What I Learned from Doing The 100 Day Project
A Capacity for Endlessness
The 100 Day Project is complete. I called my project “A Capacity for Endlessness”. This title came from the first chapter of the promotional book that I used as the paper support for my collages and paintings. It was the perfect title for a project that would last for so long. I learned so much about my limits and what I needed to do to push through when I felt like I reached my capacity. The truth is, ideas are endless. They are there, waiting, for the moment you are ready to take them. There are, however, a number of strategies that can help you push through blocks of time when you feel you have reached your capacity.
Capacity: The maximum amount that something can contain or produce.
Never underestimate the power of taking a break. Step away from your project and do something unrelated or completely mindless. Clear your mind and relax to allow ideas to flow more freely when you return to your creative work. It was rare, but I did take a break for a day or two, when I was sick, overly busy, or just needed some down time. I came back much fresher and ready
Seek out a change of scenery. Surround yourself with new sights and sounds to break the monotony and inspire your creativity. I stopped along the side of the road to take pictures and visited local gardens and historic sights when I needed to refill my bank of ideas.
Explore different sources of inspiration, such as books, artwork, music, or nature, especially look for ideas in unrelated fields or genres. Sometimes background music was all I needed to push forward. It was a nice break from the silence and the beat kept me going.
Try new techniques, materials, or approaches and play without judgment or the pressure of making mistakes, and see where they lead you. I could not sustain the same techniques for 100 days straight. Mixing up the materials and process helped me from being bored. Not everything worked, but I always learned something new about my materials and what I liked.
Collaborate with others. Trusted friends can provide new insights and opportunities to explore. When I was feeling fatigued I handed my work over to my friends. I asked them to make marks and respond to my support papers. I then had to respond to what they started. This gave me a new challenge and direction that I would not normally follow.
Breaking down a large project into smaller parts can make a large project seem more manageable. Celebrating each little win can also boost your motivation and confidence. Every day I completed my daily project, I marked it off on my chart. Coloring in a box each day gave me a feeling that I was moving closer to my goal.
Establish a routine that is realistic and manageable. Setting aside specific times for creative work, showing up and doing the work, can provide a sense of purpose and direction. I chose to work either right after work, before dinner, or right after dinner. This gave me a little flexibility when I had a meeting, or appointment. If the schedule is too rigid, you may feel like a failure when you don’t show up.
Taking care of yourself physically and mentally is essential for maintaining creativity. Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise regularly, and manage stress. For me sleep was the most essential part of sustaining myself through this project and keeping a routine helped with stress. It also helped to talk about the importance of this project with my husband. I needed his buy-in in order to feel less stress about the time we spent apart.
Endlessness: Infinite, limitless, or existing outside time.
We all have an endless capacity to generate creative ideas. When you are trying to approach a big project, Like the 100 Day Project, it is helpful to have a few strategies to keep you going.
Set aside dedicated time to brainstorm ideas without judgment or evaluation. Write down any and every idea that comes to mind, no matter how wild or unconventional.Start with one idea and map out related concepts, ideas, and associations. This technique helps you explore connections.
Juxtapose your idea with its opposite.
Connect seemingly unrelated concepts, objects, or ideas to find new associations.
Start with wonder and cultivate a sense of curiosity, ask questions, and seek out new experiences. The more you expose yourself to new things,, the more potential connections and creative ideas you can generate.
Observe everything and be fully present in your surroundings. Pay attention to details, patterns, and anomalies in everyday experiences.
Engage in discussions and collaborations with others. Share your ideas and seek feedback from peers, mentors, or experts in relevant fields. Different perspectives can challenge your thinking and lead to innovative ideas.
Creativity often requires taking risks and being open to failure. Don't be afraid to try new things, experiment, and make mistakes. Failure can provide valuable learning experiences and lead to breakthrough ideas.
Free writing for a specific duration and writing continuously without worrying about grammar, spelling, or making sense, is a great way to brain dump. Connections can show up in the strangest of ways.
Create an idea board or digital collection of images, artwork, colors, and textures that resonate with your creative vision. Visual stimuli can help trigger new associations and spark creative ideas.
Add constraints or limitations to your creative process. These can be related to time, resources, or medium. Constraints force you to think more creatively and find innovative solutions within the given boundaries.
When have you felt like you have reached your capacity in your creative practice? What have you already tried to move past this block?
Could you shift your mindset and believe that ideas are endless and you have an unlimited capacity for creativity?
I would love to know what you think. Please Comment Below.
Thank you for being part of my journey.
