Kate Berry has been many things: cafe-owner, photographer and founder of Lunch Lady magazine. These days, she runs OK Motels, organising gigs and events in retro regional motels.
"As a creative, I've always had to be a juggler, but I've come to realise I'm terrible at switching from one thing to another," she says.
Now, her biggest tip for taking time out is to single-task, as "having just one thing to concentrate on can be an absolute joy for the brain".
Kate recently moved to Djilang/Geelong and shares how she's settling in and reconnecting with hobbies that fell away in busy times.
Unwind with… is a weekly column that explores the simple ways interesting people take care of themselves.
My favourite way to unwind is…
We just got a dog! It doesn't matter how stressed I might be, I can't be unhappy watching a dog jump around a park, living its best life chasing a ball!
At the moment I'm really loving…
There is a cute little indie cinema around the corner from our house and my youngest daughter and I like to see whatever is playing.
I used to be such an art-house film lover, but sometimes you can lose parts of yourself either in relationships or during busy periods.
It's been nice to be gifted this place around the corner to start watching films again and support local creatives.
To feel more settled in a new town…
I love walking around a new area and looking at other people's houses and gardens.
Especially in the early morning or late afternoon, all these ordinary things become super beautiful in the warm golden light. It could just be a clothesline, but it becomes magical.
A change I've made with my mindset…
I used to feel so guilty if I wasn't working, but I think the pandemic lockdowns taught me that the world doesn't end if you stop.
I used to be so envious of people that would just shut their laptop and go for a swim, and now I've been able to embrace that a lot more, too. Giving myself that space is what allows for problems to get solved or for ideas to come.
A ritual I have to connect with others…
I only have one daughter at home now, and for a while we stopped eating together — mainly because teenagers can be happy to be buried away in their room!
Recently, we've started to make sure to eat together, and it's a nice way to signal the end of the day. We light a candle even though it might just be the two of us eating a schnitzel or whatever. It makes it feel like an occasion.
A small joy of mine…
It's related to work, but I get really excited discovering new towns and communities. My latest obsession has been country halls — they are so ornate. I recently came across the Tallygaroopna Memorial Hall in regional Victoria and the Eudlo Hall in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. AMAZING.
For me, the benefits of living regionally…
I will go to Melbourne at least once a week, but I find it so noisy, both figuratively with more plans but also literally with sound and visuals. I find it a lot easier to connect with people in smaller and quieter spaces.
Also, it's expensive and so it's hard to find that space to be creative when you're stressed about finding somewhere to live. Not having to pay so much rent or having so many pressures has helped with my work.
Unwind with… is produced by Madeleine Dore, a writer, interviewer and author of I Didn't Do The Thing Today.
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