# Why I Skipped a Day in My 30-Day Writing Challenge ## And why I’d do it again, every time. Published [[ Atomic Essay]] on Idea Waypoints --- Despite my plan to write and publish thirty short essays in thirty days, I made a conscious decision not to post yesterday. There was a time I would have pushed through anyway – sacrificing sleep, health, and peace of mind to check the box. “What’s one more night of less sleep?” I used to tell myself. “I can catch up on the weekend.” I'd work late into the night and start again early the next morning, chasing an illusion of balance. Even last night before bed, I thought, I could just take 30 minutes and get it done. But I didn’t. And here’s why – and why it matters. I chose to listen to myself instead. For some, that’s a no-brainer. But I know there are others who need to hear this – because I’ve been you. Passionate, driven, generous people who try to give your all to everything. This is a hard earned lesson: It’s okay to not do it all. ## My Three Commitments In the next three weeks, I’m juggling three major commitments, all coming to a close at the same time: 1. Writing and publishing daily as part of this course I signed myself up for. 2. Delivering major milestones on two design projects at work (and staying afloat across a dozen more). 3. Finishing my final grad school course and graduating with my Master’s in Design. All three matter. But their short- and long-term impact? Not equal. ### 1. Writing and Publishing This is a promise I made to _myself_. A commitment to show up, build a habit, and sharpen how I communicate. I won’t always post daily after this challenge ends. But it’s laying the foundation for a sustainable writing – *and* publishing – rhythm. It’s an investment in Future Leah. Still – this is the first thing to make the cut when time gets tight. And that’s okay. ### 2. Work (and Making Things Work) My design work is a promise to others – my team, my clients, and to the countless people who will one day experience the spaces I help create. It also pays my bills. And that’s no small thing! But more than that: it's my way of being a part of the world. I specialize in wayfinding design. More and more, my work is being an advocate for the people who will experience the environments I design. I design – in *and* for – a world that *wasn't* designed for me. And people like me. And people not like me at all, but still experience a world that hasn't truly considered their experience. It’s why I’m doing my master’s. Why I teach. Why I volunteer in my industry association. Why I keep learning outside of the classroom. I design for access, clarity, and equity the best I can – and I’m damn passionate about that commitment. ### 3. Grad School This is the one I’ll remember when I look back at the summer of 2025. Not the missed posts. Not the project deadlines. Grad school has helped me take inventory of what I believe, what I’ve experienced, and where I want to go next. It’s clarified my values and re-centered my focus. This is where my heart is right now. (Even if I'll likely skip the ceremony…) **Goals matter.** **But not all goals are weighted equal.** Sometimes choosing rest over routine is part of the commitment – to health, to longevity, and to showing up tomorrow with more clarity and capacity. Yesterday, I chose not to post. Today, I’m choosing to keep going – more grounded in what matters most. --- **Today's question:** When was the last time you chose rest over routine – and how did it feel?