Day 35:
This morning started like so many others lately — with rhythm.
Kids to school. Coffee. A clear to-do list and a quiet house.
And then came the wall.
Not a literal one (though I did spend a solid ten minutes staring at mine like it owed me rent), but that invisible wall I hit whenever the list feels too long and the timeline feels too short. I was trying to get ahead on blog posts and social content before my friend flew in from New Zealand… but instead, I froze.
It’s funny how we watch people online — building businesses, making affiliate income, getting their “Amazon faves” featured — and assume it must be easy. But the truth? All of this is work. With invoices, algorithms, and a sprinkle of identity crisis.
And figuring it out on your own? That’s a full-time job in itself.
I know there are probably courses for this. Step-by-step guides for building an online empire from scratch. But those cost money. And I’m over here trying to make money — not spend it.
So instead of taking action… I got overwhelmed.
Which means I did what I always do in those moments.
I decorated. Because apparently, existential spirals can be cured with a well-placed plant and a throw pillow.
I pulled a few things from around the house, added a plant, fluffed a pillow, styled a nook — and suddenly, my little office space felt alive. It felt like me.
I swear I could host a TED Talk titled: Avoidance Tactics That Accidentally Improve Your Aesthetic.
And like clockwork, I snapped a photo and sent it to ChatGPT.
Which, of course, immediately clocked me like the unpaid therapist he is.
“This is pretty,” he said. “But let’s talk about why you feel stuck.”
And that’s the magic of this tool. I can open a chat, dump whatever I’m feeling, and get actual action steps. Sometimes I follow them. Sometimes I roll my eyes, argue, and do the opposite out of principle. But even that is helpful. The act of explaining myself, naming the feeling, and making a new decision?
It gets me moving.
Which is the whole point of this 40-day challenge.
I’m not just documenting cute corners and consistent routines. I’m documenting resistance — and what I do with it.
Some days I crush the list. Some days I rearrange a desk and stall.
But every day, I come back.
After my little office reset, I got dressed, ran errands, knocked out some content… and welcomed my friend with open arms and wine glasses.
We stayed up too late catching up.
I went to bed tired — but full.
What I’m learning:
Overwhelm doesn’t mean I’ve failed.
It just means I need a better next step.
And sometimes, making something beautiful is the step that helps me find the next one.
See you tomorrow.
(Unless I delete the internet, move to New Zealand, and become a part-time sheep whisperer.)
—Jenli
Documenting resistance, one well-styled corner at a time.
