i decided to make coffee instead of content. here's what happened ☕️ 

Dear Rachael Stephen, I am about halfway through your video and as a long time watcher, but someone who rarely comments, I just wanted to say thank you for the content that you do create. I'm a young woman, I live in Australia and I'm also a writer and a student who isn't really making enough money to live. I found your videos for the first time when I was first encoutering and coming to terms with serious mental health issues of my own (Depression and anxiety). I started with your bullet journal videos, so much so that I even have the same bullet journal case you do. I also am interested in spirituality and identified as a witch at one point. This is all to say that your message, and your videos do genuinely make a difference to people out there, and sometimes in the noise of the algothrim you've found people that actually really resonate with the things that you've put out. There's since time in memorial been the issue of money and trying to make art. Especiallt given a global pandemic and major cost of living crises. Things are very hard. I'm glad that you're financially stable. Barista and part time jobs are nice because they're very people oriented in my experience. I appreciate you being vulnerable and not putting a sugar coated image out into the world. There's nothing wrong with making coffee. I do appreciate your videos, and look forward to whatever creative endeavours you do in the future.

Thank you for the update - you've been missed! A wise mentor once told me that there's no shame in having a "mundane" job. It pays the bills and gives you the freedom to nurture and enjoy your creativity. Looking forward to your future communications!

Hi Rachael! I heard an artist refer to their part-time job as their ‘patron’ and that’s really reframed how I think of my own part-time job. Also, like you, I love the social aspect of my job and really benefit from that. So when it gets hard to balance everything, I remember those benefits and it keeps me going.

Burnout is absolutely devastating. I don't think the human body and mind were really made to do *anything* full-time for a long time... *especially* when it is something we love to do, which makes it even harder to recover from it. There are two of the most important things I've learned in life from my favorite philosopher. The first: chase happiness despite how absolutely absurd this world is. The second is that no matter how unforgiving life can be, coffee is always the answer.

Those of us other creatives out here working 9-5's in the real world welcome you back with open arms! We are all in this together, we have got your back 🤗

Any time that you post a video is a gift. I appreciate your work and am so grateful for all that you've shared with us about your life over the years. Thank you for what your videos have done for me as a viewing. Do whatever you need to do for yourself moving forward. Wishing you all of the best.

Always good to see you. I’ll comment better later…. I suppose you’re not too worried about the algorithm for popularity but it’s a habit of mine to comment right away to help a channel I like

I had an eerily similar experience. A boom in 2015. A decline that began in 2016 and lasted through 2018. I highly doubt I’ll ever return to being an entrepreneur, which still to this day shocks people because they tend to glamorize the work. Thank you for sharing this. It’s rare to hear this experience articulated, and I appreciate it.

I had missed this one when it was uploaded, but coming from the newsletter. Sharing luck magic ✨💙

I had been struggling with burnout for a couple years, and it sucked. I’m sorry ur having to go through it. For me, the book “The Practice: Shipping Creative Work” by Seth Godin really helped me. Rather than stressing myself out over big projects, it helped me realize the value of putting out little things. For instance, I would love it if you would publish one of ur game campaigns via KDP. Print or just ebook. Or maybe just a really simple daily journal that had some of your monthly bujo trackers in it - complete with fold lines for the dashboards. Your videos are so full of small, but exceptional elements, like the tools that you have built for yourself to manage day-to-day tasks. I hope ur back soon, bc so many of these little things have really helped me.

I hope you realise that your absence doesn't say "you failed", I genuinely thought you were busy living life. Ive never been able to or been inspired to make creativity my job, I need money to be money and creativity to be creative. I think there are a lot of us out there!

I'm proud of you for doing what you need to do. Your videos helped me get back into bullet journaling and subsequently a bunch of other hobbies that led me to start a RU-vid channel. Thank you for the always relatable content and can't wait to see what you do next. I'm sure I can speak for the other people on Patreons as well when I say that we'll be around no matter what form your content takes!

Hey Rachael - long time follower and patron here. It’s lovely to hear you finding a new balance that works for you & alleviates the stress of constantly needing to ‘produce’ to keep your head above water ❤ I’m a huge fan of your newsletter and super-excited to find out what’s in the works, creatively-speaking. Take care and here’s your new paradigm 🥂

My mum has an online business selling handmade products and she experienced the same problem. Boom at the beginning of Covid, and then a steady, harsh decline. I think much of it is the overspending that happened during covid, and subsequent contraction of the economy post-covid. I haven’t been able to afford your programs because of many similar struggles (creatives primarily serving other creatives will always run up against this issue, I think), but I am happy to contribute what I can through patreon, whatever your content schedule will be. 😊

Thank you for the update, Rachael. I appreciate your content for being honest and raw, and this felt like a catch-up with a friend. I’ve been following your content (fairly quietly) for over 10 years, and look forward to seeing whatever you send out into the world next.

I had a full blown identity crisis after I’d spent 20 years being the guy doing the thing, and I finally stepped down to being the guy administrating the guys doing the thing. I didn’t sleep for days but my job description technically didn’t change and my daily tasks were much easier. But it wasn’t me

Rachael - I adore your work and your thoughtful examination of how, when and why you do the work that you do. As a fellow content creator I've thought SO much about the trade off of total creative freedom and loneliness that comes with working for yourself and your insight here is so much appreciated as we all consider what's best for our own journey. Thank you for posting and I wish you all the best and lots of good espresso.

I also work PT to give me the opportunity to write. It’s not been easy getting the right balance, and I’m still working things out, but I love things the way they are now. Glad you’ve also got into a situation that relieves some of the pressure - it’s hard to be creative when you’re stressed and burnt-out.

Last year and this have been brutal, I work online and I've seen a wild decrease in opportunities and work. I totally get this, I kind of wonder if a similar path would be good for me.

Yep. Burnout sucks. And I get it too. I worked in hospitality (lived and worked in a hotel) pretty much most of my life, and the same time still managing my time with a full-time IT job. May not be the same when slinking lattes but hecktic nonetheless. Just take note that your Constellation Clarity quickguide helped temendously with my task management that it’s now a hipster PDA (a index card deck attached to my Field Notes). Looking forward to what you’re cooking up next.

Longtime viewer but only occasional commenter, here. As a freelance writer, I felt so much of this video on a truly visceral level. Thank you for being honest, real, and vulnerable about these tough sides of creative careers. You are always an inspiration, and whatever you decide to do next, you are being cheered on by folks all over the world. Including me. 🫂

All my support ❤ burnout and being an entrepreneur are brutal, especially lately ! I wish you peace and healing❤

Have been loving your content for many years now. Congratulations on identifying what you need and following through with it. Honoring yourself is the best way to move through burnout. It's not easy. Thank you for this, your authenticity is what has kept me coming back consistently. Looking forward to the Patreon structure and what comes of it. Well done.

Great video! You should be so proud of yourself. You came through hell, and you are finding balanced again. That's hard for anyone, and you've shared that beautifully. I low key want you to release a second version of just you and the sounds of Scotland because it's wonderful ASMR. Don't get me wrong. I love what you shared. I just want both versions. :)

As a traditionally published author whose first book came out in the pandemic and second came out right when Barnes and Noble decided to limit hardcover stock, I can totally sympathize with a lot of what you're saying. And I can tell you I have had similar conversations with MANY authors in similar positions to you. I am so glad you have found a part-time job to take off some of the pressure, and kudos to you for knowing yourself and having the courage to make necessary changes. I can't wait to see where your life takes you next!

What a journey!! So happy for where and how you've landed and wish you all the best!

Thanks for the update! I’ve been a long time watcher and patron. Your videos have helped me a lot over the years and I wish you all the best. I’ll be around for whatever it is!

Saw the Saga volumes and started screaming

been watching for a few years. I found your content in covid and it's kept me company ever since - from my uni graduation to my own job hunt to my move to a new city. anyway lots of growth over these years and I'll always associate your work with that - with big life changes but also finding my feet in new circumstances. idk, your work just hit really well with my experiences then and I appreciate it all so much. but at the same time, this feels right, too - end of an era but the start of something new. good luck in the shift and a heartfelt thank you for creating beautiful work for this community!

Thank you for this update & the beautiful shots with it! I actually resonate a lot with this--not as a content creator but as a freelance translator, I also made the choice to stop & look for other work in 2023 as it was just not paying my bills anymore & I was sick of having to borrow money from family (which I was blessed to be able to do but still). I get the isolation & lack of social interaction. Actually I only realized after starting my current office job how unhealthy the self-employment was socially. Now I'm in the office 3 days a week, the other 2 remote & I feel so much better! Financial anxiety can be so stressful, I read somewhere that poverty makes people less intelligent because money is always on your mind, dominating you. I'm so happy that you're out of that stressful phase now & that you found exactly the part-time job that you wanted! I hope you can enjoy creating again, whatever that looks like for you going forward.

Thank you for all the wonderful videos Rachel, enjoy this brand new chapter and wishing you all the best! ❤

thank you for showing us the nitty-gritty of your life 🎉 you've got this! :)

Hey, thanks for the update. Wow, rough days - bummer, but it sounds like you've found your way through - keep on keeping on

Hi. Very nice video with a ton of good vibes. Your story made me smile. So in return, I'm going to tell you a story that I hope will make you smile. Yesterday evening I was struck by the idea to create my own tarot-like deck of cards, with my own original system. I haven't stopped writing since this morning, it's been a while since I've had this much creative energy. Maybe has to do with a change in my own life, namely the fact that I decided to quit my job for another one. Anyways, today I was constantly coming up with new ideas and so my thoughts naturally gravitated toward you, because you're the one that reconciled me with tarot and witchcraft after I grew alienated from it. And what do you know ! When I come home I see you just posted a video ! And one that resonated so well with my own situation ! I'm not usually prone to this kind of thinking, but this felt pretty auspicious to me. Just thought I'd share the cool coincidence ! And if that deck of mine ever becomes a reality I'll send one to you as thanks for making it possible for it to even exist. Have a very nice evening and I wish you all the luck and happiness in your new endeavours !

I was just thinking about you the other day and wondering what you'd been up to! I'm glad you're enjoying being back at the coffee shop. As much as it sucks, I think maybe it was a push to help with creativity - we need to get out of our homes sometimes. I work from home FT and rarely leave the house - like, literally, maybe once a week for groceries unless we grab dinner one night. The rest of the time I'm home. It is very isolating and I feel that I don't connect with people as much. I think we need the fresh perspectives to help with generating creativity. Of course, working FT and doing a FT master's program doesn't help me any. Just a side-thought - should you decide to look for new types of work, have you considered social media coordinators or something like that? With your experience, even just editing videos, it may be another avenue for other work. I know most in the US are full-time jobs, but you may find someone needing help on a part-time basis. Just a thought. You may be burned out completely on that work but sometimes it's different when it's someone else's stuff. Love seeing the scenery of Scotland, too. It is refreshing and beautiful! Have a lovely day and week!

No real journey comes without setbacks, twists, and new directions. The best way to get somewhere isn't often the way we start out on, and you can never see all the obstacles in the way! I'm glad you're moving forward, and thank you for taking us along with you, however often you want it to be!

I would love to see her full circle in the plot embryo, reviewing books again and reinventing herself like the artist she is .

As always, your vulnerability and honesty are so appreciated. The video reminds me of a part of "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert - she talks about how she worked a day job through most of her early career, and would have kept working one if "Eat, Pray, Love" hadn't exploded like it did. She didn't see working a day job as a failure; rather, she was very careful about not putting the pressure of "survival" onto her creativity - expecting creativity to pay the bills is a sure-fire way to kill it. I've always held onto that advice, even as I yearn to be able to write full time! Another thought, more personal - I've been watching your videos for 7ish years now (and have been a patreon for several years too). You're basically the only RU-vidr I've consistently followed for that long, and I think it's largely because you and your content has continued to grow and change. I started following you for writing advice, and although I still write fiction, I've grown to love your bullet journaling content, your witchy content, your vlogs, and basically everything you create. So as much as I'll miss your YT videos, I'm only excited for your growth and new phase. And to anyone reading this who isn't a patron - what are you waiting for?! Go join it now - it's so worth the couple of bucks a month!!

Rachael I know where you're coming from. I've had several instances and even years when I've thought of myself a failure due to outside influences. I had to really sit down and have a long months long talk with myself. I've often felt like being a creative is not something I should be. I have felt I should be something else, but then who am I serving? Myself, or someone else's version of me. I'm now at that stage when I do have moments of doubt, but it's usually attached to an outside pressure. I have had to learn to shut that stuff out as it's too negative and soul crushing. Keep your chin up and I'm glad you are doing what makes you happy. Be safe.

Congratulations on making it through, Rachael

I was scrolling and could not find anything I wanted to watch. Then you saved the day! 🥳

Your transparency has always impressed me. I have close creator friends who have struggled heartily these last few years, launched huge projects only to have to go back to their 'office' jobs when the money dried up. You're not alone at all in this. I love your videos so much. I'm glad you got the barista job and I hope things continue turning around.

Wonderful video update. You really have been through the wringer. I have always enjoyed your videos, no matter what the subject. I wish you all the best for the future❤

I've been following you for a long time, ever since you put out your "How to Write a Novel" guide for NaNo year and years ago. I am actually not sure that is what it was called. I 100% understand these feelings. I also had to do a job hut for a different reason, having to leave a 10-year self-employed job in printing. It was SO hard! The job hunt is brutal. I also finally found something in a totally new field of work, and love it! Hang in there! I'm rooting for you!

Thank you so much for sharing your videos and your life with us! You always have been and always will be an inspiration! So glad you were able to find a barista job that gives you financial stability and also the flexibility to keep creating what you love. 💖

I am a translator and I too have noticed a similar trend (I'm being replaced by AI then being called in to fix the mess the AI made) and it sucked to feel like this was something I could make my living on and then have that gradually become less and less possible.

I’m happy that you are finding your path and doing what is right for you.

I’m glad you’ve found things that make you happy. I’ll be watching for your videos when you decide to reach out via RU-vid. Wishing you all the best!

Good luck with everything, Rachel. Xx

You're a beautiful Creative, Rachael. Thank you so much for all your hard work. I will look forward to any video you put up when it's fun and enjoyable for you. Take care of yourself.

i'll never forget watching the modern leper, in the run up to that pandemic christmas. got me into fr and haven't stopped listening regularly since. that vid was a real punch in the guts

I'm not gonna lie, I'm gonna miss your writing videos, they were so personable and made me feel like I was not the only person in the world going through the same conundrums, I liked your methodical way of breaking through your own barriers and helping others in the process, but I am very happy for your newfound balance. My whole life as an adult has been about finding time for creative pursuits while still holding down a job, there is definitely something to be said for a little stability, in a lot of ways I think it takes the pressure off the creative pursuits, so yeah, I'm happy for you. I followed your videos for such a long time that in a weird way I feel like I know you. Anyway, thanks for all you do, and best of luck in further pursuits. I look forward to any video updates, even if you're not going to be doing it super regularly.

Just wanted to say that I'm sorry that things have been tough and I'm glad you're doing better now. Hope things continue to trend upward for you.

I'm soooo excited for you on this transition. The last few years have been kinda dumb all around. I can't wait to see what you come up with in the Constellation deck and guide. 🎉

As a career university academic who is leaving for (many) personal sustainability reasons, but finding it very hard to reframe my view of myself, what you said about work seeping into identity by people’s reactions insidiously feeding one’s ego rang extremely true. I have found it personally helpful to remind myself: I did all those things - I wrote those papers, I made those incremental contributions to knowledge, I was a teacher to those students, those were positive effects I had on the world. I can own that. Doesn’t mean that’s all I can now do until I die. Doesn’t mean that’s all I should do. That’s what I did, doesn’t mean that’s who I am.

If you don't mind my saying, I think you're very lucky if you only need to work part time. I want to switch back to part-time work so badly. My company doesn't overwork me by the standards of a 40-hour work week, and there's no expectation to work overtime or to put in more hours than I clock on paper, but averaging five full days of hospitality work, plus the commute, makes me too tired to do anything else. Up to and inside of the pandemic, I worked a different role and on flex-time. I was able to balance my own work schedule and distribute my spoons as I needed them. Those days are gone. If I could reduce my work week by even one day, it would make a huge difference in what I could get done outside of the job. I have loved your content here on RU-vid, some of which I find infinitely rewatchable and motivating. Thank you for having made it. I wish you contentment and security and look forward to whatever announcements you have in the future, whenever you're ready to make them💕

I’ve noticed some of my favorite content creators have stopped uploads. At least one other has also had to return to her day job. Meanwhile, I’m scrolling for content I actually want to watch. Go figure. You need to do what you need to do. Be gentle with yourself.

I'm hearing this from so many people the past couple months. People who weren't making bazillions of dollars on youtube or whatever, but were making enough to get by...and aren't now. It makes me wonder: where's that money going? SOMEone is still getting paid, but WHO? If the algorithms and the policy changes and the restructuring of things is taking income away from small and medium creators...who is it going to? Advertisers are still advertising; people are still making regular content. But if everyone's revenue is half of what it was...where's that other half? Google/Meta's pockets? I don't know, but it didn't just disappear into the aether, so....?

It's good to be happy in the simple things. Wishing you well for the future.

Glad you're doing what you need to for your finances, as well as your mental health

In 2020 I did reach out to RU-vid and you are the channel I had the most sympathy with. I know your 2020 was awful but I envied your particular flavor of awful and I knew you’d probably welcome my flavor of awful. You helped me realize that we were all having our most awful year in isolation, and that I should be grateful for the least awful parts of my life. I’ll always remember you when I think of 2020

I wish I could have invested in your course before - I too am a burned out creative with no money - and I want you to know what you offer / have offered is amazing and you deserved for it to work. F capitalism. I love your videos and will be following along no matter what you post next! As someone in a similar position to you, content around your life as a part time worker and how you stay creative is something I'm really interested in if you choose to pursue that. Hope this balance continues to work for you! ❤

Thanks for sharing, appreciate your perspective!

I'm only half way through the video so I'm sorry if it goes against the point in any way, but I feel there's a reason why most artists' works 'before they make it' ends up being the best. I think it's because they are still in touch enough with the mind of the majority of humanity, working by the hour. Maybe that's just my wishful thinking since I am a creator still working by the hour myself, but I really believe it. I'm very skeptical of the dream of the 'freelancer'. I'm sure more goes into the pockets of those who market this lifestyle from a seat beyond comfort, more than the people who grind and grind to make it happen.

Burnout and job hunts suck. I've been unemployed the last 4 months. Thankfully landed a great role recently. Wishing you all the best

Here's to what's next ✨

💜

I love your videos, but I can't imagine the stress that comes from being a creator and having to think of and make new content all the time.

Buena historia..😊

So happy to hear from you and that you’re doing better. 🫶

creativity is a long road, and some turns and twists on it are luckier than others. you've been one of the very rare very fortunate few for a long time, it must be difficult to lose that. i hope coffee brings you back to a better place.