naples. Or you could try a book my a local author, like reading some Fernando Pessoa while in Portugal. Or you could be a little less literal, and try something thematic, like reading Salt on Your Tongue by Charlotte Runcie, which is about women and the sea, by the coast.

Lunch is easier than dinner

I like food, it’s no secret. But dining alone can be a little bit awkward, especially if you’re not used to it. I’ve found that going out for lunch is way easier. It’s normally more casual and you’re probably already out so you don’t have to psych yourself up to go. Lunch also has the advantage of often being cheaper than dinner. So it’s wins all round.

Treat yourself

It can be easy to get into a mentality of “eh, I’m on my own it doesn’t matter”. But if you’re taking the time for a solo trip, please do the things you want to do. Eat the things you want to eat. Go to the places you want to go. Pay the entrance fee if you have to. This is your time.

Find time to reflect

If you’re going on a solo trip to have a moment with yourself, make sure you are actually having those moments. This can come from not planning too much in and making the time to read and not scroll. But I also think it’s key to actively seek out 10 minutes where you can just sit and think. It might seem a little weird of uncomfortable at first, but it gets easier and more rewarding I promise.

*This makes me sound incredibly grumpy, I probably am. But in this busy always connected world, there’s something to be said for being alone and quiet and with no one else trying to get your attention.

As this post makes its way to you, just in time to hit the end of April, I’m getting ready to go on a personally guided creative retreat AKA I’ve gone on holiday on my own with all of my pencils. This has been a good month I think, I’ve personally felt more positive about my work and read some great, inspiring content as is evidenced in this month’s reading list. Don’t be put off by the number of long reads – they’re all great and not all that long!

SHORT READS

Marcus Du Sautoy on Creativity and AI

Although smart speakers and chatbots are helping to normalise artificial intelligence and machine learning in everyday life, creativity is one realm of human endeavour in which we’re reluctant to harness AI’s capabilities*, Marcus Du Sautoy offers some thoughts on why.

*In my mind wholly understandably!

Why it’s important to ‘pause’, rest and regenerate if you want to be creative

I know this isn’t the first link on this topic I’ve shared, and I doubt it will be the last but creativity is not linear. In a creative process, there is always a leap, gap or space. Researchers call it “incubation” or “mental digestion”. Business coach Robert Poynton calls it a pause. As, in the UK, we’re in the midst of a long-weekend it seemed the right time to pause on the idea of taking a break.

The Radical Act of Embracing Your Own Mediocrity

“Chasing joy, rather than success, is a radical act today. We’re told to turn our hobbies into hustles. We’re told that if we only worked a bit harder, someone might finally see in us the influencer we were meant to be.” So Meghan Neismith is encouraging us to find the love of being beginners again and find some hobbies we’re, well, a little bit rubbish at.

Long reads

Jocelyn K. Glei: Transformation Is Hard

In this episode of Hurry Slowly, Jocelyn K Glei talks “about why transformation is far from instant — why it’s messy and awkward and hard. And why that’s a good thing. Because once we recognize the slow burn of real change, we can approach it with more realistic expectations and treat ourselves more gently.”

How to Stay Calm

This guide from the every wonderful Adam JK reminds us that “it’s so easy to remember the answers when everything is okay, and so hard to see through the dark parts when life gets tough.”

Creative Lives — “You are good enough”: Freelance illustrator Helena Covell on maintaining a sense of self-worth

I love Helena Covell’s work, I’ve featured her illustrations here more than once and her book Jumble Wood is a thing of joy. In this interview with the ever brilliant Lecture in Progress, Helena discussees “where she sources her inspiration and, crucially, how she maintains perspective on her work and faith in her abilities.”

Emma Gannon on ‘side hustles’, creating the flexible career you want and why it’s good to get offline

I’m personally in the progress of trying to define what it is I want out of my career as a whole, and I’ve been finding myself turning to absolute babe and work pal Emma Gannon’s words more and more. This article on Creative Boom all about multi-hyphenate working is a brilliant place to start if you want to start digging into her thoughts, or just to get a bit of a career kick in the butt.

The Forgotten Women Who Hand-Painted the First Color Films

There are so many forgotten women who shaped the arts, and it feels like very week we find out about more. In this Artsy piece we learn about “the meticulous, exhausting work of hand-coloring film was one of the first careers in film production available to artistic women, and they came to dominate the field at the turn of the 20th century”

On Flooding: Drowning the Culture in Sameness

In this Longread, Soraya Roberts discusses what she describes as the flooding of culture.

“Flooding (v.): Unleashing a mass torrent of the same stories by the same storytellers at the same time, making it almost impossible for anyone but the same select few to rise to the surface.”

Meet 5 French Millennials Who Hand-Stitch Chanel for a Living

In the age of smart machines it’s easy to forget about the traditional crafting skills which still make magic in everything from cathedrals to couture. Ahead of its presentation in New York, Chanel invited No Man’s Land to Paris to visit five ateliers and meet the new generation of women making fashion fantasies come alive through the power of hand crafts.

How to Fight the Power with Joy, a Lesson From Corita Kent

“With Brexit looming and all kinds of global strife taking center stage,” Aiga’s Eye on Design felt there was “no better time for the first London exhibition of the work of Corita Kent. The activist nun’s career as an artist, teacher, and designer coincided with the second half of the 20th century’s most tumultuous era, and her work confronted the issues of the day with bravery and resolve— fusing art with everyday life and favoring joy over despair.” I went to see this last weekend and it was full of delight and this article really captures so much about Kent and her work.

Eye Candy

@fieldart

I’m not generally a big landscapes person, but Jessica Fields’s colourful paintings just do something to me. I love how she captures light and feeling, rather than detail. They demand to breathe.

@beya.illustration

The texture of French artist, Beya Rebai’s landscape sketches are almost as wonderful as her consistent colour palette. They just make me want to try out some more en plein air work.

@neilfarber

I like to imagine the stories that might be contained in Neil Farber’s fictional book covers. Each and everyone seems to come to me at just the right moment, and I like to think they probably always contain the advice I need.

@kikuhughes

Okay this isn’t an Instagram recommendation, but a Twitter one, but it’s worth it. Kiku Hughes’s comics are gorgeous. She’s currently working on a book about Japanese American incarceration and every image she shares is so human and moving. There’s just something about how she draws and more monochrome style for this book which is incredibly tender.

March has been a funny old month for me, I feel like I’ve packed in a lot. The clocks have changed and I’m so ready for spring. For the first time in a long time, I’m feeling super inspired to learn, absorb, and challenge myself. Part of that has included loving some of the stuff I’ve been reading (and sharing my newsletter), so I hope there’s something that catches your eye in this month’s list.

SHORT READS

Here’s what happens if you let kids design their own targeted ads on google

As Mark Wilson says “the internet is terrible and targeted advertising is largely to blame”. One of the great struggles we face is how do we teach the next generation about how corporations are shaping what they see and trying to influence what they do? A weekly series of workshops at Bushwick Public Library in New York where 11-year-olds design their own targeted ad campaigns is trying to find some of the answers, with some brilliant insights into what it’s like to be 11 as an added bonus.

KFC’s latest ad reminds you it’s not AFC, BFC, or even CFC

I think Londoners, who will pass a Something-Fried-Chicken shop every 5 blocks, in particular are going to love this glossy spot from Mother London for KFC. It’s Nice That analyses the ad which whizzes viewers on an alphabetical tour of 26 chicken shops.

Press Kits to the Moon

How do you market a trip to the moon? That’s a question David Meerman Scott has been researching for decades. In the process he’s amassed “what [he] believe[s] to be the most complete collection of Apollo 11 contractor press kits in the world” and he’s just made them all available online. They’re a fascinating look into what the moon mission meant and a delightful look at some vintage design.

How to Turn Your Vacation into an Artistic Retreat

“Whether you’re going across the world or just a few states away, travel opens us up to new opportunities and experiences that can lead to greater creativity.” We seem to be in the period where everyone is starting to plan holidays. It’s well worth giving this piece from Artsy a quick read before you do, although some of the advice may be out of reach, the idea of carving time out for creativity and personal projects rings true.

Long reads

We need to talk about Instagram: Illustration agency Handsome Frank on algorithm anxiety

This article has been shared infinitely over the last couple of weeks, with good reason. Jon Cockley’s analysis of the impact of instagram on artists is uncannily spot on and his advice really does resonate. If you’ve managed not to give this one a read yet, please please give it a look.

The Problem with Nostalgia

I’m prone to nostalgia but “Michael Musto argues that wearing rose-colored glasses always leads to an unfair distortion — looking back on the best of the past while comparing it to the worst of the present.”

Why designers should take silliness seriously

Harry Grundy makes a case for the absurd and foolish in design work and discusses how to walk and talk the silly/serious paradox.

The deadly truth about a world built for men – from stab vests to car crashes

I am so excited for Caroline Criado Perez’s new book Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men. In this edited extract from the Guardian Caroline outlines some of the deadly consequences that designing everything from crash test dummies to stab proof vests with only men in mind. Ahead of international women’s day next friday this is a brilliant read.

A Seat at the Head of the Table

In conversation with Katherine W. Phillips, a professor of organizational management at Columbia University, and Shelley Correll, a sociologist at Stanford, Emily Bazelon investigates some of the reasons women’s progression into the top echelons of business has stalled. This one’s well researched while remaining friendly.

Eye Candy

@dodo_toucan

We’re kicking things off with something 3D for this social recommendation. Dodo Touan’s porcelain animals are full of whimsy and wonder, the make me think of those little farmyard animals we used to have as kids but way waaaay better. Often stood against white backgrounds in herds or solo, they’re beautifully captured and are the perfect escape into another world when you need one.

@moodypng

This pick is something a little bit different, well, at least, just not an illustrator. Moodypng’s collages took me right back to being in school and making up sketchbook pages in art in the very best way.

@rooovie

Rich. That’s the word I would use to describe Fatchurofi’s illustrations. The colours are primary sumptuous and his line work is pattern based but detailed. Plus his animations remind me of zoetropes in the very best way.

If you like this monthly round up, you’ll love my newsletter. Every(ish) Sunday I share 2 articles and a social media favourite as well as a short personal essay and some original, often animated, illustrations. So what are you waiting for, sign up!

I’ve been in a little bit of a YouTube rut recently. So I thought I’d take a moment to step back and review who I’m following, who I’m loving, and pick up a few new favourites along the way. As my last two YouTube run downs seem to have proved popular, I thought I’d share my list with you guys as well. My editions from 2017 and 2018, still ring true and I’ve included a few of my forever faves below this year’s updates.

But if you’ve exhausted those lists are are looking for some more, or you’re just in the mood for a bit of a YouTube viewing party here are some of the creative video makers I’m really enjoying at the minute.

Frannerd

I’m going to be honest, I included Fran in my very first YouTubers list in 2017. But I’ve recently fallen back in love with her videos and watching her move to New York. Fran is brilliant at documenting her creative processes and showing how she tries out new things. Seeing someone as skilled and talented as Fran get her head around a new medium is so inspiring, you have to keep learning no matter how good you are.

Hollie Arnett

Okay, so Hollie was in my original list as well but she is one of my favourite internet people. She’s smart and talented, but she’s also endlessly giving with her knowledge (seriously check out her blog!). Her vlogs are a wonderfully warm and friendly look into her day to day, and often include so real lettering inspiration.

Holly Exley

I love how honest Holly is about all of the elements of being a full time illustrator in her vlogs. She’s not afraid to have the big discussions about money or spec work and competitions. Her speed painting videos are so calming. Plus her work is almost as wonderful as her pups are cute.

Minnie Small

Minnie’s videos are so wide ranging it’s hard to sum up her channel in a few lines here. In her own words she’s an artist who’s “here to work on turning our lives into whatever we want them to be, surrounding ourselves with beautiful things and seeking out inspiration in life’s experiences every step of the way”. She covers every corner of being a full time maker from the tools she uses, to testing out new styles, to how she shapes her space. She’s open, honest and reminds me to keep pushing myself. Plus, there’s something I love about having another London based maker in my feed regularly.

Bon Apetit

I know that I’m largely focusing on visual makers, but I think it’s so important to learn from people outside of your field and to try to be creative in new mediums. One of my favourite, non-illustration, sandboxes is cooking. Bon Apetit is has definitely fed that passion. Whether that’s Brad fermenting something and teaching me to play and have patience or Claire making a gourmet version of something that seems completely fixed to remind me of humble origins and what we can learn from imitation, Bon Apetit is so much more than a cooking channel to me.

Leigh Ellexson

Leigh Ellexson is another great master of the studio vlog. I adore how she edits her videos but more importantly I watch her videos and just want to be her friend. Her paintings are full of joy and colour (something I’m always inspired by), check out her acrylic bunnies painting video to see what I’m talking about.

Uinverso

If you just want to watch beautiful things being made, I can’t recommend Uinverso’s channel highly enough. I’ve followed them on instagram for a while but only recently found their videos. They don’t have a lot of content up at the minute but everything that is there is on that wonderful almost magical tipping point.

Favourites you should check out from the past lists too!

FURRY LITTLE PEACH

I mentioned Sha’an in my last list, but I had to mention her again because she’s posting regularly again and she’s my absolute favourite. Her studio vlogs are wonderfully put together and really give you a little insight into her world. She seems like the absolute loveliest person, and watching her work and create such amazing work has really inspired me to hone what I do. Also, if you didn’t know her watercolours are stunning!

MARIE JACQUEMIN

In my last list I shared my love for New Age Creators, and if you haven’t checked them out already please please do. Marie is part of that team, and that’s where I first saw her. Now I’m a big fan. I love her blog, as I mentioned in my rundown of creative blogs, and her solo channel is pretty dang great. She’s documenting her time freelancing as well as her travels, and lots of beautifully shot insights into her life. Her recent (well when I’m writing this recent) postcard from France video was absolutely stunning and definitely worth a watch!

JORDAN CLARK

Jordan is a new addition to my subscriptions list. Her videos are arts and creativity based mainly. All of her videos are just so calming, I think it’s a mixture of her voice and the editing style but they always put me in such a chilled out mood. So if you’re on the hunt for a new evening time favourite look no further.

LUCY MOON

I can get a bit frustrated by vlogs that all look the same, but Lucy’s 168 hours is a wonderfully refreshing (and beautifully put together) antidote to that. Her videos are creative and just so honest. I love her style and her love of tea is something I can definitely get on board with. I’m personally really looking forward to seeing her Sunday Social series grow.

WHAT OLIVIA DID

In my last list, I included lifestyle and fashion favourites on the list, and I’m doing the same again here, because I love What Olivia Did. I took me a good while of reading Liv’s blog to realise she had a YouTube channel and I’m so glad that I did. If you like her blog you’ll love her videos, they’re created with the same aesthetic and even more personality. Liv is in my list of dream lady friends. Her videos are mainly style based, but she does some great travel and lifestyle bits too. I love that she’s started talking about ethical fashion now as well. Her “Inside the wardrobe of” series is so good that whenever she releases one I save it for Sunday breakfast, my prime YouTube spot.

NATASHA NUTTALL

Natasha was the first design youtuber I watch and subscribed to, and her videos kind of led to a whole day of design-tube binge watching. Her videos cover every and anything design-y and they’re awesome. I’ve particularly loved all of her London recommendations and vlogs, as someone who lives in the big smoke. Her unboxings and reviews are ace as well, as, in fact, is all of the rest of her content. If you like this list, Natasha has two really great lists of creative youtubers on her blog, which really helped get me into the creative side of youtube.

WILL PATERSON

Logo designer Will Paterson, is one of the most popular design-tubers with good reason. He mainly focuses on logo design, brand identity and Adobe Illustrator. Will’s laid back style make his videos so easy to watch, which means you find you’re learning things without even realising.

CHARLI MARIE

Charli is a freelance designer based in the UK and all round super cool lady. Her videos are about everything from branding, to designing t-shirts and apparel to working with clients. Her enthusiasm about what she does really shines through her videos and always inspires me to get going.

THE SAD GHOST CLUB

I love the Sad Ghost Club wherever they are. If you don’t know them already, The Sad Ghost Club is a club for anyone who’s ever felt sad or lost, which is kind of everyone at some point. Their youtube channel is still quite new, but their sketchbook club is so lovely.

HOUSE THAT LARS BUILT

As well as being one of my favourite blogs to read, The House that Lars Built (AKA Brittany Watson Jepsen) also makes some of my absolute favourite videos on youtube. They are beautifully shot and produced craft videos. I feel like calling them craft videos underplays it, perhaps aspirational DIY or mind blowing make and do projects might be better, either way everything Brittany makes is stunning and makes me want to be better.

ARIEL BISSETT

As I mentioned in my first Book Club post, Ariel Bissett has really helped reignite my passion for reading because she always just seems so damn excited to have a book in her hand.

Right back at the beginning of this blog I created a series of illustrated quotes for international women’s day. To this day it remains one of my favourite posts and it inspired my first postcard collection. That post did so much to inspire me over the last few years, that I wanted to add to the series for this international women’s day with some more quotes from women I admire on feminism, being a woman, and empowering each other.

“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.” – Angela Davis

“Women don’t need to find a voice, they have a voice, they need to feel empowered to use it and people need to be encouraged to listen” – Meghan Markle

“I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves” – Mary Wollstonecraft

“I have chosen to no longer be apologetic for my femaleness and my femininity. And I want to be respected in all of my femaleness because I deserve to be.” – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

“we all move forward when

we recognize how resilient

and striking the women

around us are” – Rupi Kaur

I originally shared a few of these illustrations on my instagram, where I post most of my portraits and quote inspired pieces.