Comics Tagged : productivity
Grustle Hours
Bonus Panel
Strip Info
- Title
- Grustle Hours
- Date
- July 14, 2024
- Tags
- bonus panel, capitalism, cell phone, couch, grind, hustle, Kevin, productivity, relatable, self care, side hustle, social media, The Grustle Monster
- Notes
-
I think about time a lot. Like a whole lot. There’s so much I want to do in my lifetime. So I worry that, unless I make the most of every minute, I won’t get to everything. This anxiety has made me very susceptible to productivity and hustle culture. The Grustle Monster is, obviously, the embodiment of my anxiety. I have conversations like this with him every day.
But lately, my relationship to time and achievement has been changing. Part of that has been due to several big personal events in the last year. Part of it is due to reading the book 4000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. Now I’m trying to think about time as this beautiful, limited resource of unknown quantity. This lovely video from my old boss Ze Frank sums it up nicely.
So do you have a Grustle Monster in your head? How do you deal with him?
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Day
-
Kevin lays on his couch, looking at his phone. Behind him, The Grustle Monster stands with his arms crossed.
-
- Grustle Monster
- Eight hours for sleep. Eight hours for work. Two hours for meals. One hour for exercise.
- Panel 2 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster continues.
-
- Grustle Monster
- That leaves five hours per day for your side-hustle. You say you don’t have time, but it’s your discipline that’s lacking.
- Panel 3 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
Annoyed, Kevin retorts.
-
- Kevin
- You forgot: two hours for commute, three hours for family, two hours for bathing and chores…
- Panel 4 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster does the math.
-
- Grustle Monster
- That’s twenty-seven hours per day.
- Kevin
- So piss off.
- Bonus Panel : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Moments Later
-
Kevin, still on his couch, still looking at his phone.
-
- Grustle Monster
- Where does ‘Scrolling Social Media for Two Hours” fit?
- Kevin
- SELF CARE!
Touch Grass
Bonus Panel
Strip Info
- Title
- Touch Grass
- Date
- June 25, 2023
- Tags
- bonus panel, capitalism, computers, creativity, guilt, Kevin, mental health, nature, park, productivity, relatable, rest, self care, shame, The Grustle Monster
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Ext. Park – Afternoon
-
Kevin lies in the grass of a field on a sunny summer day. Eyes closed. Hands behind his head. Smiling.
-
- Kevin
- Aaaaah. There’s nothing like a lazy summer afternoon…
- Panel 2 : Ext. Park – Continuous
-
Closer on Kevin’s face as a strange shadow creeps over him. He opens one eye to see:
- Panel 3 : Ext. Park – Continuous
-
Kevin’s POV: The Grustle Monster standing over him, blocking out the sun. Furrowed brow. Frowning.
- Panel 4 : Ext. Park – Continuous
-
Wider to reveal The Grustle Monster looming over Kevin in a menacing way.
-
- Kevin
- Damnit I’m allowed to rest!
- Panel 5 : Ext. Park – Later
-
Later, two passersby notice Kevin sitting on the grass, his full, two-monitor desktop set up in the grass in front of him.
-
- Passerby 1
- Did that guy bring his desktop to the park?
Prime Grind Time
Strip Info
- Title
- Prime Grind Time
- Date
- December 30, 2022
- Tags
- capitalism, grustle, holidays, Kevin, productivity, relatable, self care, The Grustle Monster
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Office – Day
-
Kevin sits as his desk, looking over at calendar hanging on the wall. The calendar reads “December.” All of the days are crossed off except for the last week.
-
- Kevin
- Ahh! The week between Christmas and New Year’s: when no one expects me to work…
- Panel 2 : Int. Office – Continuous
-
A wider angle reveals The Grustle Monster standing behind Kevin, arms crossed.
-
- Grustle Monster
- EXCEPT ME.
- Kevin
- …Except my Grustle Monster.
- Panel 3 : Int. Office – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster looms over Kevin as he draws.
-
- Grustle Monster
- NO DAYS OFF, BRO. THIS IS PRIME GRIND TIME.
- Kevin
- …Which is why I feel compelled to draw a comic instead of relaxing.
- Panel 4 : Int. Office – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster continues.
-
- Grustle Monster
- YOU’LL THANK ME WHEN YOU’RE RICH.
- Kevin
- From comics? Do you even hear yourself?
The Dedicated Practice of a Future Prodigy
Strip Info
- Title
- The Dedicated Practice of a Future Prodigy
- Date
- September 11, 2022
- Tags
- capitalism, couch, esports, gaming, grind, grustle, hustle, Kevin, productivity, self care, The Grustle Monster, video games
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Living Room – Day
-
The Grustle Monster sits, arms folded, next to Kevin, gaming, on the couch.
-
- Grustle Monster
- GAMING IS A WASTE OF TIME.
- Kevin
- -Sigh- C’mon, man. Please just let me relax.
- Panel 2 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster continues.
-
- Grustle Monster
- RELAXING DOESN’T GET YOU CLOSER TO YOUR GOALS.
- Kevin
- Fine. What if my goal is to become an esports pro?
- Panel 3 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
Kevin continues.
-
- Kevin
- Suddenly, this isn’t wasted time, but the dedicated practice of a future prodigy.
- Panel 4 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster retorts.
-
- Grustle Monster
- YOU’VE BEEN STUCK ON THE TUTORIAL LEVEL FOR WEEKS!
- Kevin
- IT’S HARD!
The Grustle Monster Cometh
Strip Info
- Title
- The Grustle Monster Cometh
- Date
- September 4, 2022
- Tags
- creativity, creator economy, fomo, grind, grustle, hustle, Kevin, motivation, productivity, relatable, self care, The Grustle Monster
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Bedroom – Night
-
Kevin lays in bed, startled awake by a large, purple monster kicking in the door. Across the monster’s chest, the word “GRUSTLE” is written.
-
- The Grustle Monster
- WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN BED? AMBITION NEVER SLEEPS!
- Panel 2 : Int. Bedroom – Continuous
-
The monster jumps on the foot of Kevin’s bed, causing it and Kevin to shoot up at attention.
-
- The Grusle Monster
- WHILE YOU’RE IN HERE, SOMEONE’S OUT THERE STEALING YOUR SUCCESS!
- Panel 3 : Int. Bedroom – Continuous
-
The monster bellows.
-
- The Grustle Monster
- GET UP! GET OUT!! GET TO WORK!!!
- Kevin
- AAAAAAH!!!!
- Panel 4 : Int. Office Breakroom – Later
-
Hunched over his coffee, disheveled, with a crazy look in his eye, Kevin twitches as his coworker makes a dry observation.
-
- Coworker
- Dude, you look like crap.
- Kevin
- Can’t sleep… Grustle Monster will get me!
No “Off” Switch
Strip Info
- Title
- No “Off” Switch
- Date
- June 12, 2022
- Tags
- anxiety, beach, Bird, fomo, Kevin, mental health, productivity, relatable, self care, social media, vacation
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Ext. Beach – Day
-
Kevin sits on a beach chair on a sunny shore. Wearing an open Hawaiian shirt, he clasps his hands behind his head and smiles. His bird perches on his elbow.
-
- Kevin
- Isn’t this great? A week away from social media! No F.O.M.O. No stress…
- Panel 2 : Ext. Beach – Continuous
-
Kevin and his bird sit in silence, soaking up the sun and surf.
- Panel 3 : Ext. Beach – Continous
-
Another moment of quiet.
- Panel 4 : Ext. Beach – Continous
-
Kevin’s bird turns to him.
-
- Bird
- You’re thinking of ways to turn this into content, aren’t you?
- Kevin
- Yes. I’m very broken.
The Procrastination Game
Strip Info
- Title
- The Procrastination Game
- Date
- May 8, 2022
- Tags
- Bird, couch, creativity, dumb things people do, Kevin, mental health, productivity, relatable, self care, videogames
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Living Room – Day
-
Kevin sits on his couch, controller in hand, playing a video game. His bird sits next to him.
-
- Kevin
- Ugh. This game sucks.
- Bird
- Then why not play a game you like?
- Panel 2 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
Kevin replies.
-
- Kevin
- Because if I play a game I like, I’ll get absorbed and won’t do the other things I have to do today.
- Panel 3 : Int. Living Room – Continous
-
The bird ponders.
-
- Bird
- So why not do those other things first, then play a game you like?
- Kevin
- Because playing games is how I procrastinate.
- Panel 4 : Int. Living Room – Continous
-
The bird looks concerned.
-
- Bird
- Wow, you’re all messed up, huh?
- Kevin
- My therapist calls me his “goldmine.”
Trust The Process
Strip Info
- Title
- Trust The Process
- Date
- January 24, 2022
- Tags
- Academy Awards, awards, birb, Bird, creativity, documentaries, Kevin, Meryl Streep, movies, Oscars, productivity
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Home – Day
-
Kevin sits at his desk drawing. The bird perches on a camera behind him.
-
- Bird
- What’s with the camera?
- Kevin
- I’m documenting my creative process.
- Panel 2 : Int. Home – Continuous
-
Kevin continues.
-
- Kevin
- Y’know- in case someone wants to make a documentary about me someday.
- Panel 3 : Int. Home – Continuous
-
The bird scoffs
-
- Bird
- -Pfft- No one will want to watch ‘Idiot Sits Alone In A Room For Hours.’
- Panel 4 : Int. Kodak Theatre – Later
-
Two presenters at the Oscars open the envelope for Best Documentary.
-
- Presenter 1
- And the Oscar goes to…
- Presenter 2
- …’Idiot Sits Alone In A Room For Hours’
- Panel 5 : Int. Kodak Theatre – Continuous
-
Kevin sits in the audience in a tux. Next to him, Meryl Streep applauds. Kevin raises an eyebrow and looks to his shoulder, where the bird crosses its arms in indignation.
The First Week of January
Strip Info
- Title
- The First Week of January
- Date
- January 9, 2022
- Tags
- creativity, holidays, judge, new years, productivity, running, starter pistol
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Ext. Race – Day
-
A runner perches on the starting line of a race. A nearby sign reads “2022 Start.” Behind the sign, a judge looks at their watch and holds a starting pistol in the air.
-
- Runner
- This year will be my year!
- Panel 2 : Ext. Race – Continuous
-
The judge fires the pistol: “bang!” The runner takes off smiling.
- Panel 3 : Ext. Race – Continuous
-
The runner trips on uneven ground.
- Panel 4 : Ext. Race – Continuous
-
The runner faceplants on the hard ground. THWAP!
- Panel 5 : Ext. Race – Continuous
-
The runner lies face down on the ground.
- Panel 6 : Ext. Race – Continuous
-
Wider to reveal the runner only a few feet from the starting line.
-
- Runner
- Leave me here until next January.
The Film School Grad’s Lament
Strip Info
- Title
- The Film School Grad’s Lament
- Date
- July 11, 2021
- Tags
- Bird, film school, Kevin, movies, my unfinished screenplay, productivity
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Living Room – Day
-
Kevin slouches on his couch, watching TV. His bird sits on his head.
-
- Kevin
- Man, this movie is awful! I could easily write something better than this crap!
- Panel 2 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
Kevin’s bird perks up.
-
- Bird
- Oh! Does this mean you’re finally going ot finish that screenplay you started in your 20’s?
- Panel 3 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
Kevin glowers at the bird.
- Panel 4 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
Kevin picks up the remote.
-
- Kevin
- Let’s see what else is on.
Free Ways To Support Your Favorite Artists
Strip Info
- Title
- Free Ways To Support Your Favorite Artists
- Date
- July 4, 2021
- Tags
- creativity, Instagram, Kevin, productivity, single panel, social media
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Void – Day
-
A single panel graphic. A header at the top reads, “Free Ways To Support Your Favorite Artists (from good to best).”
In a descending column under that are the following actions: “Bookmark, Like, Comment, Share,” and finally, “Learn to code, hack Instagram, and change the algorithm to favor artists again.”
At the bottom is a drawing of Kevin hunched over a laptop looking suspicious.
Feed Me
Strip Info
- Title
- Feed Me
- Date
- February 10, 2021
- Tags
- creativity, creator economy, fomo, Instagram, Kevin, mental health, productivity, self worth, social media
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Home – Day
-
Kevin sits at his desk working. Instagram steps out on the table behind him.
-
- Hey. I’m hungry.
- Kevin
- I just fed you yesterday!
- Panel 2 : Int. Home – Continuous
-
Instagram gets indignant.
-
- Do you want to grow your audience or not?
- Kevin
- Yeah, but… c’mon- I’m tired!
- Panel 3 : Int. Home – Continuous
-
Instagram hops up on Kevin’s chest, grabbing him by his collar.
-
- Well maybe you should’ve have attached your self-worth to the likes I GIVE YOU.
- Panel 4 : Int. Home – Later
-
Kevin sits at his computer, drawing another comic, crying. His bird sits on his shoulder.
-
- Bird
- I mean, he’s not wrong.
- Kevin
(sobbing) - I know.