As I write this I am actually taking time off in Croatia and Montenegro. Here’s the view:
It definitely beats writing this from a cooped up NYC apartment, that’s for sure. July 1 marks the midway point in 2025.
And 182 days into this practice of writing a monthly update, I’m still surprised by how valuable it is. Each time, I start in the weeds: head down, laser-focused on what’s next. This is just another to-do on my list. Another checkmark next to a task.
My initial inclination is to let the mood of the moment color the entire month. If I’m happy when I start writing, I assume the last 30 days were great. If I’m not happy, I decide the month was a mess.
How unfair is that? To let a single moment rewrite the story of a whole month.
But the act of reflecting: of reviewing my calendar, scrolling through photos, revisiting what I’d set out to do…it lifts me up to a higher elevation. From there, I can finally see the forest from the trees and get closer to the truth. I remember how I showed up. I find moments of joy I might’ve missed. And I leave with more clarity than I came with.
And I honestly think the monthly cadence is perfect. Any more than that and you spiral…any less and you forget where you are headed. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend giving it a go.
Looking back on June, it felt like a marathon. I was jumping from one thing to the next, pushing myself just a little harder to make it to a well-earned break. By the time vacation arrived, I was running on fumes. Battery at zero, mind scattered, body tight.
I needed rest, and Europe delivered. Nature. Small coastal towns. Hikes. Salty swims. Long dinners by the water. A slower pace. Good vibes. My body and nervous system are thanking me.
But here’s the honest part: I’m still not feeling creatively recharged. I’ve been frustrated that I’m not reaching for a pen or chasing new ideas. Past versions of me loved using vacations to dream, sketch, and play with early experiments. But this version of me is napping, swimming, and ordering another espresso. Not mad about it.
And I’m learning to be okay with that.
This trip hasn’t been about output. It’s been about being. Not producing. Not optimizing. Not needing work to validate rest. Just being.
I know the creative spark will come back. I trust it will. But right now, I’m giving myself space to be a person, not a project. And that might be the most valuable recharge of all.
Who am I again? I am Brett Bejcek. I live by my top values of Exploration, Iteration, and Connection. Exploration is what I do; I do it through iteration; and I do it to create more connection. These days, I spend a lot of time working on a startup, Limitless. It is my main priority. Outside of work, I am prioritizing physical health, (re)building community, and cultivating creativity through interesting weekend projects.
Fun Metrics. A peek into my life: some tied to goals, others just for fun. Because I’m not a business, I’m a silly human. And silly humans sometimes spend 30 minutes comparing pastries consumed instead of finishing their to-do list. It’s called balance.
ㅤ | May 2025 | June 2025 | Change |
Avg workout min /day | 110 | 108 | - 1.8% |
Avg steps / day | 12,970 | 10,969 | - 15.4% |
Flights taken | 7 | 3 | - 57.1% |
Books read | 0 | 1 | + 100% |
Side projects shipped | 0 | 0 | +/- 0% |
Pastries consumed | 20 | 30 | + 50.0% |
Days journaled | 5 | 5 | +/- 0% |
Fun lil’ memories:
Highlights of June:
- Nature: Ugh sweet, sweet nature. Water is healing. Trees are healing. Mountains are healing.
- Dancing: My moves may be inspired by the energy of a high school chaperone (sprinkler, grocery cart, etc), but I feel so alive every time.
- New art: I found new art I like. It’s small multiples of windows of NYC. It’s in a red frame and seeing it each day sparks a quiet dose of happiness.
Lowlights of June:
- Energy levels: I pushed hard early in the month running on fumes because I knew a break was near.
- Getting sick: It throws off everything and takes a while to get back into balance.
- Spending too much time indoors: I spent more time than I’d like in front of screens. I noticed a clear dip in energy and creativity when I wasn’t making time for sunlight or movement. At one point I think my plants tried to stage an intervention.
How did I do on my goals last month?
June goals were merely about surviving, not thriving. I continued everything I wanted to, but didn’t have the energy to really take on my start/stops. We stayed alive, hydrated, and mostly vertical. That counts.
June Goals
Stop | Start | Continue |
❌ Sacrificing your sleep | ❌ Baby steps to rebuild creativity (make submitting a memory more prominent on my website, add a way to easily add me on Apple Watch, etc) | ✅ Work as top priority |
ㅤ | ❌ Host or find one overlap event amongst friends | ✅ Working out |
ㅤ | ❌ Scheduling low-stakes creative time (20 min to write, doodle, whatever) | ✅ Investing in community |
ㅤ | ㅤ | ✅ Take better advantage of living in NYC (more shows + events) |
What am I prioritizing for this month?
July Goals
Stop | Start | Continue |
Excess screentime | Baby steps to rebuild creativity (make submitting a memory more prominent on my website, add a way to easily add me on Apple Watch, etc) | Work as top priority |
ㅤ | More nature | Working out |
ㅤ | Scheduling low-stakes creative time (20 min to write, doodle, whatever) | Investing in community |
ㅤ | ㅤ | Take better advantage of living in NYC (more shows + events) |
That’s all. Thanks for being part of my journey. Tip your baristas, stretch your hips, and wear sunscreen.
With love,
Brett Bejcek
On the first of every month I do a little self-audit and put it out into the world. Why? Accountability, reflection, and because life’s more fun when you share the messy middle.