August is almost over. And to some, that means summer is over. How do you feel? Are you prepping for school, another quarter, or some other life change? I always use this time to check-in. This week’s been full of creative connections. I’ve had many conversations that led to, “how do YOU do it?” The…
Author: KaylieLongley
Shift your schedule to get your goals done!
It’s been five years since my last First Day of School. Stores began stocking notebooks, binders, and pens in every color. And soon, my suburban neighborhood will be flocked with children at every corner, waiting for the bus. I always started school in August, even in college, and this time always makes me reconsider my…
How to use your values to inspire creative entrepreneurship
When you’re first starting your own entrepreneurial journey as a creative, it’s good to know your physical goals. I know mine is to help 19 people shape their schedules to reignite creativity to their lives. Yours might be sustainably creating. Or selling your art, without a middleman or processing fees. But do you know your…
How camping can become a minimalist activity
I went camping this weekend and will be visiting another new city later this week! One of my core values is exploring, and I recently dived into mini-adventures. I made it a summer goal to be outside as much as possible, and one of my year-long goals is to explore a new location every week….
How the creative process is like picking raspberries
I take a lot of inspiration from my dad. He helped nurture my creativity. When I visited my parents’ home today, he and I picked raspberries. As we searched for the berries while snagging our legs and staining our clothes, we talked about the creative process, birthing a bountiful metaphor and the start of a…
I published 6 months ago. Here’s what I’ve learned so far
On January 19, 2019, I pressed “publish” to kaylielongley.com. Cue: jumping up and down on my kitchen’s linoleum floor, countless calls between my brother and me as its server shut down, and tons of edits to my homepage… that’s still a work in progress, thank you very much. At the time of writing, it’s almost…
Minimalist traveling: a week of adventure
My friend Marissa stayed at my place this week. She’s a lifelong friend, long-lost pen pal, and one kick-butt lady, teaching and serving in local government a few states’ away. A couple days later, I stayed with my friend Brooke, 125+ miles away (or, translated to Midwest language, that’s 2 hours’ distance). She’s the little…
June in Review: Decluttering and Creating
June was spectacular for achieving goals. I mainly focused on balancing minimalism with creativity. Those may seem contradictory, and I’ve explained my thoughts on these identities here. Here are a few lessons I’ve learned this month and what I’m excited to be working on in the weeks ahead. Recognize the physical change matters second to…
Stop consuming social media, start creating!
I write a lot about the positives of creative habits: They make life more productive and meaningful, and the work is just a byproduct of that time. But sometimes… you get stuck. I’m no doctor, but I understand that over-consumption of too much media is not conducive to creativity or contentment. 1. Consumption breeds comparison….
The power of environment in nurturing creativity
Today is Father’s Day. In honor of my parents, I thought I’d celebrate with a few musings on how my childhood nurtured creativity. Creative environments encourage trying. What trying looks like? Sometimes failing, sometimes succeeding. And a ton of work. I was lucky: my parents wanted my brother and me to find what made us…