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A Year of Growth: Productivity, Wellness, and Building a Brighter Future
Kristin Kniss • January 16, 2025
A Year of Growth: Productivity, Wellness, and Building a Brighter Future
The past year has been a transformative journey for me—a deep dive into exploring productivity, fostering healthy habits, and reimagining how I approach both my personal and professional life. It’s been a year of learning, unlearning, and laying the groundwork for what I hope will be an inspiring future.
The Productivity Deep Dive
As someone who has always juggled multiple roles, I've actually thrived in the chaos. However, I've learned that clarity and focus is the only true way to move the marker in a specific direction. I've been so blessed with amazing clients over the years. I've stay busy, even overwhelmed many times, with repeat clients and referrals to new clients. However, this has kept me in a platoed state of growth. I knew to grow I was going to need to do some deep inner work.
I’ve learned that productivity isn’t just about checking tasks off a list. It’s about creating systems that align with my values and energy levels. Over the past year, I’ve:
- Explored Time Management Tools: From Reclaim AI to old-fashioned planners, I’ve experimented with ways to protect my focus and stay on track.
- Refined My Workflow: I’ve embraced simplicity—streamlining tasks and reducing decision fatigue by organizing priorities in a way that makes sense for my lifestyle.
- Embraced Accountability: Whether it’s sharing goals with a trusted friend or setting clear benchmarks, accountability has been key to maintaining momentum.
These practices have helped me work smarter, not harder, and made space for the things that matter most. And honestly? It’s been about figuring out how to thrive as a self-proclaimed “chaos tamer” while keeping my creative spark alive.
A Commitment to Wellness
In tandem with productivity, I’ve delved deeply into building a healthier lifestyle. The connection between physical health and mental clarity has never been clearer to me. This year, I focused on:
- Mind-Body Practices: Incorporating yoga, meditation, and somatic exercises to center myself and manage stress.
- Shifting My Mindset: Moving from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance and opportunity has been a game-changer. (Though let’s be real—hearing “manifest your best life” still gets a bit of an eye roll from me.)
- Understanding Circadian Rhythms: One of the most fascinating areas I explored this year was the connection between creativity and circadian rhythms. Many creatives, including myself, find their productivity peaks align with unconventional hours—whether it’s early mornings, late nights, or those quiet hours when the world is still. Research highlights several key insights:
- Preference for Irregular Schedules: Many creatives report being most productive at night or during unconventional hours. This aligns with delayed circadian rhythms often observed in creative individuals (Source: Harvard Business Review).
- Peaks in Divergent Thinking: Studies suggest creativity flourishes during off-peak times. For instance, night owls may have breakthroughs in the morning when slightly groggy, while morning people find inspiration late at night. Alpha brainwave activity, linked to creativity, often heightens during relaxed states (Source: Scientific American).
- Sensitivity to Light and Mood: Circadian rhythms are influenced by light exposure, and many creatives thrive in dim, cozy environments for creative sessions. Seasonal changes can also spark bursts of inspiration (Source: National Institutes of Health).
- Sleep Patterns and Creativity: REM sleep is essential for problem-solving and idea synthesis. Sleep transitions, like hypnagogia (the state between wakefulness and sleep), can spark creative insights, as documented by figures like Salvador Dalí and Thomas Edison (Source: Journal of Creative Behavior)
What’s Next
As I continue on this journey, I’m looking ahead to expanding these lessons into something bigger—I'm wrapping up my freelancing and am focused on growing two businesses. The long term vision is coaching and educational resources. There’s something so rewarding about sharing what you’ve learned to help others thrive in their own creative and professional lives. Stay tuned! Exciting things are happening.
Cheers to growth, wellness, and the many opportunities still ahead!
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Kristin Kniss Design Blog
This year hasn’t just been about putting my own systems into place; it’s also been about soaking up wisdom from experts and thought leaders. Here are some of the tools and resources that have shaped my journey: Courses & Mentorship: Rich Webster’s How to Work Less Course : This course helped me redefine what productivity means and how to structure my work life to focus on impact rather than hours logged. Alaska Small Business Association Cohort ADP List Mentorship Sessions 10 Books That Changed My Perspective: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron : A deep dive into creative recovery and nurturing inspiration. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki : Eye-opening insights into financial literacy and the mindset of wealth. The One Thing by Gary Keller : A masterclass in focus and prioritization. The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma : Motivational, though I’ll admit, the early mornings are still a work in progress. The PARA Method by Tiago Forte : A game-changer for organizing information and tasks. The Win Without Pitching Manifesto by Blair Enns : A powerful guide to standing firm in your value as a creative professional. How to Do the Work by Dr. Nicole LePera : A transformative look at self-healing and emotional growth. 10x is Easier than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy : A mindset shift that challenges the limits of what’s possible. 7 Habits of Highly Effectively People by Stephen Covey: A timeless guide to personal and professional effectiveness through principles of integrity, fairness, and human dignity. Greenlights Mathew McConaughey: An inspiring and entertaining memoir filled with lessons on embracing challenges and seizing life's opportunities. Podcasts I'm Obsessing Over to Level Up Future of UX The Goal Digger with Jenna Kutcher Mel Robbin's Podcast You Make Sense The Profitable Designer Show The Game with Alex Hormozi The Profitable Web Designer with Shannon Mattern Creatives in the Wild Influencers & Industry Leaders I'm Following Jared Spool Jakob Nielson Joe Natolie Femke Ran Segall with Flux Academy Resources I pull From Shipwright Each of these resources has added a layer of depth to my approach, giving me the tools to navigate challenges and step into a more intentional, inspired way of working and living. Slated for 2025 Interaction Design Certification
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