1) No internet.
exceptions: purposeful research for homework, to check my personal and school e-mail (all subscriptions will be turned off), to update my blogs/etsy.
2) No television.
exceptions: to watch a movie. i don't really watch movies, unless it's already on tv. intentional movie watching is rare for me, thus not a real distraction.
3) Create something every day.
exceptions: none. go make something dammit!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
upcoming March and a new experiment
The Imagination Experiment is almost a year old. I'm thinking of doing another round for this upcoming month of March. In terms of testing imagination, should I repeat the same experiment and hope for different results, or try something new?
I'm trying to teach myself that happenstance is the perfect environment for art making, and that waiting for your planets to align every time you're ready to create will produce boring, repeatable work, in far less frequency. So what could help break someone from always waiting for perfect weather, what about making something everyday for a year? Or, in this case, make something every day for 30 days? Maybe not the same thing everyday, but SOMETHING everyday. It's a way to keep those creative brain waves sharp, and opens your mind to create in a much wider margin.
I think to make this year's experiment most effective, I need to do both, removing distractions, and a goal of creating something daily. I learned removing television and the internet from my life did not make me more productive, I simply found other ways to distract myself. I think pairing up these two ideas will produce more interesting results.
I'm trying to teach myself that happenstance is the perfect environment for art making, and that waiting for your planets to align every time you're ready to create will produce boring, repeatable work, in far less frequency. So what could help break someone from always waiting for perfect weather, what about making something everyday for a year? Or, in this case, make something every day for 30 days? Maybe not the same thing everyday, but SOMETHING everyday. It's a way to keep those creative brain waves sharp, and opens your mind to create in a much wider margin.
I think to make this year's experiment most effective, I need to do both, removing distractions, and a goal of creating something daily. I learned removing television and the internet from my life did not make me more productive, I simply found other ways to distract myself. I think pairing up these two ideas will produce more interesting results.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
We have reached Day 31.
I cannot believe it has been a month... 4 weeks.... 31 days since I started this crazy experiment. There were weak moments, but hey everyone is human. I did get to experience life without the internet and television, and it has been an interesting experience.
When something becomes so habitual for you, it can be very hard to break. I'd like to say I've definitely BROKEN the television and internet habits, as they previous existed in my life. I'm concerned with going back to the way things were because I'm afraid I'll forget what I've learned, and fall back into old ways.
The reason I don't want to fall back into old habits is the fear of losing what I have gained from the experience. I learned that I can't blame my short-comings on these distractions anymore. My laziness, my procrastination, will still exist. My work ethic did not improve during the course of the last 31 days. This was a disappointing realization, but one I needed my eyes opened to. The effort, and focus required to get things done need to come from me. It doesn't lie out in the world to be discovered, I won't find some secret self-help secret, motivational quote or image that will transform me into a sensation, accomplished person. Every single drop of accomplishment I strive for needs to come from my sweat and blood. "There is no substitute for hard work."
I have learned to live more. With more hours in my week freed up, I have more time to accomplish goals (all while ignoring homework, hehe).
- bedroom is finally and truly clean
- had friends actually spend time in bedroom
- the pets'living quarters are cleaner (but impossibly never clean for long)
- my dog, Oliver, and I shared longer walks
- the hermit crabs are enjoying their new crabitat with new foods daily
- reconnected with friends that I hadn't been making time for
- improved consideration of my messes in shared areas of my home
- working on some personal art instead of assignments
- took advantage of some opportunities
Obviously, this list falls short of EVERYTHING I did this month, but those are the highlights. In terms of imagination, I continue to have ideas brewing, but as mentioned above, my work ethic needs more focus. I can't blame anything but myself anymore for not getting things done. And with all the great ideas I have, it's a shame less that half of it ever gets accomplished!
"Don't put off till tomorrow what can be enjoyed today."
I didn't accomplish everything I hoped to during March, but I did learn a lot and intend to continue to improve. I want to thank all of my friends who encouraged me, busted my balls, and helped me through the last 31 days. This has been the Imagination Experiment.
When something becomes so habitual for you, it can be very hard to break. I'd like to say I've definitely BROKEN the television and internet habits, as they previous existed in my life. I'm concerned with going back to the way things were because I'm afraid I'll forget what I've learned, and fall back into old ways.
The reason I don't want to fall back into old habits is the fear of losing what I have gained from the experience. I learned that I can't blame my short-comings on these distractions anymore. My laziness, my procrastination, will still exist. My work ethic did not improve during the course of the last 31 days. This was a disappointing realization, but one I needed my eyes opened to. The effort, and focus required to get things done need to come from me. It doesn't lie out in the world to be discovered, I won't find some secret self-help secret, motivational quote or image that will transform me into a sensation, accomplished person. Every single drop of accomplishment I strive for needs to come from my sweat and blood. "There is no substitute for hard work."
I have learned to live more. With more hours in my week freed up, I have more time to accomplish goals (all while ignoring homework, hehe).
- bedroom is finally and truly clean
- had friends actually spend time in bedroom
- the pets'living quarters are cleaner (but impossibly never clean for long)
- my dog, Oliver, and I shared longer walks
- the hermit crabs are enjoying their new crabitat with new foods daily
- reconnected with friends that I hadn't been making time for
- improved consideration of my messes in shared areas of my home
- working on some personal art instead of assignments
- took advantage of some opportunities
Obviously, this list falls short of EVERYTHING I did this month, but those are the highlights. In terms of imagination, I continue to have ideas brewing, but as mentioned above, my work ethic needs more focus. I can't blame anything but myself anymore for not getting things done. And with all the great ideas I have, it's a shame less that half of it ever gets accomplished!
"Don't put off till tomorrow what can be enjoyed today."
I didn't accomplish everything I hoped to during March, but I did learn a lot and intend to continue to improve. I want to thank all of my friends who encouraged me, busted my balls, and helped me through the last 31 days. This has been the Imagination Experiment.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Day 29
Two days left. I've been too busy, so I've felt indifferent about this up coming deadline. I've been thinking about how I will handle my life after the 31 days are over. I may extend this, or set new rules. New rules sound necessary.
- Sarah Marie
- Sarah Marie
Monday, March 22, 2010
Day 22 is here.
Sorry I haven't been posting a lot. Perhaps it's a side effect of this experiment. Or perhaps I have a small ammount of guilt. While I have been doing a great job of staying away from the television and internet, there has been a smidgen of cheating. It's hard to stay couped up in my room away from the television in the family room so when I'm out there talking to my mom, I'd catch clips and glimpses of whatever she's been watching. I've also peeked onto the webs to check prices for something and order myself some make-up... the make-up was a must though because I'm pretty sure it's only available online and I had run out on concealer!
Any who, enough confessions. A friend asked me today, if I've done anything creative. I haven't, aside from homework in my art classes. I was house sitting all of last week, which takes up a lot of free time and you lose the convenience of the other stuff you could do at home besides watch television or browse the internet. A Cosmo magazine helped fill the blanks, hehe. Saturday was spent playing laser tag, chatting around a campfire, and falling asleep while watching the movie 9 with my boyfriend.
I have plenty of homework to keep me busy these days, playing catch-up in my math class, studying for bio, throwing lot's and lot's of cylinders for ceramics and learning after effects for 2D animation. Not sure when I'll have the time to finish applying for colleges (although I NEED to make time) as well as esty business stuff. I'm happy to announce I will be selling at this year's AnimeNEXT 2010 in the artist alley with two very cool people.
They say it takes 21 days to establish a habit. I have reached day 22. Things are looking good. 9 days left!
Any who, enough confessions. A friend asked me today, if I've done anything creative. I haven't, aside from homework in my art classes. I was house sitting all of last week, which takes up a lot of free time and you lose the convenience of the other stuff you could do at home besides watch television or browse the internet. A Cosmo magazine helped fill the blanks, hehe. Saturday was spent playing laser tag, chatting around a campfire, and falling asleep while watching the movie 9 with my boyfriend.
I have plenty of homework to keep me busy these days, playing catch-up in my math class, studying for bio, throwing lot's and lot's of cylinders for ceramics and learning after effects for 2D animation. Not sure when I'll have the time to finish applying for colleges (although I NEED to make time) as well as esty business stuff. I'm happy to announce I will be selling at this year's AnimeNEXT 2010 in the artist alley with two very cool people.
They say it takes 21 days to establish a habit. I have reached day 22. Things are looking good. 9 days left!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Day 14
Since my last post, I feel like I have cheated a little. I guess the amount of movies I watched made it feel like I wasn't still under the experiment. That's okay, however, as I'm two weeks in!
Denny and I watched "Where the Wild Things Are." I like a lot of elements about this movie, but most particularly, the emotions of a young child that were expressed through the main character and the monsters. I think, as adults, we all wish we could just break down and revert back to those simple emotions and moments sometimes. Now I don't condone biting someone or throwing a fit necessarily, but just, expression and play. We've had some major flooding in my area due to the heavy rains we experienced the last few days. I took my dog, Oliver, out for a walk before dinner and we headed over to one of the flooded roads. While the waters have receded a lot, this road was still under. I don't go out exploring much anymore. This has started to change and I like it. There are qualities of children that I envy; they find the best in everything, and they have no fear of being themselves. I want that back.
"Life is too short to be anything but happy."
Denny and I watched "Where the Wild Things Are." I like a lot of elements about this movie, but most particularly, the emotions of a young child that were expressed through the main character and the monsters. I think, as adults, we all wish we could just break down and revert back to those simple emotions and moments sometimes. Now I don't condone biting someone or throwing a fit necessarily, but just, expression and play. We've had some major flooding in my area due to the heavy rains we experienced the last few days. I took my dog, Oliver, out for a walk before dinner and we headed over to one of the flooded roads. While the waters have receded a lot, this road was still under. I don't go out exploring much anymore. This has started to change and I like it. There are qualities of children that I envy; they find the best in everything, and they have no fear of being themselves. I want that back.
"Life is too short to be anything but happy."
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Day 9
It's amazing how responsible for your actions you become aware of after you remove some of the excuses. They kind of dangle there, gently in the wind, saying, "Oh hai we're still here and now that we're mud-free, we still need to be folded and put away." Weird underwear analogy >>:
Well, I suppose I failed a little in my challenge. It was a tiny one, I swear! In the 1,748 hours I've endured in the challenge, I watched approximately 1 hour of television. It was in a public place, I was with friends, and it was educational! (Super giant squid FTW!) Just wanted to fess up.
It hasn't stopped me, I've been too busy to really mind the lack of TV and internet access. It seems my days are still just as busy, although it's still very early in week 2. I've turned to books for recovering information. Perhaps it's destiny that I received a friendly reminder from my local library that I owe $25 and that they'll send me to collections if I don't pay it. Didn't know you could get sent to collections for that... here's a tip, don't ever return borrowed DVDs 3 weeks after the due date D:
Well, I suppose I failed a little in my challenge. It was a tiny one, I swear! In the 1,748 hours I've endured in the challenge, I watched approximately 1 hour of television. It was in a public place, I was with friends, and it was educational! (Super giant squid FTW!) Just wanted to fess up.
It hasn't stopped me, I've been too busy to really mind the lack of TV and internet access. It seems my days are still just as busy, although it's still very early in week 2. I've turned to books for recovering information. Perhaps it's destiny that I received a friendly reminder from my local library that I owe $25 and that they'll send me to collections if I don't pay it. Didn't know you could get sent to collections for that... here's a tip, don't ever return borrowed DVDs 3 weeks after the due date D:
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