iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Recently I posted about taking time away, but here's a longer article on where I was. #slowproductivity #amwriting #growthmindset mishagerrick.substack.com/p/things-the...

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The Heir's Choice deals with Callan's efforts to make sense of her connection to the continent of Tardith, while being brought closer to her worst enemy. Status: Published, but preparing to update. #theWarofSixCrowns #books #YA #fantasy

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Time to talk about my works and projects! First on the list is The Vanished Knight. Callan Blair's new foster situation should be routine, but then she gets taken into another world. Status: Published, but currently preparing to update. #theWarofSixCrowns #books #YA #fantasy

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Recently, I read a book by Cal Newport called Slow Productivity. It was a life-changing read, helping me see what I need to do to stop the performance of "busy-ness" so I can actually complete deep work. #slowproductivity #creativity #knowledgework #theLIFEProject #deepwork

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I have a stream on Twitch, so I thought I'd tell you guys about it. Come say hi at twitch.tv/mishagerrick. #ontwitch #productivitity #bodydoubling

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Still alive! Just been a bit busy putting together some new projects. ^_^ #thelifeproject #goals

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Final LIFE Project theme! The entire point of the overall project is to live a life worth living, so the final theme tracks whether I'm doing things that bring me life every week. #thelifeproject #mentalhealth #mindfulness #goals

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Believe it or not, rest and recreation are just as important to productivity as focus and "hustle". So to make sure I rest enough and to take guilt-free rest periods, I have a separate theme for recreation. #restisimportant #theLIFEProject #physicalhealth #mentalhealth #nontoxicproductivity

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

My brain hates stagnation, so I'm always working to learn new things. When I'm busy, I forget, though, so I created a theme to create space for continuing my journey of personal growth. #theLIFEProject #growthmindset #learning #adhd

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Today's theme of relationships, community, and care might seem surprising, but we are not built as humans to function in isolation. So I like to create space to reach out to others. #lifeproject #goals #community #mentalhealth

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Back with another LIFE Project Themes. Today's theme is creativity. This is an important one to me, but I suffered a massive burnout that I'm only starting to recover from now. Having this theme is a way to find my passion for creating again. #thelifeproject #creativity #burnout #goals

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

And she returns! Yes I'm still here. Just got a bit busy with stuff last week. I should be back to regular updates, though! #thelifeproject #twitch #exhaustion

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

No update vid today because I'm still feverishly working to set up the subathon next week. Mark your calendars though so you can say hi! This isn't pay to play so follows and raids add to the chaos. ;-) #twitchonline #productivity #coworking #bodydoubling twitch.tv/mishagerrick

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

It's super important to me to take care of my mental health, so I keep it as a separate theme from my physical wellbeing. The main thing I do is meditate, but I also spend a lot of time learning coping skills so I can stay in decent shape mentally. #mentalhealth #thelifeproject #mindfulness

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Continuing with the LIFE Project Themes, today's one is physical health. A major reason for having this be its own theme is my need to recover from long covid. Small incremental improvements and I almost have a normal life again. #thelifeproject #physicalhealth #wellness #fitness #mecfs

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Now that we have an overview of the LIFE Project, I can go into detail about my themes and missions. Today's theme is Financial Stability. #thelifeproject #financialfreedom #finances

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

SMART Goals only help when "achievable" isn't a challenge. So now I use themes and missions. I created nine themes, which I can use to set myself any number of missions based on where I am at a given time. #goals #theLIFEProject #mentalhealth #creativity

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

You guys might have noticed that I've been posting a whole lot more on #TheLIFEProject. Here's a bit more about why I started talking about it again after about three years.

open.substack.com

Announcing The LIFE Project

You might have seen me mention this before, but it's time for me to get back to talking about what I'm ACTUALLY doing.

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

If productivity is the absolute focus of what we're doing, we lose sight of many valuable things that are often more important than we realize. That's why toxic productivity is so incredibly harmful. #wellness #rest #productivity #mentalhealth #theLIFEProject

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

The root of my obsession with productivity was my approach to goal-setting. I used to set nearly impossible goals and then I would obsessively chase them down. This put me into a constant state of stress until my adrenal system couldn't handle it anymore. #stress #toxicproductivity #theLIFEProject

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

It took me longer than expected to return, but I am back, so head over and subscribe to Five Muses Creative Musings if you want to read about creativity, writing, comms, branding, design, etc. #writing #creativity #branding

open.substack.com

Ending the Hiatus

Took longer than expected, but it finally became possible to return

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Around 2019/2020, I was as productive that I ever could be, even sacrificing sleep and meal breaks to produce. What did it get me? Burnout. It took me a bit to realize that only sleeping, eating, or working wasn't a sustainable lifestyle, though. #productivity #mentalhealth #burnout #theLIFEProject

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Part of why I had such a massive burnout was that I got a bad case of tunnel vision. My whole life got reduced to working at all hours. It was super toxic, and it basically destroyed me. I created the LIFE Project as a way to recover. #mentalhealth #mindfulness #chronicexhaustion

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Why did I start the LIFE Project? After realizing I wasn't happy in my own life, I realized it was because I was being unbearably harsh on myself. A bad project manager, if you will. #life #thelifeproject #mentalhealth #chronicexhaustion

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Lots of interesting/fun things planned for my substack and socials. You might have noticed that I’ve been posting video more frequently. I’m just trying to see 1) if this is something I can sustain and 2) whether it is in fact helpful to my efforts. We’ll see how it goes.

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

The LIFE Project started in November 2022 when I realized how deeply miserable I had become. I was aiming to improve my quality of life to the point where it was worth living, I started to apply project management principles to make it happen. It's a wild journey, I tell you. #life #mentalhealth

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Always interesting to look at my progress so far. I did more than I thought I would manage this past quarter. Q3 looks like it’s going to be about knuckling down and finishing a lot of the stuff I started. #writing #life #goals

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

I took a quarterly break last week as part of my self-compassion practice. Unfortunately it took my brain two days to just accept doing nothing. Worth it though! I should be back to more regular posting this week. <3 #selfcompassion #mentalhealth #writing

mishagerrick.substack.com

Adventures in Self-Compassion

Looking back at arguably the most radical decision I made in my entire life

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Me: Oh yay! FINALLY on break and free of this stupid migraine. Brain: Brain: Me: No. Brain: I’m bored. #writing #adhd

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Bleh some days I need only a fulcrum to move the world. Today, I might as well have a dying star on my chest for all the movement I’m capable of. Nothing to do but be patient and wait for the exhaustion to pass. #writing #chronicexhaustion #ME/CFS

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Oh yay! I remembered to post that I’m livestreaming within 30 minutes of my stream starting. That’s…. probably a record or something. Anyway. Come say hi. ;-) #livenow #productivity #bodydoubling

twitch.tv

MishaGerrick - Twitch

Trying to actually do things (incremental pomos with Southern Gothic music) #cowork #bodydoubling #productivitysprints

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

It’s nice to rest today, but man did it take some convincing for my brain to accept this would be happening. Keep having to fight a case of the shoulds. #writing #adhd #mentalhealth

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

I happened to hit this scene during updates and thought I’d share. It’s a fun moment to me because it shows how Callan, even in the beginning of the story, was quite hard core when she wants to be. Just as well, considering what she goes through later in the series. #booksky #fantasy #romantasy

open.substack.com

Captured but Waiting

An excerpt from The Vanished Knight

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

And we're live. Join in to wrap up my day with some more productivity.

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Reposted by Misha Gerrick

Rachel D. Adams - writer @rachdwriter.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

I belong to a loving, supportive group of authors thriving on Discord - sharing info & ideas. Join just in time for the Live Critique Night. Bring a chapter or about 1500-2000 words to share with everybody and we'll give our thoughts and feelings on it. I'm hosting tomorrow! Links in comments!

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Today's stew is supposed to be low and slow, but it's stressing me out because the meat didn't defrost in time. So now, I have to low and slow but at the same time, also have dinner done in time. Who else has an equally exciting life today? #writersofbluesky #cooking #life

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Some days, I need to remind myself that life is littered with people who "ALWAYS BELIEVED IN YOU" as soon as you succeed. #writer #writinglife #believeinmyself

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Today was a weird day. Started off with a LOT of annoying things, but it might have had a sweet ending. I’ll have to see, though….

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Recently I chatted with a friend and realized just how defeating perfectionism is. It’s not even the part where nothing feels good enough. It’s the part where we keep ourselves from starting things because we’re scared we won’t meet some external expectation for brilliance. #writing #perfectionism

mishagerrick.substack.com

The Limits of Perfectionism

Why hunting perfection hurts us more than we think

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Sometimes, I like the weird stuff my mind comes up with. But not if it's a dream that makes me grumpy all day long. #brainsareweird #dream

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Misha Gerrick @mishagerrick.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Them: So what are you doing today? Me: Working. Them: Where? Me: On my cat’s nerves. #lifewithcats

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