What's on Your Desk? #2

Introducing Sarah Li-Cain from Searching for Enough

Welcome to What’s on Your Desk? An idea that originated from reading an excerpt from American poet Louise Bogan’s autobiography, Journey Around My Room.

Each month, I’ll invite a writer to talk about their workspace. For the first issue, I shared mine, but this time, I’m pleased to introduce

Sarah Li-Cain

from Searching for Enough.

What I like about Sarah is her willingness to share her journey from work burnout to open-ended curiosity about what we truly need to feel successful and content. And I can’t be the only one who thinks Searching for Enough is a thought-provoking and clever title—who wouldn’t want to click on that?

Sarah at her desk in Florida.

Where are you writing from?

I'm currently writing in my home office, with a small window that overlooks our yard. Sometimes I like to look out when I used to have a vegetable and flower garden when taking small breaks between work.

What does your writing routine look like?

My "day job" is a freelance writer for the finance sector, so that bit I sort of have down to an art. I have a routine where I go for a walk. Specifically, after I drop my son off school, I walk around my neighborhood to get into the mindset of my writing work. I call it my 'commute' because I do this right before I do my paying writing work. Then, I start my day and tackle items on my to-do list I have planned out for the week.

I've gotten quite good at enforcing boundaries around that and when my work day is done. When it comes to my creative pursuits (like writing for my Substack) it feels a bit haphazard. I schedule some time each Wednesday to play, either grab a writing prompt from other writers, or look through my notebooks on any notes I've jotted down for inspiration.

I also attend a weekly meditation session so sometimes I get a lot of inspiration on various ideas from that. My goal right now is to return the fun and delight of writing for its own sake, so I don't want to put too many stringent routines like I do with my job.

Welcome to Searching For Enough

What are you currently working on?

I have a Substack series I've been mulling on for months and trying to create it in a way that feels true to who I am and what I want to help others express. It feels secretive at the moment but I'm hoping to get it going in the next few weeks.

What’s on your desk?

My laptop, ergonomic mouse, stacks of notebooks, an essential oil diffuser, a large painting my son made me, and several pens I keep telling myself I should replace. The stacks of notebooks happened by accident — mostly because I forgot I started one for a particular purpose then would crack open another. For now, I have ones for notes when I’m on client calls or interview subject matter experts for pieces I’m working on for my job. One is for Morning Pages, the other is for Substack post ideas, and others are a smattering of ideas I want to incorporate into my life or questions I’m sitting with.

I’m more of a candle person, but my husband gifted me an essential oil diffuser set, and I now love it. I started out with lavender and mint as my go-to scents, but now I alternate between bergamot, lemon and frankincense depending on my mood. I turn it on right when I get to my desk and off when I’m done.

Depending on the day, I also have several cups of tea. I am obsessed with perfecting the cup of masala chai and Hong Kong style milk tea. Otherwise, I’m really into pu’er and peppermint tea, but I usually drink those in the afternoons when I need an excuse to get away from my desk.

As for the painting my son painted, he found a large piece of paper and wanted to gift me something for my office other than random drawings. It just so happens to fit into a large black frame I found in a thrift shop, so now I get to see it every time I start up my laptop. The painting itself is an abstract creation, and reminds of Kandinsy’s work.