Week 52 - The End
This week I wrapped up 52 weeks. Wow!
Tools I used:
My unconscious
Context
Well, here we are, last week of the year. At the start of 2023 I couldn’t have predicted how much I would enjoy this challenge and all of my projects. I feel very accomplished for sticking with it (I’ve seen many similar attempts fizzle out after a few weeks/months) and it’s taught me a lot.
Process
These thoughts came to me mostly in the shower or while walking.
Learnings
I work well with deadlines (regardless of their arbitrariness)
I enjoy scoping a project - jumping up and down zoom levels to both see the big picture and fill in the details
Writing up my work each week has been another unexpected delight. I have written daily journals for a couple of years now, but those vary a lot in form and structure and are more like stream of consciousness, whereas the strict formula for my weekly posts have forced me to document my processes methodically
Having a growing body of work online is super handy to show people when discussing my creative projects, and helpful for me to look back on too
I’ve gained a lot of experience in both the meta-skill of executing a project and many specific skills I picked up for certain projects, including the far from exhaustive list of coding, working with various AI models, using power tools, cooking, gardening, hosting events, flow rope, hiking, nutrition research, photography, 3D scanning/modeling/printing, filmmaking, image editing, and being a pirate
Next steps
I’m still very much enjoying creating and making things. I’m starting a new full time job mid-January, so I will have less time to tinker and experiment on the side for a while. However, I love this structure and I want to keep it alive, so I’ve decided to double down on my yearly challenge. For 2024, I will continue this exploration of creativity through 12Months, the spiritual successor to 52Weeks
And I’ve already gotten a head start on Month 1 - Relax. I’m giving myself permission to have no deadlines in January and simply go with the flow. At the end of the month I may simply write a few reflections of the month off, or maybe I’ll be bursting with new ideas and itching to get started. We’ll find out when we get there! Until then, adiós!