👋 Why I’m Back (and What I’ve Been Working On)

Howdy, friends. 🌼

It’s been a while. My last post was in May 2024, and I honestly couldn’t tell you why it took me so long to return. Every time I sat down to write, I froze. I had ideas and plans, but I couldn’t find the spark to bring them to life.

That summer, I went to TPT Forward 2024 in San Diego with my husband. It was exciting to finally meet other creators and learn how to grow my store. I wanted to learn everything about how to take my store to the next level. But looking back, I think I went too early in my journey.

The sessions were amazing, and to their credit, the presenters actually told us to pick two or three ideas from the conference and focus on those. But I’m an all-or-nothing kind of person. I came home ready to do all of it at once.

Within a few days, I had a list of a hundred things I wanted to change, improve, or create. Instead of motivating me, it completely overwhelmed me. I was just about to reach my 50th product milestone, but I couldn’t even open my laptop. The excitement I had built up suddenly felt like pressure I couldn’t shake off.

Around that same time, life got even busier. My husband and I began fertility treatments in the fall, which meant endless appointments, tests, and medications. On top of that, things at work were going really well. I was earning new certifications, taking on more responsibility, and feeling proud of how far I had come professionally. But between everything happening at once, I had nothing left for creativity. Every hobby I had, including TPT, fell off my list completely.

Then came mid-December, the day our second IUI worked and baby Santiago’s story began. The months that followed were full of hope and preparation. I had a healthy pregnancy, but even then, I couldn’t bring myself to return to TPT. Every time I thought about it, I remembered that overwhelming list from TPT Forward and felt stuck all over again.

When Santiago was born at the end of August, everything changed. Maternity leave gave me something I hadn’t had in years: stillness. The quiet moments between feedings became time to think, and in that quiet, I started to feel something new.

I realized that I didn’t miss writing or posting or connecting with other teachers. What I missed was creating. That’s where I feel most like myself. I love brainstorming, designing, and seeing an idea come to life. I know that I bring something different to my niche, and I’m ready to start building again.

So one night, I pulled out my old notebook full of ideas and decided to pick just one. That idea led to another, and another, until I found myself excited to create again. This time, though, I’m approaching it differently.

One idea turned into three. Then eight. And before I knew it, I was planning again. But this time, it feels different.

Now I’m learning how to create with balance. I’ve started using ChatGPT-4 to help me brainstorm, organize, and simplify the pieces that used to overwhelm me. I’m learning to schedule posts ahead of time and use tools like Instagram and Meta to stay consistent without burning out. 

This time, I’m not chasing perfection or pressure. I’m just building at my own pace, enjoying the process, and finding joy in creating again.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between excitement and exhaustion, I get it. Sometimes stepping back is the only way to find your way forward.

💬 Let’s Reflect

Have you ever lost your creative spark? What helped you find your way back? Share your story. I’d love to hear how you balance creativity and life.

Stay curious, chameleons. 🦎

Daniela

🧩 Related Resources

Here are a few of my favorite activities that helped me reconnect with the creative side of teaching — the kind that reminds me why I started making resources in the first place:

⭐ FREEBIE LINEAR Function Fact & Fib Finder | Key Characteristics of a Function
⭐ Effects of Change Quadratic Functions Planets | VERTEX FORM TRANSFORMATION
⭐ Function Personality Quiz & Assignment | Graphing Functions and Math Writing

Thanks for reading! You can find all my math resources on 
👉 Teachers Pay Teachers | Math with Mrs. DOT
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