š Notes from Jenn:
Hello everyone! Closing 2022 out with rest is exactly what I needed, but at the same time, it made me wonder if I actually needed more. Does anyone ever get enough rest? When do you know itās enough?
In December, I removed some sections in the newsletter (social media & digital marketing). For now, Iām going to keep the social media section off. Being a Very Online person has not been good for my mental health. Iām also considering broadening the digital marketing section to topics surrounding freelancing, productivity systems, writing, and creativity. And finally, a reminder that voting is open for Sprudgies until January 8. Iām nominated in the Best Coffee Writing category!

š Launching: Creative Sparks
One of the things I learned in 2022 is that itās good to keep my creativity well filled. I enjoy doing challenges and thought it would be fun to set up my own! Once a week for 12 weeks, Iāll send out a creative prompt that you can then use in the medium(s) of your choice (writing, photography, illustration, etc.). Weāll use Substackās Chat feature (in the Substack mobile app) to encourage each other, discuss prompts, and share our pieces. You donāt need to be a creative professional; this is a judgment-free zone. To participate, you need to have a Substack account and opt-in. Go to the tanJennts page > click on your profile photo > manage subscription. Creative Sparks begins in mid-January, youāre also free to join in later.
š Last week, paid subscribers received a short reflection about rest and accepting my bodyās need to do so. I also previewed my brand refresh (more colors!).
š Current project: Iāve been working on redesigning parts of my website. I alternate between disbelief (āhow does changing this color affect this seemingly unrelated area, Wordpress, wtf!ā) and excitement (āwow, this looks greatā). I hope to have the changes go live soon.
2022 Recap & looking ahead
I had all the good intentions of writing a 2022 recap post for the end of the year, but it just didnāt happen. Iām going to try the monthly format and put in highlights (both good & bad). In terms of writing, Iām proud of what Iāve accomplished in this newsletter and in my features for Sprudge.
January: I was invited to present a talk for Barista Leagueās High Density online conference. It was called āHow to create a cohesive digital communication strategyā and was accompanied by a free worksheet. You can view the talk and download the worksheet on my website.
February: Helped launch Go Fund Beanās mentorship program, Bean for Bean. A number of people and hours went into this and weāre excited for the next iteration (coming soon).
March: I was called in for jury duty. The selection process triggered a very bad panic attack, and I spent the next two months recouping my mental health.
April: I made the decision to let go of a client. I donāt regret this at all, and my brain has been feeling freer since. And I formed an LLC!
May: Began The Artistās Way! I am still doing my morning pages on workday mornings. I also went on a quick getaway for my birthday and celebrated a decade of freelancing.
June: Moved newsletter platforms to Substack, rebranded from Coffee Marketing to tanJennts, and went through the Substack Grow program.
July: Spectacularly failed at updosing on an anti-anxiety medication, but thatās how these things go sometimes. I also ended my streak of black thumb gardening edible plants with a harvest of radishes.
August: My boyfriend moved in with me! We had a two-week trial period that went well. We even installed Elfa shelves in the closet with zero fighting.
September: Made mooncakes for the first time in years and judged in the chocolate category for Good Food Awards.
October: I began Mandarin classes at the library, every Saturday morning for eight weeks.
November: Twitter stuff. All the stuff.
December: Reached a 1400-day streak in Duolingo. Holy crap. And nominated for a Sprudgie!
Word of the year: Leap
I forgot that I chose a word last year untilā¦well, this week when I was considering words. Last year, it was intuition. This year, Iām choosing leap.
Iām a risk-averse person by nature. Freelancing also compounds that because mistakes can become costly. But Iāve been sitting in the familiar for a little too long now, and I feel a need to challenge myself so I donāt stagnate. The word āleapā makes me think of taking that risk, of trying something new, of being confident enough in my ability to handle failure if/when it happens.
I have a few goals already in mind, though they need to solidify in my head first. But Iām cautiously optimistic and excited for this year.
š¤ digital marketing
Guidelines for Responsible Content Creation with Generative AI: How to approach the ethics of generative AI with a content marketing POV.
Instagram Chief Outlines Key Areas of Focus for the App in 2023: Instagram chief Adam Mosseri has provided some insight, posting a quick overview of the platformās three key priorities for 2023.
14 Ways to Use Instagram Stories Highlights for Marketing: In this article, youāll find business examples of Instagram Highlights albums that deliver ongoing value to prospects and customers.
š interesting reads
Welcome to Digital Nomadland (WIRED):
A Portuguese island created a village for remote workers, promising community to the newcomers and prosperity to the localsāthen delivered on neither.
Librarians across the country are under threat as efforts to ban books about marginalized groups reach a fever pitch
But what if we made an addition to our lives, rather than a subtraction? What if we used New Year to invite in some expansive pleasures, rather than to impose stringencies?
What a year of accomplishments! You should be super proud of yourself! I'm a Mandarin speaker, but Cantonese seems to be useful living in Oaklan, so I've been trying to learn Cantonese via Duolingo on and off. Kudos to you for committing to learning Mandarin!!