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Balancing a full-time job with creative work and side projects is a constant struggle for me, and I suspect for many others too. So talking with Karin Majoka, one of my photography heroes who juggles a career in psychology and psychotherapy with photography and YouTube, was an absolute pleasure.
Her first answer when I asked how she does it? “Probably don’t do it like me. It’s not healthy.”
That feels like a good summary of our chat, as Karin is very open and honest about what it’s like juggling a mix of creative passions with a “traditional” career, as well as how she handles overthinking, creative balance, and her struggles with identity and labels like “artist”. Below are a few highlights from our chat.
Highlights from my chat with Karin Majoka
1. Kill your dreams to live an interesting life
“When you die, it’s better to go with experiences than dreams”. Dreams stay perfect because they never face reality. They’re beautiful, idealised versions of what could be. But if you never actually do the thing you’re dreaming about, you’ll never know what it’s really like. Real experiences might not be as flawless as your fantasies, but at least you experienced them. Better to have messy reality than pristine fantasy.
2. Build a habit of solving the puzzle
External metrics won’t motivate you long term, but the discipline of completing projects and putting them out into the world has a special something to it. Having a publishing habit (whether that’s posting photos, releasing videos, or shipping any creative work) keeps you in tune with your craft. It flexes the muscle of actually solving the puzzle. Of finishing things rather than endlessly perfecting them. The act of shipping is what you can control, and it’s what keeps you going regardless of how the work performs externally.
3. Leave room to surprise yourself
Karin doesn’t script her videos from start to finish, and she doesn’t plan every photography shoot down to the last detail. She works with a rough sketch, knowing the key points or themes, but leaves enough room for the project to surprise her. Having everything planned out can be boring and kill the creative energy. Having nothing planned can feel overwhelming. The sweet spot is a rough lane with space to follow your curiosity as you go.
4. “That’s not for you to decide. You have to do it, then reevaluate.”
Karin’s received this advice from an abstract painting teacher: You can’t imagine how adding yellow to your canvas will look. You can’t think your way to the answer. You have to actually do it, see what happens, and then decide if it works. Stop overthinking it or trying to imagine it. Go with your gut, try it, and adjust based on what you actually see. The same applies to photography, writing, video editing, or any creative work.
5. Style can’t be forced. It has to grow organically.
When you see creatives with a clear, recognisable style, it’s tempting to try to manufacture your own. But you can’t force it. If you try to decide “this will be my style” or “this is the format I’ll follow forever,” it won’t work. Style develops naturally over time. And honestly, it would be boring if you’d already figured everything out. Give yourself permission to still be searching and to develop new directions over time. You wouldn’t want your favourite musician to pump out the same songs for the next twenty years. Don’t expect the same from yourself.
6. Your different identities make each other better
Multiple interests can be seen as complementary rather than competing. Psychology makes Karin a better photographer. Photography makes her a better psychologist. She can connect with patients struggling with creative blocks or identity issues because she’s living through those same questions. Having something outside your main work doesn’t dilute your focus. It deepens your understanding of both. We contain multitudes. Embrace it.
7. Your creative medium is just one language
Karin started with painting, tried sculpture and improv theatre, and eventually landed on photography. But she’s not married to it. For her, the medium matters less than the goal: understanding the world and herself. If another “language” fits better someday, she’ll switch. Don’t lock yourself into one form of expression just because it’s working now. Let yourself move between mediums as your curiosity shifts.
8. Overthinking is the illusion of control, and doing is the cure
Overthinking comes from wanting to be prepared and avoid bad outcomes. If you just think through every scenario, maybe you can prevent things from going wrong. But Karin points out that that’s an illusion. No amount of thinking prepares you for every possibility, and while you’re overthinking, you’re not actually doing anything. Writing helps. Talking to people who are doing the things you’re dreaming about helps. But ultimately, the best medicine for overthinking is just doing things anyway. Action gives you information that thinking never will.
9. Be honest: external feedback does matter
Nobody wants to admit they care about clicks and comments. But we’re human. Other people’s reactions do affect us. The key is distinguishing between chasing superficial attention and being genuinely open to feedback, including feedback that challenges you. Putting work out there shouldn’t be about proving you’re good. It should be about learning and growing from the responses you get. Don’t pretend you’re above external validation. Just be intentional about how you use it.
10. Social media can keep you accountable (even if it isn’t always fulfilling)
Instagram is instant, disposable, full of fire emojis and generic “nice shot” comments. YouTube gives more meaningful engagement. But Instagram still serves a purpose: accountability. Knowing you’ll post motivates you to actually edit your photos, develop your film, and keep working. The grid becomes a visual reminder of projects you’ve done. It’s about staying in motion and training yourself to finish and publish your work on a regular basis.
11. Low expectations grant you creative freedom
Karin started her YouTube channel during lockdown when street photography wasn’t accessible. She had no audience and no pressure. That freedom let her experiment without worrying about performance or whether people would like it. She even uses an artist name (Karin Majoka isn’t her real name) to keep her creative and professional psychology identities separate. Not having an audience is actually liberating.
12. Creativity lives in experimentation
If you stick to one thing forever, you limit novelty. Cross-pollination between disciplines (drawing inspiration from music, poetry, film, anything outside your main medium) is where interesting work emerges. Don’t marry yourself to one creative path. Stay curious. Try things. See what sticks. The best work comes from following weird pulls and giving yourself permission to experiment without needing it to be permanent.
Resources Mentioned
Karin’s YouTube Channel: Karin Majoka
Karin’s Instagram: @karinmajoka
Book recommendations:
You Are What You Do by Daniel Arnold
Twilight by Gregory Crewdson
Art Work: On the Creative Life - Sally Mann
Full transcript available here.
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