Dear Creativity,
Twenty-one days of video shorts are in the books. I can’t believe how fast my three-week experiment went by. When the creator of The 100 Day Project, set up a 21-day challenge, I could not pass it up. In February I attempted to do The 100 Day Project, a global art project that takes place online. The idea behind the project is to choose a creative project and do it every single day for 100 days. When I embarked on 100 days I started strong, wavered a bit, and made it to 23 days with a bunch of skipped days in between.
Twenty-one is definitely not 100 and I knew I could succeed in this short creative sprint with you by my side. Besides the difference in the length of time for the project what did I do this time around to set myself up for success?
- I set myself up with a design question. By the end of the 21 days I wanted to know:
How might we best document the expansive relationship a busy professional woman has with Creativity on a daily basis? - I chose one medium to work with. I knew that video was something I wanted to explore more, so that would be the medium in which I would record my diaries. I also had a lapel mic I bought for my phone that I wanted to test more in-depth for its quality.
- I set up constraints on time. I limited the videos to have to be under 60 seconds so that I could post them as YouTube shorts, which i turn meant that I would also be using my mobile phone to record since that would be the easiest way to record in a 9:16 ratio.
- There was a deadline. I knew by the end of the 21 days the experiment would be over and did not have to continue if I did not want to.
- I was curious. I wondered if my community of wannabe creatives would resonate with this format of sharing inspiration, motivation, and tips for partnering with you, Creativity,
So now that I am at the end of my 21 days I wonder
What is the benefit of embarking on a 21-day creative project?
One unforeseen benefit was that I tapped back into my digital storytelling craft. I learned about digital storytelling in 2009 and have been a huge fan since. Despite the constraints of using the free version of Adobe Express, I captured the many ways I was able to practice and embody many innovation mindsets during my journey in my 21st video.
Beyond getting back in touch with digital storytelling, I’ve reflected on the numerous other benefits of embarking on this creative project:
- Consistency breeds habit: By committing to daily creation, I established a routine that made creativity a natural part of my day rather than an occasional indulgence.
- Rapid skill development: Focusing on video shorts allowed me to quickly improve my videography and editing skills, learning through daily practice and experimentation.
- Overcoming perfectionism: The time constraint forced me to prioritize completion over perfection, helping me silence my inner critic and just create.
- Increased self-awareness: Daily reflection on my creative process revealed patterns in my thinking and working style that I can leverage in future projects.
- Community engagement: Sharing my journey daily fostered a deeper connection with my audience, creating a shared experience of growth and inspiration.
- Adaptability: Working within constraints encouraged creative problem-solving and adaptability, skills that translate well beyond this project.
- Momentum building: Each day’s success, no matter how small, built momentum that carried me through the entire 21 days.
- Clarity of purpose: This focused sprint helped me clarify my goals and interests in content creation, providing direction for future endeavors.
- Confidence boost: Completing this challenge has bolstered my confidence in my ability to commit to and complete creative projects.
- Inspiration generation: The daily practice of creating opened up new ideas and possibilities, leaving me with a wealth of inspiration for future projects.
As I look back on these 21 days, I’m filled with gratitude for your constant presence, Creativity. You’ve been my steadfast companion, pushing me to explore new territories and express myself in ways I hadn’t before. This journey has reinforced the power of showing up daily, even when inspiration feels distant.
Moving forward, I plan to take the lessons learned from this sprint and apply them to longer-term projects. The rhythm of daily creation, the joy of connecting with my audience, and the thrill of pushing my creative boundaries are all experiences I want to continue cultivating.
Thank you, Creativity, for being my partner in this adventure. Here’s to many more days of exploration, expression, and growth together.
Innovatively yours,
Dr. Abigail
