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Why I changed the name: https://jezz.substack.com/p/why-i-changed-my-blog-name

What’s up, folks?

Today I want to talk about habits.

Trying to build new habits, and how that doesn’t really work for me. And you’re going to hear why, because this has been a bit of a long, personal adventure for me, and honestly, I’m still in the middle of figuring it out.

People say habits get built within 90 days. That’s what you hear all the time.But if you have ADHD, or ASD, or something in that area, it can take longer. Sometimes much longer. Sometimes… not at all, technically. And that’s something I’ve had to learn the hard way, over and over again.

When I was younger, for example, my parents made sure I brushed my teeth every day. Morning and before bed. Every single day.The night routine stuck. That one is burned into my head because we did it so consistently. Even now, I can’t go to bed without brushing my teeth first.

But the morning one never became the same kind of habit. And the reason is actually simple. I only did it because I was going to school. During weekends, I didn’t do it. And once school was over, the whole thing disappeared completely.For some reason, I never built the same automatic habit in the morning.

Part of it is that brushing my teeth and then eating after just doesn’t work for me. And I don’t like brushing my teeth after eating either, because it feels like food is still stuck on the teeth, and the feeling just bothers me. I don’t like it. It feels weird somehow.

So because my parents were strict about one part but not the other, one habit stayed with me my whole life, and the other one never really formed at all.And that’s kind of how it has been with a lot of things.The longest habit I’ve ever managed to keep when it comes to drawing was 100 days.

And even then, I stopped right after, because it got boring.And the frustrating part is that I actually want to build drawing habits. That’s the goal. That’s what I want. The brushing-teeth story is just an example of how things don’t always work the way they’re supposed to.

I’ve read Atomic Habits twice, and I’ve tried the methods in it.And the book is really good. I really recommend it.But for me, the methods work for a few days… and then it just cools off.

In the book, there’s the two-minute rule. You prepare something, like putting your sketchbook and pencils on the table, and then you stop. Just to make it easy to start next time.Another technique is to take something you already have as a habit, and add the new habit right after it, so it flows naturally.

That doesn’t really work for me either.

But again, the book is good. It might help you, even if it doesn’t work for me the way it should.Over the years, I’ve tried to build a lot of different habits for my art.One of the latest ones was daily watercolor sketching.It worked for about 40 days, and then I got bored.

I tried to do it in a small square sketchbook, using the same kind of setup every time. And after a while, it made my head spin a bit, because I was only allowing myself to use that sketchbook, with that medium, and nothing else.In the beginning, it works. I get hyped. I get inspired. I keep going.

But over time, I start to feel like I don’t want to use this one. I don’t want to use this medium. I want something else.The reason I chose that small square sketchbook in the first place was because I saw a YouTuber using one for watercolor, and I thought, why not?

I didn’t want it to be perfect. I just wanted to explore.But over the years, I’ve noticed something about myself when it comes to habits.If it’s too strict, it won’t work. Not at all.Using the same sketchbook, the same medium, doing it every day at the same time… that’s my biggest enemy.

And if I actually manage to keep a strict routine for a while and then miss one day, that’s it. Game over.It doesn’t matter if it’s drawing, training, or something else I’m trying to build. If I miss the time, or something happens that day, the habit just falls apart.

I’ve tried everything.Big art boards to remind me.Post-it notes.Apps.Pretty much every habit tracker I could find, both free and paid.

None of them work for long, because after a few days my brain just ignores them. Completely ignores them. Like they’re not even there.I talked about this with one of the staff where I live, and we talked about the brushing-teeth problem again.

I even got these art cards that I put on the bathroom mirror to remind myself to brush my teeth morning and evening.It worked for a few days.Then I started ignoring them.

And after a while, I just got annoyed because they were in the way when I looked in the mirror. 🤣So having these kinds of problems is not fun.Especially when you’re really trying to fix them.

When you want to change, when you want to build good habits, for drawing, for training, for life in general… and you can’t figure out how to make it work.So if strict routines don’t work, I need something more ADHD and ASD friendly.That’s what I’m trying now.One thing that helps a little is not forcing myself to do it every day.

If I skip, it’s okay. It’s allowed. It’s not a must.

I also use a habit tracker app called Habit Tracker, just to see how many days I’ve done something in total. It shows when I’ve done it, and over time I can see the numbers going up.And when I see that, I get a small happy feeling. Like, okay… I’ve actually done this a few times. That counts.

Another thing that works for me is doing things before bed.Especially drawing.When I draw before going to bed, I don’t have distractions.The computer is off.I have my iPad, but I don’t use it the same way. I mostly use it for drawing or finding references.

Less distraction means a bigger chance that I actually do it.I can also draw or write after breakfast sometimes, before the computer is on.Because once the computer starts, it’s like I lose the start button. Even if I want to draw, it becomes very hard to begin.And that’s so frustrating.

But I’m trying.I’m actually trying really hard, because I want to win against myself in this.Plein Airpril is starting very soon, just a few days after this is released, and I’m actually looking forward to it.

I wrote about it last week if you want to read that.My idea this year is to draw places I want to visit.Japan, New Zealand, landscapes, animals, buildings… things like that.I’m planning to use one sketchbook, yes, but not in a strict way.More like a travel journal.

You’ve probably seen those on YouTube, where people draw where they have been and write a little about it.That’s my goal.To do that while staying at home.To draw places and think, this is where I want to go.How it will work out… that’s another story.

I’m also still trying to keep the daily watercolor sketching.I almost gave up, but then I thought, no… I’ll try again, but in a simpler way.I’m not forcing myself to do it every day.I don’t have to use the same sketchbook.I can use whatever sketchbook I feel like, as long as I use watercolor.Only one rule.Make it imperfect.

It doesn’t matter what it is.A small building, a landscape, whatever.Just make it imperfect.I’m also trying to sketch every day, with ballpoint pen, graphite pencil, or brush pen.

Lately I’ve been using a brush pen and doing gesture drawings of animals, using fewer strokes and thinking about the Force technique.You’ve probably heard about the Force books by Michael Mattesi.I don’t own them yet. I want the animal one, but they’re expensive here, so I’m waiting for a good sale.I like that idea of drawing with flow, like one stroke leading into another, almost like a flower shape in the movement.

And gesture drawing helps me, because it forces me to put the lines down without focusing on details.Details are one of my bad habits. I always get stuck there.Most of this I do at night, before bed.No computer.Just me, my headphones, and a podcast playing while I draw.

Half the time I don’t even hear what they’re saying, because when I’m drawing I go into flow and everything else disappears.But I still want the podcast on for some reason.And I tell myself, if I listen to podcasts, I’m learning something.I probably hear more than I realize.

So these are my goals right now when it comes to building habits.It goes slowly.Hopefully I can get help from a professional in the near future, someone who understands this better and can help me level up how I do things, so it actually works.

That’s the plan, at least.Because building good habits that you enjoy and feel good about… that’s a good thing.And I really want that.I’m curious if you’re trying to build a habit too?If you are, you can comment or respond to this email. I’d like to hear about it.

And I’m sorry if I sound a bit weird in this recording.I have a cold this week, but I still wanted to get this done.Alright.That’s it for today.

Bye.

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What’s up folks!

Hope you’re having a wonderful March so far. 😁

For some reason, colors scare the shit out of me. And I honestly don’t know why.So today’s talk is about colors. And no, it’s not about color theory, because I don’t even understand that yet. I’m definitely not here to teach you anything.When I see other artists use colors, it looks so inspiring and beautiful. I see their work and think, I want to try that myself. But then I try it… and it just goes wrong somehow.

I don’t know why it scares me.Sometimes I try working in grayscale first and then add color afterward, you know, to get the light and shadows right. But sometimes grayscale just feels… boring. And yet I see other artists use grayscale and it looks beautiful.So my mind just goes in circles. 😵‍💫

About color theory, like I said earlier, I don’t really know much. I know which colors are warm and which are cold. I know some combinations, like complementary colors and things like that. But more than that? Not really.And to be honest, I don’t really want to dive super deep into it.Because in my head, every artwork needs to look realistic in some way. But at the same time, another side of my brain just wants to have fun and experiment.

Like… does a tree really have to be brown and green?Why can’t it be bluish, or purple, or full of strange colors?But then my brain jumps in and says:“No. It needs to be realistic, or else no one will like it.”And that sucks. 😢Because when I see other artists play with colors, it’s just so beautiful.

I think the biggest part of the problem is the reference images I use. When I use a reference, I try to copy it as much as possible, which is something I probably shouldn’t do.I should use it as a base and then make it my own. But it doesn’t really work that way. Not yet anyway.If I’m drawing a forest, every color needs to be just like the forest in the reference. Otherwise my brain says it will look wrong.

Reference is great to use. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just that my brain gets stuck on it.I’ve tried using the reference only for the sketch, and then removing it completely so I don’t see it anymore. But that doesn’t always work either, because my brain already memorized the colors from the image.So my head keeps trying to find those colors anyway.

Instead of me thinking: What if I used dark blue here, or a strong red light?Maybe one day. 🫠I think this might also be connected to my ADHD and ASD brain. My brain doesn’t really function like everyone else’s. It works in ways I don’t always understand myself.

And right now I don’t have professional help with this kind of thing, so it takes longer for me to find solutions or workarounds.But I have tried to break free from it in different ways.One thing I’ve been doing is trying more unusual color combinations. I’ve been using sites like Coolors.co (said wrong in Audio) or Adobe Color.

I really like Coolors because it can randomize colors however I want, and then I can save them, lock them, and experiment with them.I recently used it for a painting where I just picked three colors to start with. It gave me a starting point, you know? And from there I could go in different directions.

Coolors has more features too, like complementary color tools and other things, but that part is behind a paywall. And honestly, I don’t feel like I’m at the stage where I need to pay for that yet.

So that’s where Adobe Color comes in. Adobe has tools for things like split complementary colors and other color theory systems. It’s helpful if you already have a color in mind and want suggestions for the others.Drawing software is also starting to include these tools more and more.

Procreate has it.Corel Painter has it.Affinity added something similar in the newest version.I think Rebelle added it too.I don’t think Clip Studio Paint has it yet, but it might come someday. I hope it does, because it’s actually really useful.

You can just say: “Okay, I want split complementary colors, and I want to start with blue.” And then the program gives you the other colors automatically.I have noticed something interesting though.When I work digitally, it’s much harder for me to experiment with colors. My brain keeps telling me that it needs to match the reference perfectly, or at least be as realistic as possible.

But this year I’ve been painting more and more with watercolors.And with watercolors, something changes.I can actually play more. I can let the colors be… watercolor.When I do that, I start experimenting more. Sure, if I’m painting a polar bear I try to stay somewhat close to the real colors, but not completely.I want to be bold with colors.

I’ve seen so many artists do it and it looks amazing. So why can’t I?And while talking about all of this, I started thinking about something else.What if I’m scared of colors because I’m worried about what other people will think?Like if the colors aren’t realistic, maybe people will say:“That doesn’t look real. That looks ugly.”I don’t know.

My brain just goes there sometimes.But the goal is to break free from that thinking.To play with colors. To be bold with them.A lion doesn’t have to be brownish/Yellowish.A zebra doesn’t have to be black and white.Why not a zebra with red stripes? Or blue stripes? Or something completely unexpected?

Why does it have to be realistic?We already see the real world every day.Why can’t art be its own little magic?So yeah… I hope I’ll be able to break free from this over the years. I would really love that. Just to be myself and enjoy colors.

It doesn’t have to be realistic.Okay?Tell me that.Tell me in the comments. Email me. Just say:“It doesn’t have to look realistic.”

Alright.Good.

Bye. See you next time. 🤣

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https://jezz.substack.com/

https://jezz.substack.com/

I share why perfection used to stop me, how I’m learning to let go, and why daily small sketches have changed my relationship to painting. Along the way I talk about Faber-Castell, Aaron Blaise’s courses, a book that inspired me to dream about galleries, and how I’m shifting more toward traditional art.

This is about learning, making messy art, and slowly finding my way.

https://jezz.substack.com/

Join me as I share the ups and downs of creativity, and why I’m pushing through anyway.😊

From new “roadmaps” and small assignments to frustrations with structure and rediscovering the joy of learning, this episode is all about slowing down, relearning, and finding comfort in simple creative routines.

Instead, I found tiny snakes in plastic boxes and a surprising lesson about expectations, curiosity, and what really inspires us.

What even is a sketchbook anymore? In this episode, I talk about how the pressure to have the “perfect” sketchbook almost killed my creativity—and how I clawed it back by embracing messy pages, ballpoint pens, and letting go of expectations. From owning too many sketchbooks (guilty) to drawing in the park while walking my dog, I share my honest and slightly chaotic journey with traditional sketching.

Whether you're in a creative rut, obsessed with erasing every line, or just curious about how a sketchbook can be your art therapy—this one's for you.

🖊️ Topics I cover:

The pressure of perfect sketchbooks

Why messy = magic

My weird sketchbook habits

Letting go of control to find creative flow

Daily sketching, urban sketching & artist brain chaos

🎧 Grab your sketchbook, scribble along, and let’s get into it.

Thank you so much for your generosity and support!

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I wanna talk about something that’s been on my mind a lot lately. It’s this whole idea of creating art for myself, not for the algorithm, not for the trends, not for whatever people expect to see. Just. For. Me.

Hello I'm Jezz and welcome to the Howling Podcast.

I guess I need to explain how I got to this point, so need to go back a bit. I started drawing almost ten years ago. Or I took is more seriously. And honestly, it wasn’t even about becoming an artist or anything fancy like that. It was just something I picked up to help me deal with my ADHD and ASD, and with mental health stuff. Before that, I was really into mountain biking. Especially downhill. It was my way to escape, clear my head. But my parents? Yeah, they weren’t thrilled about having to drive me around everywhere. Did not have a driving licence back then. And I didn't want to be alone either, in case something would happen.

So, I needed something else. Something I could just dive into on my own terms. Drawing became that thing. I grabbed a cheap sketchbook & pencils, found a bunch of beginner tutorials online, and just went for it. No pressure, no expectations. Just me and the paper. And honestly? It felt amazing.

It was all good... until I started posting my stuff on social media. And to be real with you, I can’t even remember if I started doing it because I saw others doing it or if someone told me to do it. “If you wanna get seen or get a job, you gotta post online”, I just remember hearing that over and over again. And so I did it. And I kept doing it. Was it worth it in the long run? Probably not.

See, at the start, I was mostly drawing fan art. Just following tutorials of comic book characters or whatever I was obsessed with at the time. And on social media? Fan art always gets more clicks. Always. Especially when it’s fresh or tied to something trending. And back then, I wasn’t even making original stuff. It was all fan art because that’s what I enjoyed doing.

Then, I got pulled into all these monthly challenges. Inktober, Mermay, whatever was trending at the time. And I did try to jump on those because people was following these monthly challenges. That’s how you grow. But if I’m being real, I never enjoyed those challenges. They felt limiting. I liked doing fan art, but trying to force it into these random prompt lists? It just never felt right. Also I lost motivation on doing them after 4 days. Drawing everyday is not my thing. Not when it becomes a must.

I also noticed that the newer the fan art, the better it did, especially on YouTube. If I made something related to a brand-new Apex Legends season or a popular trending character, it would do way better. And at some point, I was so deep into it that I started feeling trapped. Making videos just to get more views is exhausting in the long run.

I was trying so hard to create what I thought people wanted to see, just to get those little hits of domapine. I kept pushing myself to make perfect line art, perfect rendering, just... perfection everywhere. And when you’re constantly striving for that level of perfection, it’s so easy to burn out. But why make it so perfect? Because the Algorithm loved that kind of stuff...

Eventually, I realized that the joy I once felt was getting choked out by my own expectations. It wasn’t just the act of drawing fan art that killed my creativity. It was the fact that I was holding myself to this impossible standard of perfection.

I was also putting way too much energy into trying to be seen. Trying to grow a following when you’re not someone who naturally likes to be super active online? It’s draining. I’ve never been social media famous. Even when I was super active, I barely hit a thousand followers across all platforms. Still don't, kind of. And trying to keep up with social media's constant demands for new content and consistency... it’s exhausting.

About a few months ago, I made a choice. I was done playing that game. I stepped back, and I started creating more original work. My own characters, animals, even landscapes, which I never thought would happen. Still struggling with landscape, one day.

I also started aiming for imperfection. I let my sketches be messy. I started drawing in ways that felt true to me, not to some algorithm. Because my brain is messy all the time, why should my art be perfect? It just didn’t make sense. Even my writing is messy, why should my art be perfect?

These days, I’m still working on getting better. I’ve been watching more art courses, experimenting with new techniques. For example, I’ve been working on my rendering skills, especially with light. So I started with greyscale. And I don’t mess with layer modes. I recolor every layer by hand. It’s a slower process, sure, but it works for me. And that’s what matters the most.

I also decided to stop sharing everything on social media. I don’t feel the need to film every step or post constantly. I can just draw, enjoy the process, and share when I feel like I have something worth sharing. But its harder than you think. I keep thinking about filming everything I do for Youtube. And that kind of kills my creativity. I end up not doing any drawings instead. A big battle with myself.

If I decided to post on social media I use Buffer to timeline my posts, so I don’t even have to log in to social media half the time. It’s great. It gives me more time to actually focus on my art and my mental health instead of worrying about chasing likes and comments.

And if people don’t see my work? I don’t care. Most of the time. The algorithm doesn’t define me or my art. If people are genuinely interested in what I’m doing, they’ll find me through my newsletter, my Discord, or wherever else I decide to hang out. Why should I search for people, when they are not searching for me? It just keeps me from drawing and learning.

And to be real with you, I draw more when I don't have to think about what works on social media. It feels so good! Me and the pen. And my dog distracting me when he barks.

So, if you’re out there feeling burnt out or lost trying to chase social media validation, let me tell you: it’s not worth it. Draw for yourself. Paint for yourself. Make art because you love it, not because you’re trying to fit into some trend or please an algorithm.

That’s all for today. Thanks for listening, and I hope this resonated with some of you. If you’re on your own journey of trying to reclaim your joy in art, I’d love to hear about it. Until next time, keep creating for you.

Thank you so much for your generosity and support!

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Instead of forcing myself into rigid systems, I explore ways to make productivity enjoyable, because when something feels fun, it stops being a chore. From embracing creativity on my own terms to adapting productivity methods for neurodivergent minds, I discuss what actually works for me.

If you’ve ever felt like mainstream productivity advice wasn’t made for you, this episode is for you.

🎧 Tune in, share with a friend, and let's rethink productivity together!

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Thank you so much for your generosity and support!

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Thanks for listening to The Howling Podcast! This audio is public so feel free to share it.

Today, we’re going to talk about how to break out of that mindset, find joy in your own creative journey, and use social media as inspiration not a measuring stick.

Welcome to the Howling Podcast

When you hear the word ADHD, what comes to mind? A kid bouncing off the walls? Someone who can't sit still? What if I told you that isn't the full story? What if I told you that ADHD isn’t just about restless bodies, it’s also about restless brains? This episode, we’re diving into a side of ADHD that often gets overlooked. Let me take you into the whirlwind of thoughts, energy, and challenges of a hyperactive mind.

Today, we're diving into a topic that has probably crossed every artist's mind at some point, Should you really be drawing every day? You know the drill, those YouTube videos, Instagram posts, and Pinterest boards, all shouting the same mantra: "Draw every day to get better!" But, is that really the golden rule?

Welcome The Howling Podcast, folks!

Have you ever felt the frustration of wanting to do something, even having great ideas, but somehow you just can't get started? Or maybe you know what you want to do, but your body just won’t cooperate. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Today, we're going to explore why this happens, particularly for those with ADHD and ASD, and what you can do about it.

Welcome to the Howling Podcast

Let me tell you a story about my experience with an occupational therapist. She was considered one of the best for ADHD, the top of her field, and was supposed to help me establish a routine. So, there we were, in her office, and she’s drawing on the whiteboard, explaining how I should organize my day.

I raised my hand and asked, “But how do I even start when I can't start?” I explained that I think about drawing all the time, I have all these ideas swirling in my head, or I’m already in the middle of a project. But somehow, my body just doesn't move. And do you know what her answer was?

"If you think about it, you are motivated. Just do it."

That was the last time I saw her. I got mad, really mad! Why? Because this advice was missing a crucial piece of understanding about ADHD. You see, motivation is a complex issue for those of us with ADHD, and it's not as simple as "just do it."

Let's break this down. The thing about ADHD is that it’s not just a matter of not wanting to do things, it's about how our brains are wired differently. People with ADHD have issues with motivation because the brain's chemical messengers, particularly dopamine, don't function the same way they do in people without ADHD.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that's often referred to as the "feel-good" chemical. It's responsible for pleasure, motivation, and reward. In people with ADHD, dopamine levels are lower than average. This means we need a bigger "hit" of dopamine to feel the same level of motivation that others might feel naturally.

So, when that therapist told me to "just do it," she missed a fundamental aspect of how ADHD works. It’s not that simple. We need to find ways to *boost* our dopamine levels to get moving. And guess what? There are natural ways to do this without relying on medication.

One of the things I’ve found that works is a cold shower. Yep, you heard that right, a cold shower. For a few minutes, it's uncomfortable, sure, but it can be a game-changer for people with ADHD. Why? Because a cold shower naturally boosts dopamine levels.

Unlike the quick spike and crash you get from something like scrolling through Instagram or eating sugar, the dopamine increase from a cold shower is more gradual. Imagine climbing Mount Everest, slow and steady up, and slow and steady down. The effects can last much longer, giving you few hours of increased focus and motivation.

But, does it work every time? No, not always. It’s a process of trial and error, one step forward, two steps back. But the key is persistence and experimenting to see what works best for you.

Let’s talk about other ways to naturally boost dopamine and improve focus. Did you know that brown noise can help people with ADHD? It’s like white noise but softer, deeper, and more calming. Brown noise can help boost productivity by masking distracting sounds and creating a soothing environment.

There’s an app called Endel that I use, which offers different types of sounds specifically designed to help with focus, relaxation, and sleep. It even has features to block distracting apps on your phone. It’s been a game-changer for me, and I discovered it through another YouTuber who specializes in ADHD, named ADHDVision.

While I’m not the biggest fan of brown noise itself, there are plenty of other focus sounds that I enjoy more. In fact, I used brown noise while writing this script, and it was surprisingly relaxing. It helped me write more and kept me from getting distracted, even though I was battling a headache.

Now, let’s switch gears a bit and talk about ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many people with ASD also experience challenges with motivation, but the reasons can differ from ADHD. For those with ASD, it might be more about whether the task interests us or makes sense to us.

As a child, I wouldn’t do something if I didn’t understand it or see the point. If we don’t see the value in a task, it’s hard to find the motivation to do it.

And here’s where ADHD and ASD overlap. Both are happening in the brain, which means our brains work differently than people without these conditions. And understanding that is crucial.

So, what’s the takeaway here? Whether you have ADHD, ASD, or both, remember that motivation isn’t just about willpower or wanting it enough. It's about understanding how your brain works and finding strategies that work with it, not against it. Cold showers, the right kind of noise, and finding meaningful, engaging tasks, these are just a few tools that might help.

And one last thing, don’t force yourself to do something if you genuinely don’t feel like it. It can backfire and lead to even more frustration. Instead, try to find the why behind the task. If you can understand why something is important, it might help you find that spark of motivation.

If you found this discussion helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit from it. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. Together, we can find ways to thrive, not just survive.

Until next time, take care of your mind and keep exploring what makes it tick.

Thank you so much for your generosity and support!

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I’m bringing back my Podcast for you all. Once a Month. Enjoy!

Today, we're diving into a journey many of us have considered but few have dared to take, a journey away from the world of social media. It’s a place where we share our lives, our art, and our thoughts, but it’s also a place that can leave us feeling empty, unfulfilled, and sometimes, even lost.

Welcome to The Howling Podcast.

So, why would someone spend over a decade on social media, tirelessly posting every single day, only to decide, “Enough is enough”? Imagine pouring your heart into your work, only to get a few likes here and there. You gain a follower, but then… nothing. They disappear into the void, never to interact again. The whole process is just a hunt for that next dopamine hit.

But is that all there is to it? Is that what life online has boiled down to, a series of empty, fleeting moments?

Today, I'm sharing my personal story, 14 years of trying to grow on every platform imaginable, hoping to reach that magic number: 1,000 followers. It wasn’t just about the numbers, it was about finding fans, finding my people. But instead, it often felt like being back in school, where the bullies told me to end my life. Social media can feel like that, an endless high school hallway where you never quite belong.

When social media stops working for you, it can feel like *you* stop working. Worthlessness sets in. And let's face it, there are too many platforms out there, each with its own quirks and issues. Twitter? It suspends people who don’t even break the rules. BlueSky? A battleground for political stupidness. Instagram? Overrun with ads and algorithms that hide your posts. Threads? Just people complaining about, ironically, Instagram's reach. And don't even get me started on Facebook…

But then there’s Vero, a little gem in the rough. It’s like a throwback to Instagram before things got… messy. It’s got that old-school charm with beautiful photography and a community that feels… okey. I still pop in there from time to time. I’m not addicted to it, and that’s the beauty of it.

Let’s talk about why trying to grow on all social media platforms at once is a trap. Every year, these platforms find new ways to keep us hooked, but ironically, they do everything they can to make sure our followers don’t see our posts. Did you know that less than 10% of your followers see your Instagram posts? That’s right. You’re posting for a tiny fraction of people, while toxic debates rage on in the comments sections.

I’ve tried them all. And it took years, years, to break free. First, I deleted Facebook. Then Instagram. Finally, Twitter. And now, my phone is free of all social media apps, except for Vero and Cara. And even those, I don’t scroll mindlessly.

Social media even ruined my art journey. I was drawn into creating fan art, not because I loved it, but because I wanted the numbers. I wanted to be seen. And yet, even when I get those fleeting ideas to create something just for the clicks, those projects usually stop at the sketch stage. Because deep down, I don’t feel like doing it.

Sure, you can grow faster with fan art, it appeals to established fan bases. But what’s the point in having a large following if they won’t enjoy your original stuff? These platforms are designed to hook you, to keep you scrolling for hours. At my peak, I spent up to three hours a day staring at my screen. But now, I’ve cut that down to just 40 minutes. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.

I would find myself going back to different apps, thinking, “This time will be different. This time I’ll grow.” I’d post daily for months. But nothing changed. And people would say, “You need to be more active, comment more, engage!” But for someone like me, with ASD, that’s exhausting, even online.

And it stings, doesn’t it? Seeing beginners get more engagement than you. It makes you wonder, “What’s wrong with me?”

Then there’s the negativity, the constant negativity. People at each other’s throats over the smallest things. You like a pink pillow instead of a green one? That’s enough to spark a debate. So, how did I start to break free? It wasn’t easy. The first step was logging out on my phone and forgetting my password. Eventually, I deleted the apps. I limited my access to desktop only, and even there, I set blocks to keep me away most of the day. Over time, I simply forgot about these sites.

And let me tell you, Twitter made it easy to quit when they suspended me for no reason. I never got an answer as to why, but honestly, I didn’t need one. The only real loss? Companies are quicker to respond on Twitter than over the phone, but that’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.

And yet, I keep finding myself tempted to go back. To try to grow my newsletter, to sell, to connect. But hours later, I stop. Because I realize it’s just not worth it. I’d rather focus on something fun, something that brings me joy.

If some people can grow without social media, like Cal Newport, for example, why can’t we?

So, do I use any social media apps? Well, yes, but sparingly. Vero for photography. Cara for art. The rest? I come and go, but mostly go. I don’t see YouTube or Substack Notes as social media. They feel different, more purposeful.

So, here’s the takeaway, social media isn’t the be all and end all. It’s not where true growth happens. Growth happens when we focus on what we love, what brings us joy, and what feeds our souls. I’m here on *The Howling Podcast*, on YouTube, Discord, or Buy Me A Coffee. These are the spaces where I can be me, without the noise, without the pressure.

And maybe, just maybe, it’s time we all howled a little louder for what truly matters.

Thanks for listening. Stay true to yourself. Keep howling.

Thank you so much for your generosity and support!

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I have a confession to make: I'm tired of 3D movies. It seems like everywhere you look these days, everything is in 3D, and I really miss the good old 2D days.

I just don't understand why they stopped making 2D films. I mean, I get that it used to be difficult when everything was hand-drawn, but nowadays, with all the amazing programs available, it should be easier than ever.

As always you can watch this video podcast on Youtube. It will also help me get Watch Hours over there. 😊