Week 1 Report
So it's a week into my Create/Consume 75/25 Project as of tomorrow morning, and a good time to update how things are going.
As I've mentioned in other entries, the project parameters are to create/consume at a ratio of 75/25. Which means I need to make 3 times the art or content as I consume. So far I've been keeping track of this by starting the stopwatch on my cellphone every time I start creating something and then dividing the minutes I spent creating by .33 to obtain a rough estimate of the minutes I can consume. I record all this in a red composition notebook and set the timer when I want to consume a book or Facebook, etc. So far the only problem I've run into with this system is that I often forget to start the timer when I start creating. Mostly I just write that off as lost minutes, but sometimes I'll try to reverse estimate the time.
I haven't done anything stunning as of yet. I've made these blog posts. I've written morning pages (a la The Artist's Way) most mornings. I've written a few lists and ideas down, including an idea for a children's card game that I may actually try to develop/test etc. I've made a few collages and attempts at handmade Christmas ornaments. Nothing has been out of this world, but it's a start.
I've spent the bulk of my minutes on extra reading, mostly "A Feast For Crows" and mostly when I was sick. I also spent some time on Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr and a little bit of time on Youtube watching content related to pop culture I want to see. I haven't read any news articles when I wasn't at work or listened to the news on purpose. There is a sense in which I feel like a BAD CITIZEN for doing that. There is another sense in which I feel like my mental health has improved and I am no worse a citizen than I was last week, just much less angst-ridden.
I've taken way more baths. I've slept a lot more (partly because I haven't been feeling well the last few days). I've cleaned up little messes. I've written a lot more. I've pet my cat more. I've listened to a lot more music, because I don't consider music a problem consumption item for me. I'm definitely noticing the music more now though. The less I take into my mind in a day, the more I seem to appreciate each little thing that I do let in.
I have not scrolled Facebook, Instagram or Tumblr for more than 5 minutes at a time this week, and it is glorious. I don't feel the need to get through any of my feeds because I just can't within the limits of this project. That's liberating, because I tend to have this weird "completist" tendency where I want to read everything, which has become probably impossible with Facebook anyway. Facebook used to be at least sort of a decent way to keep up with people's lives, but these days very few people reliably share what's going on in their lives. Then in the event they do share status updates and photos you're still not guaranteed to see their content in a timely or organized fashion. Facebook these days is like a mindless chaotic whirlpool spitting out bits and pieces of your friends' personalities.
I don't know if I can envision quitting Facebook entirely. However, I see it more for what it is, and I do not want to use it as much as I did. I'm feeling much more "meh" about Instagram as well. I didn't even have it a year ago, and now I don't really miss it. Tumblr is the one site I actually sort of wanted to stay on longer, because I have become a bit of a Game of Thrones fangirl, or fanmiddleagedwoman. Tumblr is actually fun and escapist and sometimes I need that.
I had an exception for reading in the bathroom. I think it needs to go. It is too easy to just stay in there a bit longer to read, and also why not also use that time to think too? The less I consume, the less I seem to need to consume.
So in the next week I'm going to have to save up however many minutes it's going to take to watch "The Last Jedi" because it's a Star Wars movie that isn't one of the prequels.* I will also need to carve out some time around Christmas for "It's A Wonderful Life" and "The Muppet Christmas Carole." This means I'll have to make a lot lot lot lot lot more stuff. Stay tuned.
This project is totally worth it. I would recommend it to anyone. I have recommended it to Lee, but he's not biting - yet. As I write this he's watching I think the second episode of the new "Star Trek" show. I don't think it counts as consumption if I sometimes glance over at the screen and imagine dialogue for the characters. It's hard not to look when there are so many shiny galaxy-y things in your sight line.
*Recently on Tumblr I learned that there are many people who actually like the prequels. This was a horrifying discovery as I had previously only met one person who thought the prequels were good. Actually, and this is almost too horrible to speak of, she thought the prequels were better than the original trilogy which was "boring." Anyway, there are more of her out there apparently. Crazy, right?
How it Works
As I've mentioned in other entries, the project parameters are to create/consume at a ratio of 75/25. Which means I need to make 3 times the art or content as I consume. So far I've been keeping track of this by starting the stopwatch on my cellphone every time I start creating something and then dividing the minutes I spent creating by .33 to obtain a rough estimate of the minutes I can consume. I record all this in a red composition notebook and set the timer when I want to consume a book or Facebook, etc. So far the only problem I've run into with this system is that I often forget to start the timer when I start creating. Mostly I just write that off as lost minutes, but sometimes I'll try to reverse estimate the time.
What I've Created
I haven't done anything stunning as of yet. I've made these blog posts. I've written morning pages (a la The Artist's Way) most mornings. I've written a few lists and ideas down, including an idea for a children's card game that I may actually try to develop/test etc. I've made a few collages and attempts at handmade Christmas ornaments. Nothing has been out of this world, but it's a start.
What I've Consumed
I've spent the bulk of my minutes on extra reading, mostly "A Feast For Crows" and mostly when I was sick. I also spent some time on Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr and a little bit of time on Youtube watching content related to pop culture I want to see. I haven't read any news articles when I wasn't at work or listened to the news on purpose. There is a sense in which I feel like a BAD CITIZEN for doing that. There is another sense in which I feel like my mental health has improved and I am no worse a citizen than I was last week, just much less angst-ridden.
What I've Done More Of
I've taken way more baths. I've slept a lot more (partly because I haven't been feeling well the last few days). I've cleaned up little messes. I've written a lot more. I've pet my cat more. I've listened to a lot more music, because I don't consider music a problem consumption item for me. I'm definitely noticing the music more now though. The less I take into my mind in a day, the more I seem to appreciate each little thing that I do let in.
What I've Done Less Of
I have not scrolled Facebook, Instagram or Tumblr for more than 5 minutes at a time this week, and it is glorious. I don't feel the need to get through any of my feeds because I just can't within the limits of this project. That's liberating, because I tend to have this weird "completist" tendency where I want to read everything, which has become probably impossible with Facebook anyway. Facebook used to be at least sort of a decent way to keep up with people's lives, but these days very few people reliably share what's going on in their lives. Then in the event they do share status updates and photos you're still not guaranteed to see their content in a timely or organized fashion. Facebook these days is like a mindless chaotic whirlpool spitting out bits and pieces of your friends' personalities.
I don't know if I can envision quitting Facebook entirely. However, I see it more for what it is, and I do not want to use it as much as I did. I'm feeling much more "meh" about Instagram as well. I didn't even have it a year ago, and now I don't really miss it. Tumblr is the one site I actually sort of wanted to stay on longer, because I have become a bit of a Game of Thrones fangirl, or fanmiddleagedwoman. Tumblr is actually fun and escapist and sometimes I need that.
What I Can Improve
I had an exception for reading in the bathroom. I think it needs to go. It is too easy to just stay in there a bit longer to read, and also why not also use that time to think too? The less I consume, the less I seem to need to consume.
Coming Attractions
So in the next week I'm going to have to save up however many minutes it's going to take to watch "The Last Jedi" because it's a Star Wars movie that isn't one of the prequels.* I will also need to carve out some time around Christmas for "It's A Wonderful Life" and "The Muppet Christmas Carole." This means I'll have to make a lot lot lot lot lot more stuff. Stay tuned.
Final Thought For This Week
This project is totally worth it. I would recommend it to anyone. I have recommended it to Lee, but he's not biting - yet. As I write this he's watching I think the second episode of the new "Star Trek" show. I don't think it counts as consumption if I sometimes glance over at the screen and imagine dialogue for the characters. It's hard not to look when there are so many shiny galaxy-y things in your sight line.
*Recently on Tumblr I learned that there are many people who actually like the prequels. This was a horrifying discovery as I had previously only met one person who thought the prequels were good. Actually, and this is almost too horrible to speak of, she thought the prequels were better than the original trilogy which was "boring." Anyway, there are more of her out there apparently. Crazy, right?
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