the thing about this late night business is this: i think i’m getting too old for it.
once upon a time, actually up until not that long ago (say a few months), working late nights didn’t bother me. yes, it was a bit of an effort to get back into the studio after the extraordinarily long nightly process of putting my children to bed, but once i was working and in the flow it was ok. and for the past 20 years or so, i was good on 5 or 6 hours sleep for days on end. i am finding this is no longer the case. now – i get tired, i get grumpy, i get emotional. i’d go so far as to say i get downright crazy.
i also end up looking terrible. i got away with dark circle’s under my eyes for a while – it was cool in my 20’s and early 30’s: some kind of badge of honour from my play hard/work hard ethic. but i’m finding the dark circles fast lose their cool appeal once combined with a small amount of wrinkles, and also quite a bit of puffiness. (btw i’m not one to worry about wrinkles – bring it on along with magic grey hair i say).
anyway, with my unwillingness to give up my extra days with ari (he is just too much fun, and i lose those days forever next year), and with a lot more work to go on my book, plenty of late nights lie ahead.
on the up-side, i do get an occaisional sleep-in, and even when i don’t, the kids often sleep til 7.30 anyway (blissful after years of 5-6am). plus there is the satisfaction of getting lots done – that feeling is hard to beat.
and also, rewards. i’m big on rewards in times like these. they don’t have to be expensive (although some of them are), more small luxuries and indulgences that makes facing those nights a little easier.
here are some of the things keeping me going at night:
pat and stick’s ice-cream sandwiches: have you tried these? oh-my-fucking-god. that’s all i’m going to say. i discovered them late last year – at the time they were far away from my local grocer. but now, my grocer has them. the vanilla lace is my favourite. i try and limit myself to one per week. but i may have just ordered a multi-pack. this combined with my steady supply of green and black’s butterscotch chocolate, and my love of gooey cheese is danger. i will possibly be quite a few kg’s heavier by the time i finish this book.
sight unseen paper view: i’ve raved about this site before and it still remains a favourite. their book is as good as the site – if not better. it arrived just at a time when i was needing an inspiration boost and it delivered it hard and fast. for sale here.
PAM semi-freddo cardi: yes, PAM again – i’m sorry, i can’t stop. and beside’s – my studio is freezing and amazingly designed cardi’s are an essentail for long colder nights in front of a computer. i collected this one last week and it’s become my favourite go-with-prettty-much-everything piece. available from someday. also in curtin house pet shop girls has been another rewards shopping spot of late – so good.
nice tea: ahhh tea. my invigorator, my savoiur. when all else fails you come through and give me at least another 30 mins. current favourite is earl grey from T2, followed closely by a selection of japanese green teas from different places. as yet i don’t own this muuto cup to fill with my tea. it’s high on my late-night-reward list though.
exhibitions: sometimes being tired makes staying up late counter-productive. usually that time is late in the afternoon. so instead of getting flustered and achieving nothing, a change of scenery can do wonders. i visited mr.kitly’s current exhibition “group work” on one of these recent flustered afternoons and i loved it so much – it changed my mood quick smart (more info here and here). i’m also looking forward to checking out the hungry workshop’s ‘trophy lives‘ show this friday evening.
grimes: raph usually has me on a steady flow of new music, but it’s nice when i find music myself. i happened upon grimes through eirian chapman’s blog (thank-you!) and immediately downloaded her new album. i love her kooky girly tones and her wardrobe and her washed-out rainbow hair in this filmclip too. i’m finding it to be good late night working music, especially as i can pretend i’m in a disco instead.
one of my easiest / most accessible rewards: writing this blog! i miss it when i don’t get to do it. so, thanks for reading and being part of my late-night-rewards program. any other rewards suggestions (especially non-sugary/fat-laden food ones) welcomed. xx
Tags: exhibitions, melbourne, other blogs, things i like
Hi! What you say in this post is so true, it reminds me of my late nights working hours few years back (something I used to like myself as well, all before becoming a mum that is) now i should go back into more work but I am not so good at ..yet. i should also look into some nice night reward then, good inspirations from yours
That cardi looks awesome! Can’t wait to buy WINTER CLOTHES (for the first time ever) when I get down this weekend. After 24 years in south east QLD – coats, tights, scarves – don’t mind if I do
Unfortunately if I have to stay up late to get stuff done I tend to reward myself with something bubbly and alcoholic which then tends to lead to me not getting the stuff done…so I cannot help you there. Lately I’ve been waking up quite early (well, early for me!) and I’ve really been loving the still quiet of morning and hitting 10am and thinking ‘wow, I got all that done?!”. It’s kind of nice.
Anyhoo, please express post a box of those ice cream treats to Seoul ASAP. And that cardi is so freaking great!
Thank you for this post! I’m currently sitting in my studio trying to muster energy to put in a good night’s work after playing/feeding/getting my 9 month old son to sleep over the past 3 hours. I so admire the fact you’ve been doing the hard long hours for years, and am, while truly sympathetic for your exhaustion, kind of glad I’m not alone! Despite the fact I almost never comment, I love your blog, and I your work ethic truly inspires me and makes me feel like I CAN juggle the family and the art! Truly thanks.
Hey Beci,
I always wonder how you produced so much work with kids and there you have it – no sleep. Ah-ha! Unfortunately I can only do this for about a week then I turn into a crazy lady, so I think it’s incredible you’ve done it for so long. Congratulations on all the good stuff that’s been going on work-wise – well deserved! xx
I think you are superwoman! Working + kidlets is a difficult juggling act. Sleep is precious. Time is golden. Rewards are essential!
Rewards ARE essential Beci! So much amazing work lately (clever lady) and if it’s any consolation the juggling act continues over here too. Strength in numbers and all that!
Perhaps see you on Friday…my invite just arrived in the mail and if I ever needed to get out of the house, the time is now xx
aahh beci, I hear ya! I’ve been working nights, days, weekends, whenever really. It sucks, I think I am hallucinating.To top things off we have a film shoot on in our house and I had to pack up the studio. Don’t ask, but I’m sure as hell going to get my hands on those ice cream sandwiches!
Oh my, I can’t believe I never knew about those ice cream sandwiches… bless you Beci!! Bless !!
oh yes I’ve had a few late nights over the years… This year has def slowed down though, so although my sleep bank is looking healthy, the bank balance is not…
I reckon a late-night walk around the block on a lovely chilly clear winter’s night is a great reward… clears away many fuzzy cobwebs!
And just by the way, you deserve as many rewards that you can cram into your tummy/wardrobe/living room bookshelf… etc!
boo to late nights, puffy eyes and grumpiness! i congratulate you all the way for the things you get done. you are incredible for what you’ve achieved with work and family times, and for keeping it up for so long. i guess the ugly pay-off is lack of sleep. your finds are awesome especially that cardi!! oh and i reckon i could go an ice cream sandwich : ) when long nights hit i sometimes like to listen to an inspiring ted talk to get me through!
LADIES! thanks for your lovely comments. it is SO nice to hear. i can’t tell you. i’m still not loving the late nights but also decided i should really not be complaining about having to work hard on my own book. mine is a privileged place to be in and the subsequent whinning is pretty bad really. i’m loving the suggestions too: ted talks and brisk late night walks here i come!
That’s a great post – I too am a parent that works into the early hours of the morning after getting my boy to sleep. It’s comforting to know that there is a community of designers out there working away with there many amazing talents into the late hours (or early hours) I do find it hard to focus sometimes in these late shifts – but rewards are always a boost!
i love you. that’s all.
Love this post. From one night-worker to another. So many people just don’t get it and I’m honestly not complaining because it’s the only way I get things done. I’m going to start thinking of it as only 18 months left to go, and stop worrying about it. I look pretty haggard though. Bummer.
[...] I’ve always been a night person and I’m honestly not complaining. I recently read this terrific blog post by Melbourne artist Beci Orpin which mentions that although she feels like she’s getting to old to be working late, [...]