THE SHORT VERSION

The Incurable Homebody is a personal blog written to inform, entertain, and support those with social anxiety. I do this mainly, but not entirely, via the magical powers of DIY.

I’m an independent web content creator who specializes in producing DIY/craft video tutorials who also happens to be an introvert living with social anxiety.  I’m still inching my way towards self confidence and I find that crafting helps. A lot. If you can relate or if you just want to know what it’s like to be a full-time DIYer, please visit often! Or maybe at least once in a while?

THE LONG VERSION

First, let me ask about you.

• Do you hate leaving the house?
• Are you perpetually at war with your (asshole) inner critic?
• Do you have a persistent, irrational fear of being judged?
• Do you believe that the MORE people see/talk to you, the LESS they will like you so you avoid interactions at all costs?
• Do you love creating things and feel a sense of pride in what you create?
• Do you want to create things but think you aren’t very good at it?
• Do you think you would love creating things if you could just figure out how?

If you answered yes to a lot of these questions, then I don’t have to tell you much about me, because I think we’ve got a lot in common! But if you want to know some personal factoids, here goes…

My name: Maya

Home sweet home: Los Angeles, CA with my husband and my critters.

What I do to pay the mortgage: Mainly, I produce DIY videos & articles, and do some occasional freelance copywriting. But here’s what it says on my resume: Independent web content producer. This serendipitious career path has afforded me the luxury of working from home. (*Happy dance*)

Why I started this blog in 2008: Since childhood, I’ve had this compulsive need to make things, regardless of whether I had the requisite skills to make them or not. This blog began as a simple online journal about the creation (or attempted creation) of these things.

Why I stopped blogging: It’s a cliche, I know, but…life got in the way. I began an M.A. program in Northern Ireland at the Institute of Cognition and Culture at Queen’s University, Belfast. After getting my M.A.,  I got a full time office job that had me commuting over 3 hours a day. I was an introvert working in an environment where I couldn’t be my most productive self. Also, the level of social interaction required for that position stressed me out to no end. I was exhausted mentally and physically, so I stopped crafting altogether. My anxiety and self-doubt got the best of me. And so on.

Why I re-invented and relaunched the blog in 2017: It’s a cliche, I know, but…life is just too damned short to be miserable. I decided to take a huge leap of faith (in myself!) and quit my full time, steady-income office job to work as an independent content producer. Working from HOME. Doing what I loved — creating articles and videos about making stuff! Still can’t believe I had the guts to do it.

And almost a year later, I found that I was actually still making a living at it. Making way less than I was making as a corporate employee, but I was happy and healthy. That’s when I got the idea to re-invent my blog to incorporate content about social anxiety, depression, and introversion, and how crafting (among other things) helped me gain confidence, a sense of fulfillment, and most of all, contentment. Just hope there may be others out there who can relate, cause more than anything, I want this blog to be a communicative experience.

Am I an expert crafter or do I have a degree that makes me qualified to give psychological advice?  No and no. I’m just someone passionate about learning and sharing, in a clear and thoughtful way, what I learn to anyone who might be interested. I’m still very much a work in progress — as we all are — and I’m hoping that there are enough people out there who can relate to me to make this blog a totally interactive and mutually beneficial endeavor.

That said, I do have an M.A. in cognition and culture, so I tend to approach issues about social anxiety — and everything else really — at the cognitive-evolutionary level. If you’re a cognitive science or evolutionary psychology enthusiast, we’re going to get along just fine.

On whether I really believe that being a homebody is something that actually needs to be cured:

My moniker, “The Incurable Homebody,” is 100% tongue in cheek. Of course I don’t believe that homebodies need to be “cured” of their natural preference to stay in — ALL THE TIME. We simply happen to feel the most energized and content within the comfortable surroundings of home — all alone or with a small, select number of people. In fact, I think it’s pretty effing awesome.

On how likely I am to leave my house if invited out:  Very unlikely. So I respectfully ask that you please don’t invite me to weddings, birthdays, showers, happy hours, etc. No matter how fond of you I am, I will most likely make up an excuse to stay home with a cup of coffee and make stuff. (Or I might just tell you the truth if I’m feeling exceptionally confident that day.) You’re welcome to join me at any time!

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