It’s time for an update on 100 Days of Mornings! This will cover April 17th – April 30th, so days 14 – 27. Before we get into the pictures, I thought I’d start with five tips for a daily project. I’ve done daily projects before and have both successfully completed them/completely failed, so I have a few tips and words of advice if you’re interested in taking on a daily project… or if you’re in the midst of The 100 Day Project.
1 // Set a calendar reminder on your phone. I’ve found that my phone’s memory is better than mine and it has saved my butt a time or two … or most days. But make sure you schedule it within a reasonable amount of time before your deadline. Since I want to take all of my morning photos before noon, my calendar reminder is set for 11am. I’ll always be doing something at that time, so I can stop and take a photo of what that is. When I did Project 365, I had my calendar reminder set during the evening, so that I had a couple of hours to decide what to take a photo of.
2 // Take a picture when you first think of it. Even with a calendar reminder I can easily get swept up in the bustle of the day. The reminders can also get lost in a sea of text messages — or notifications from different apps, if you have those on. So if you think of it, find something to snap a picture of. Sometimes those quick ones turn out to the best, and even if it’s not, a mediocre one is better than none. And speaking of mediocre…
3 // Remember: each day doesn’t have to be spectacular. Sometimes you might have a crappy picture or two and that’s okay. Also, the simple, routine moments of your every day are just as beautiful as the special, unique moments. Capture those simple moments. They’re worth remembering.
4 // Switch up the subject matter. Posting my photos on Instagram has been so helpful this way, since I can take a look at my grid and see what subjects have been repeated throughout the week. A daily photo project is a great way to see what your world and life was like during that period of time, so take a look at the world around you. There’s more to each morning than your cup of coffee — as fun as those photos are and as many as I have taken.
5 // Don’t stress out about it. When I first heard of #The100DayProject last year I saw a quote image with the phrase: “But what if I fail? You will. And then what? You get to decide if you keep doing this.” Last year, I decided not to. This year, if I fail, I will keep going. Taking on a daily project is a challenge, but it should also be something you enjoy. Too much stress can take away some of your passion for your creative endeavors. Seriously, #beentheredonethat with Project 365. I don’t have the same passion for photography that I used to, because that project became so. stressful. for me. You might not enjoy it every day, but make sure you’re having fun. You don’t have to take on a daily project; it’s something you chose to do to stretch yourself creatively and grow. Let it be an enjoyable learning experience and see what comes of it, not something you dread each day.
Day 14: Monday, 4/17 @ 9:38 AM. I didn’t have to go into the office, so I worked from home with my pup.
Day 15: Tuesday, 4/18 @ 10:07 AM. I kept thinking, “Take a picture before you forget!” And I never did…but I had to step outside and an image better than anything else I had in mind presented itself.
Day 16: Wednesday, 4/19 @ 9:35 AM. Sometimes working at a school means helping with hair.
Day 17: Thursday, 4/20 @ 11:20 AM. The chocolate-filled eggs were a hit with staff this morning. These are a just a few of the eggs that had been emptied.
Day 18: Friday, 4/21 @ 10 AM. My comfort dog came to visit today! 💙 He always comes just to see me, but people have the crazy notion that he comes to visit everyone, so I let him wander around to greet people. 😉
Day 19: Saturday, 4/22 @ 11:14 AM. It was the day of our Community Health Fair at work! I let others decorate and held the balloons as they did.
Day 20: 4/23 @ 9:30 AM. Quiet mornings with Little One and a book are always the best.
Day 21: Monday, 4/24 @ 10:30 AM. I wasn’t really into the Monday thing that day, but it happened whether I wanted it to or not. Coffee helped.
Day 22: Tuesday, 4/25 @ 10:53 AM. It was a two computer kinda morning.
Day 23: Wednesday, 4/26 @ 7:33 AM. On my way to work I saw a guy trying to walk a big dog and the dog was just like, “Nope!” It reminded me of trying to take my sister’s mini dachshunds out on a rainy day.
Day 24: Thursday, 4/27 @ 7:13 AM. Spring in MN = the occasional light snowfall that melts in no time at all.
Day 25: Friday, 4/28 @ 7:07 AM. A few quick tummy rubs before running out the door–late–to work.
Day 26: Saturday, 4/29 @ 10:12 AM. I had a work event in the morning and we had a bigger turnout than expected!
Day 27: Sunday, 4/30 @ 11:54 AM. I love listening to my niece play the piano. This girl has talent and she loves it so much! Her passion is inspiring.
What do your mornings look like? And are you doing The 100 Day Project? What are you doing for it?
Previous Mornings: 1 – 13
[Tweet “5 Tips for a Daily Project + an Update on #100DaysofDreamerMornings. #100DayProject”]
I just finished an April photo challenge and I was mostly successful about completing it. There were a few days that I missed but for the most part, I got it all done but I love the calendar reminder because sometimes it’s so hard to remember!
Yes, it can be so hard to remember! I’m sure I’d regularly forget if I didn’t have a reminder set up. Congrats on completing your photo challenge! That’s awesome. 🙂
I think this is a really neat photo challenge! I am taking part in one right now that I thought would be easy since it’s only a once a week one – but I always end up getting to the end of the week scratching my head going “Oh yeah! I forgot!”. That one though, it gives you an actual theme every week which does make it more difficult. This one might be a bit easier. I really like your point of view in your photos. They’re random shots of every day life which makes it refreshing and feels so real. I don’t like ones that feel like it took 6 hours and a lightroom to create! Although those photos are very impressive too!!
Thank you Kimberly! I’m glad you enjoy them. I always wonder if people will like them, since they are just snapshots from every day life, so I’m glad to hear you like that them. I’m with you… I’m always impressed by photos that look like they took awhile to set up, shoot and edit, but I’m much more drawn to the simple peek at daily life.
I always wonder if weekly challenges would be easier to complete, but I think it would be easy for me to lose track of. I’d probably have to set daily reminders every few days. 🙂
Crystal, I just want to say I’m reading this on my lunch break and your photos are simply beautiful and make me smile. It’s simply a representation of your daily life and our daily lives can be beautiful in simple ways. Thank You!
Thank you so much Sheryl! That means a lot.
Crystal, I love this! i attempted a 365 photo project a few years ago and never completed it. I just recently started pulling my camera back out again – a renewed sense of passion I guess. 🙂
That’s a hard project to complete! I did it once… I think I may have missed a day during it, but I was so close to the end I was just like, “That’s okay! I’m finishing it!” I hope you have fun with your camera again. 🙂
Great photos. I really like this idea for the 100 day project. Aww…a comfort dog visiting at work would be great. That’s nice that you can share him!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Thank you! And yes! He’s the best. I always look forward to his visits. 🙂
These are great tips! I’d like to do a photo challenge, but I think I’d forget some days…
I’d definitely forget if I didn’t have an alarm set. It’s so easy to get swept up in the day! If you ever decide to try a photo challenge out I’d love to follow along. 🙂
I don’t know what a two computer morning is like, but it sounds scary! Good idea to set the alarm as a reminder. Wonder if I can get a comfort cat to come to work?
Not too scary! 🙂 Just busy and trying to do everything at once. A comfort cat would be cool!
I definitely rely on my calendar in order to get anything done! If it’s not on there, it likely wont happen!
I’m the same way! I need to be reminded of things otherwise I’ll definitely forget.
Hi, Little One! I see your nose peaking out under the table. Too cute.
Isn’t that picture adorable? I think it’s one of my faves.
I love the picture of Mina on the chair under the table. 🙂
I soooooo know what walking a huge dog is like and they want nothing of it. I’ve walked a stubborn Leonberger before and we’d walk twenty feet and she’d sit her big butt down and not budge. Lol Same with a Bernese, he didn’t like leaving sight of his house. So we’d sit in the grass. Lolol
Isn’t that cute? I love it! 🙂
I can’t even imagine! I mean… it used to be difficult to get my sister’s doxies out in the rain because they would budge, but at least with them I was always able to pick them up and plop them down where they needed to be. I guess sit in the grass is how it would go!
With big or giant breeds, you just can’t compete with their strength. With stubborn Oliver (the Leonberger) or Beau, the Bernese, they’re huge, heavy dogs and when they sit and don’t want to budge, they’re not budging at all. LOL Thankfully this doesn’t happen often or my “walks” would be quite boring. lol
I LOVE the idea of setting a reminder on your phone! That makes it easy for you to capture what you’re really doing that day rather than worrying about how you should style a shot or forgetting!
It’s so helpful! 🙂 I’d definitely forget if I didn’t have it.
I did a 365 photo project one year where I took a photo a day. I love how creative it forced me to be 🙂
i am not doing this project, but i loved some of these photos, especially the ones of the dogs. ESPECIALLY the first one. :]
I enjoyed your Post, most of pictures I like. Love your idea. i will follow and utilize your ideas.
thanks.
I love your ideas for reminding yourself with your phone. So smart. Wonderful pictures!