Joel Bryant // December 29th, 2024

The Limbo Week.

This weird week between Christmas and New Year’s, internationally famous as the time when everyone does… well, nothing.

Or so it seems.

What I’ve come to realise is that it’s not really a time when people do “nothing.” Instead, it’s a guilt-free pocket of time where people let themselves think about what they genuinely enjoy. It’s a moment to step off the treadmill of work, deadlines, and obligations and reconnect with passions and ideas that might have been buried during the year.

Now—if your limbo week involves nothing but binge-drinking and Netflix marathons, that’s a conversation for another day. But if you’re someone who uses this week to do something that sparks joy or reignites a long-forgotten interest, let’s try a thought experiment.

What if this week weren’t just a week?

What if you stretched this feeling into a month—or even made it a part of your regular life? Imagine having the time to flesh out the passions that bubble up during this short window.

Why is it, then, that as this week comes to a close, many of us feel a sense of dread? We return to the “normal life” routine: working to make money to sustain a life that often feels… normal. Mundane, even.

This brings me to two fitting examples: Coles online shopping and working out in my backyard.

Hear me out.

A few months ago, I restructured how I do everyday tasks to save time. Instead of driving to the grocery store, I shop online. Instead of driving to the gym, I work out at home in the backyard—ticking off exercise and getting sunlight at the same time.

These small changes may seem insignificant, but they add up to a lot of reclaimed time.

What do I do with this time?

I treat it like my “limbo week.” I use these moments—what would otherwise be idle or transitional periods—to explore my passions, assess my goals, and act on them.

And that’s why it’s crucial to pay attention to what comes up for you during this week of ’nothingness’. Those sparks of interest and ideas aren’t random; they’re a true reflection of what you’d like to do more of in life.

This idea ties beautifully into the Japanese concept of Ikigai—your reason for being. It’s the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

And speaking of turning passions into something meaningful…

For those of you looking to take your passions seriously and step into a fulfilling life as a filmmaker, I have some exciting news.

To kick off the new year, I’m opening up exclusive spots for mentorship with me—an opportunity to master filmmaking and turn your passion into profit. These spots are reserved exclusively for subscribers of this newsletter and won’t be opened to the public until later.

Keep an eye on your inbox, because next Sunday, the spots will officially open.

Consider this your early heads-up.

Until then, let this limbo week guide you. Pay attention to the sparks—they might just light the path to something bigger.

Feel free to share this email or hit reply—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

— Joel