Cloverdew Creative

Evaluation and refocusing are two essential pieces to accomplishing goals, especially for someone like me, who often comes up with tons of creative ideas, but never seems to have the energy to complete them all.

Last week, I posted regarding my goals for 2010 and the plans in place to achieve those goals. This week, I reflect on what’s worked, what hasn’t and where to go from here. I am doing this with just a few simple steps.

1. Review my best laid plans to remind myself of all the things I want to accomplish, both large and small.
2. Assess which goal paths I have been following and how much progress I have made.
3. Look for other goal path opportunities.
4. Act.

Learn

Assessment: I have utilized my free time very well and integrated learning into my work life with much success. I have accomplished a lot in the way of reading (books and blogs). I have deepened and broadened professional relationships, both through my office and no my own. I am extremely grateful to have a great new mentor and other professionals in my network whom I consider positive influencers, teachers, and colleagues. I’ve discovered areas of interest I didn’t know I had, uncovered talents and built skills I didn’t think I had the capacity for.  I view every challenge as a learning opportunity. I’m grateful and determined, working hard on every creative project and taking every chance to develop skills as a young professional. I’ve started journaling (on paper, in ink) again, launched this new blog to catalogue my progress in creative ventures and I am keeping the conversation going on the creative process across disciplines and fields and various platforms. I haven’t made it to any of the finish lines for my learning goals, but I’ve made huge strides.

Next step: I need to get out that 35 mm film camera and take some photos!

Create

Assessment: I’ve started this new blog about the creative process and have been successful with posting fairly regularly. I’ve cleaned out old clothing and have a huge pile of things to donate to charity… soon it will be time to make my own pieces. Though I haven’t completely succeeded here, I’m encouraged to do more the second half of the year. I’m excited about more opportunities to create blog content, my own clothing, jewelry for my roommate (who’s allergic to any metal except for gold), and putting together a cohesive and comprehensive offline journal. I used to carry around a Moleskine, which was not just a journal, but a living piece of art – I’ve started to get back into this practice and it’s amazing what a difference it makes in my life. Even if no one else ever sees it, “Art for art’s sake.”

Next step: Design my logo and put together a site. Completely finish cleaning out my closets and get my art and craft supplies in order in a workspace.

Invest

Assessment: I am doing MUCH better with eating well and have been shopping almost exclusively at the farmer’s market and only at Trader Joe’s aside from that. I have invested money into a personal trainer and this morning I started working out at the gym with her. The monthly membership and training sessions are expensive, but I’m looking forward to getting into shape and staying that way. I felt great this morning and, though I will be sore tomorrow, the investment in my future health is the only motivation I need to keep going. I’ve done a terrible job at keeping track of the accomplishments, but I certainly have been keeping up with the goal of doing something every week that I’m proud of – I think I’m going to start writing them all down for future reference and motivation. As I said above, I’m working on cleaning up and out and getting rid of any clutter (this one still needs quite a bit of work). I’ve been doing great with paying down what little debt I have and hope to continue on that trend throughout the rest of the year.

Next step: Writing in my journal the accomplishments I want to remember, work at better balancing my budget.

Image Credits: Learn – Rachael Ashe; Create – jessica wilson; Invest – connie zhen.

I’d love to know where you are on your goals for the year. How do YOU assess your progress? What adjustments have you made? How do you feel about the rest of the year?

I wrote this post back in January, but considering it’s been almost 6 months since then (oh, MY GOODNESS it’s flown by!), I thought I should post it again as both a reminder to myself what I want to accomplish and a means of checking in on my progress.

The other day, I read a great article on Chris Brogan‘s blog about Wiring Yourself for Success in 2010. He suggests that, instead of making the traditional New Year’s Resolutions and following them up with endless to-do lists, a better alternative is to set goals and lay out mind maps or frameworks for how to accomplish those goals with multiple paths to the same end result. So, instead of laying out resolutions like “lose 30 pounds”, he says he chooses to set a fitness goal and focuses on one word (in this case, active). He then writes out multiple ways, or paths, to achieve this goal and any distractions or obstacles that might prevent him from accomplishing it, then lists out a few steps to take on his path to success, what the “finish line” looks like (3-5 activities a week, looser jeans, a need to go shopping), and ultimately what comes after he has achieved this goal (step up activity level, try something challenging).

Rather than static goals and infinite to-do lists, this approach is accessible and fluid. If you slip up, there’s no need to start over, simply reassess and redirect, keep working your way to that goal. It’s encouraging, motivating, and makes so much sense.

Chris suggests picking three words for the year to start with. Mine will be: Learn, Create, Invest.

Learn

• Goal word: LEARN
• Path 1 to the goal: formal classes (I’m in the process of signing up for graphic design classes)
• Path 2 to the goal: utilize free time
• Path 3 to the goal: integrate into work life
• Distractions: work, other goals, social and leisure activities
• Steps to the path: sign up, work hard in, and excel at online graphic design classes; find free or inexpensive photography tutorials and practice with both digital and 35mm film cameras; read, read, read; observe professionals online and reach out to ask for guidance; work closely with my boss on creative projects and professional development opportunities
• The finish line: working knowledge and understanding of typography and layout in print and online media, five photography sets each with a different concentration (aperture, focus, f-stop, filter, flash, etc.); enough knowledge to push forth and create my own website.
• What’s next: use new knowledge to complete own website, portfolio.

Create

• Goal word: CREATE
• Path 1 to the goal: build own website
• Path 2 to the goal: continue blogging
• Path 3 to the goal: create my own style look
• Distractions/obstacles: time management, lack of patience
• Steps to the path: create a logo for my new online identity/website, layout and design of site, code it, update it; post to blog at least twice each week, keep new and exciting features coming and continue with features which I have already started, keep it fresh and relevant; add at least three home-sewn pieces of clothing to my wardrobe; make at least three pieces of jewelry; clean out any old or outdated pieces and donate to charity; take photos to document looks
• The finish line: a comprehensive, cohesive style and look in person and online; a brand I am proud to push forth in the world
• What’s next: continue to refine look, organize and style home spaces and document with photos, label, periodically refresh look online and in person

Invest

• Goal word: INVEST (I had originally picked “Smart”, but changed it to a verb – I like “doing” words and investing sounds smart, doesn’t it?)
• Path 1 to the goal: invest financially
• Path 2 to the goal: invest my time
• Path 3 to the goal: invest in myself
• Distractions: cash flow, time management, the usual social and leisure distractions
• Steps to the path: eat well (no nitrates, chemicals, preservatives, or hormones, eating a balanced diet, eating often but not lots at once), exercise (walking, biking, and getting out more), learning to view spending money on myself as an investment and not wasteful, do something every week that I can be proud of – whether that’s creating a piece of artwork or excelling at a project at work or donating time or money to a charity I support, spend money and time on quality and not quantity
• The finish line: owning only things that are quality and useful and nothing that can be considered clutter, visible results in health improvement via physical appearance and in hormone test results, a savings account not linked to a checking account that has a small amount in it only used in cases of emergency, a list of accomplishments at the end of 2010 that will challenge me to do even better in 2011
• What’s next: paying down debt on student loans, investing money, a list of equally challenging goals for 2011

Image credits: Learn – Dubio; Create – Thanushyan; Invest – Jordan Liang.

Analysis on my progress with these goals coming soon. In the meantime, I’d love to know what challenges and goals you set out for yourself in 2010. How are you doing with them?

(image credit: C. Mariani)

Take a minute to turn off your computer screen, take off your headphones, stop whatever it is you are doing.

Breathe in and concentrate on what you want out of today;

Breathe out and concentrate on how you will accomplish this.

Don’t you feel better already?

The other day, I read a great article on Chris Brogan‘s blog about Wiring Yourself for Success in 2010. He suggests that, instead of making the traditional New Year’s Resolutions and following them up with endless to-do lists, a better alternative is to set goals and lay out mind maps or frameworks for how to accomplish those goals with multiple paths to the same end result. So, instead of laying out resolutions like “lose 30 pounds”, he says he chooses to set a fitness goal and focuses on one word (in this case, active). He then writes out multiple ways, or paths, to achieve this goal and any distractions or obstacles that might prevent him from accomplishing it, then lists out a few steps to take on his path to success, what the “finish line” looks like (3-5 activities a week, looser jeans, a need to go shopping), and ultimately what comes after he has achieved this goal (step up activity level, try something challenging).

Rather than static goals and infinite to-do lists, this approach is accessible and fluid. If you slip up, there’s no need to start over, simply reassess and redirect, keep working your way to that goal. It’s encouraging, motivating, and makes so much sense.

Chris suggests picking three words for the year to start with. Mine will be: Learn, Create, Smart.

Learn

• Goal word: LEARN
• Path 1 to the goal: formal classes (I’m in the process of signing up for graphic design classes)
• Path 2 to the goal: utilize free time
• Path 3 to the goal: integrate into work life
• Distractions: work, other goals, social and leisure activities
• Steps to the path: sign up, work hard in, and excel at online graphic design classes; find free or inexpensive photography tutorials and practice with both digital and 35mm film cameras; read, read, read; observe professionals online and reach out to ask for guidance; work closely with my boss on creative projects and professional development opportunities
• The finish line: working knowledge and understanding of typography and layout in print and online media, five photography sets each with a different concentration (aperture, focus, f-stop, filter, flash, etc.); enough knowledge to push forth and create my own website.
• What’s next: use new knowledge to complete own website, portfolio.

Create

• Goal word: CREATE
• Path 1 to the goal: build own website
• Path 2 to the goal: continue blogging
• Path 3 to the goal: create my own style look
• Distractions/obstacles: time management, lack of patience
• Steps to the path: create a logo for my new online identity/website, layout and design of site, code it, update it; post to blog at least twice each week, keep new and exciting features coming and continue with features which I have already started, keep it fresh and relevant; add at least three home-sewn pieces of clothing to my wardrobe; make at least three pieces of jewelry; clean out any old or outdated pieces and donate to charity; take photos to document looks
• The finish line: a comprehensive, cohesive style and look in person and online; a brand I am proud to push forth in the world
• What’s next: continue to refine look, organize and style home spaces and document with photos, label,  periodically refresh look online and in person

Invest

• Goal word: INVEST (I had originally picked “Smart”, but changed it to a verb – I like “doing” words and investing sounds smart, doesn’t it?)
• Path 1 to the goal: invest financially
• Path 2 to the goal: invest my time
• Path 3 to the goal: invest in myself
• Distractions: cash flow, time management, the usual social and leisure distractions
• Steps to the path: eat well (no nitrates, chemicals, preservatives, or hormones, eating a balanced diet, eating often but not lots at once), exercise (walking, biking, and getting out more), learning to view spending money on myself as an investment and not wasteful, do something every week that I can be proud of – whether that’s creating a piece of artwork or excelling at a project at work or donating time or money to a charity I support, spend money and time on quality and not quantity
• The finish line: owning only things that are quality and useful and nothing that can be considered clutter, visible results in health improvement via physical appearance and in hormone test results, a savings account not linked to a checking account that has a small amount in it only used in cases of emergency, a list of accomplishments at the end of 2010 that will challenge me to do even better in 2011
• What’s next: paying down debt on student loans, investing money, a list of equally challenging goals for 2011

Image credits: Learn – Dubio; Create – Thanushyan; Invest – Jordan Liang.

With the beginning of a new month and a new season, my calendar is looking like a school chalkboard, full of letters and numbers, assignments and meetings. However, instead of using it as an excuse to ignore my blog, I’m really hoping to use it as motivation to keep a record of all the amazing things I’m learning and activities I’m becoming involved in. It’s been far too long since I’ve been able to devote the time I’d like to this blog, but the time has come for a re-dedication of sorts.

Even with the multitude of things I have planned for work and personal benefit in the next few months, I am optimistic about the projects I am working on. While work brings meetings, graphics projects, web management and development, awards orders and travel, my personal schedule is even more involved, peppered with social engagements for dinner with friends, getting books signed at the National Book Festival, visiting the Virginia Wine Festival, ushering for the DC Shorts Film Festival, National Novel Writing Month (in which I will attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in just thirty days), not to mention that my roommate and I are working teaching a curriculum at our church starting in January (entitled: Building Your Own Theology) and putting on a production of the Vagina Monologues.

I have a lot more energy in the autumn for creative ventures and feel, as if a I were in school, it is time to reconnect with friends, with academia, and with the full schedule that occupies time in the cold, dark, winter months. When the leaves start to change and the children go back to school, when the days get shorter and the nights get longer, my creativity runs wild. I put layers of clothing together in ways I may never have thought to do before. Instead of using tried-and-true recipes, I experiment with cooking and baking. When I’m stuck inside, I dig out my paints, I play with Photoshop, I scribble in my Moleskine.

Right now, I’m reveling in gray skies, afternoons in coffee shops, and the list of projects I will accomplish in the next few months. What projects, events, or plans are you looking forward to? Mine include a 50,000-word novel, four successful meetings at work, completing pages for our new website, and finalized plans for the adult religious education curriculum my roommate and I are running in January.

Sometimes I forget that the best thing a creative person can do is shut out everything else and just take a time out. We all need time to unplug, unwind, and unthink.

I recently wrote about what I would do if I could create my own schedule and how I’d like to find a way to stay on a permanent vacation. In addition to the benefits of spending time away from electronic distractions, staying away from others’ opinions in general can be extremely beneficial when trying to create something new. In the days of hyper-connectivity, it’s hard not to be influenced by other media, including television, radio, internet, phone calls, and even face-to-face conversations.

While I respect and value the opinions of my family, friends, and colleagues, I have come to the conclusion that I need to set aside time for myself away from the phone, the internet, and people if even for a few hours a week. So, I’m going to schedule SaraKate Blackouts – blocks of time when I can just lay outside on a blanket and appreciate the shade a tree offers in DC humidity, do some painting, write in my journal (yes, I actually have a real paper journal … not that I use it enough!), go on a long walk without purpose or destination, make a decadent homecooked meal, well… you get the idea. Basically anything but errands, work, or connecting with other people. I plan to schedule this in a few hours at a time, starting with this Thursday evening. I’m not sure it will be the same time every week or even if the duration will stay the same, but I’ve got to start somewhere and what better time to start than now?

That being said, I leave you with one of my favourite quotes on meditation and reflection:

The gift of learning to meditate is the greatest gift you can give yourself in this life. For it is only through meditation that you can undertake the journey to discover your true nature, and so find the stability and confidence you will need to live, and die, well. Meditation is the road to enlightenment.- Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

I know this entry is a day late (since I said I was going to post weekly on Tuesdays and it’s now Wednesday), but with good reason and I think you’ll find it fits the content to post a day later anyway.

Over this past week, I took a long weekend and vacationed in Boston. I attended an academic conference on Harry Potter, which was sponsored by the Leaky Cauldron, entitled LeakyCon2009. My roommate and I drove from DC to Boston in my little Toyota Prius and blasted AC/DC and Journey with the windows down. Once we arrived, we napped and showered and met up with some other friends for dinner in the North End. We walked leisurely and took the long way from our hotel via the Freedom Trail, which features many of the historic sites in Boston. I didn’t check my email once.

We spent the next day wandering around the downtown area and met up with more friends and family for lunch, before heading to Cambridge for some shopping (and a new tattoo!), then went back to the hotel for the Welcome Feast on the first night of the conference. By this time, I had all but forgotten about email. I was revelling in the fact I hadn’t touched a computer in 48 hours (though I do admit to having posted and checked twitter once or twice).

The conference was in full swing and I immersed myself completely in academia, discussing religious allegory and feminism in Harry Potter, learning how the publishing of one novel (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, or for the Brits out there, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone) led to increased enthusiasm for fantasy in children’s literature and excitement for children’s literature in general, and how the fans of Harry Potter took values from the books and implemented them, starting the HP Alliance. During the day, I was an academic, taking notes on lectures by speakers such as Lev Grossman, John Granger (aka HogwartsProfessor), David English, Melissa Anelli, and Gwendolyn Limbach; by night, socialite, connecting with friends and spending way too much money on great food and atmosphere.

It was so energizing and refreshing to get time away and connect with friends on such a purely personal level, face to face and without deadlines looming. I felt like I could get time to myself and that I wasn’t being selfish just taking little bits of time for myself. Without worrying about obligations, my schedule was flexible. No one cared if I wandered into a talk a few minutes late (to quote John Granger, “Don’t worry. Come on in. We’ve just gotten started.”), no one faulted me if I took notes they couldn’t read (they simply asked for translation), and everyone was eager to offer their own ideas and take questions.

It was a lovely little break. Walking through the Commons and the Public Gardens in the sun just made for grand getaway and I wish I could have stayed longer. But, here I am, back at my desk and back to the same old grind. Now, what I need to do is find out how to unplug on a regular basis.

How do I bring a bit of vacation into my everyday life?

This is something I’ve been thinking about for ages… how do I take the proper amount of time for myself without falling behind in the steps I need to take to fulfill my goals. Or, as the professionals say, how do I find my work/life balance?

I need to set aside time everyday to go to the gym, exercise, or just take a walk; I need to read more; I need to journal more. These things sound like a list or resolutions, though. And, in a way, they sound like additions to my to-do list. What I really want is a permanent vacation. And by that, I don’t mean never working or lounging around a pool all day. I mean that I want to find more time to take care of myself.

I plan to do this in steps:

1. Find out what it is I need.
2. Make a list of those needs.
3. Set aside time and money to fulfill those needs.
4. Reevaluate needs.
5. Repeat Steps 1.-4.  every so often.

So far, my list of needs includes:

• reading
• journaling
• exercise
• eating healthy
• a clean and organized living space
• adequate sleep
• face time with friends and family
• singing (even if it’s just along to music in the car or in the shower)
• keeping a finances balanced
• spending time outdoors

I’d really like to know: What are your needs? How do you keep a good work/life balance? What do you consider a ‘vacation’?

Now, it’s just setting aside time and money to fulfill these needs. Wish me luck!

And it strikes at the oddest times.

Monsieur IV by Blanca Gomez

While I was working on some menial administrative tasks at work, the inspiration struck me how to draw the logo I’d been wanting to create for a friend’s make up artistry business. Not only did I find the strategy I needed for her logo design, but a great name for her business and online identity struck me. I went to her and proposed it offhand, thinking she might not like it. However, not only did she like the idea, she even picked a theme song based on it!

It seems that inspiration can strike any time, day or night, no matter the circumstance or surroundings.

But this got me wondering when and where I do my best work. Where am I the most creative and efficient? Is there a specific time of day that I work best?

Personally, I do my best reading and research early in the day, when the sun is rising, with a cup of coffee or tea in hand, before I have a chance to interact with anyone else (hence why I recently decided to work from 8:30am to 4:30pm at my office). In regards to administrative, management, and other business-related practices, I tend to do best in the middle of the day in front of a computer, where I can manage things by spreading them out across a table or desk and can access any files or other materials I might need to stay well-informed and organized. However, I often do my best creative and artistic work long after this, at night, once the quiet of dusk has settled and I am alone again, usually sitting on the floor or close to the ground with materials spread out all over the floor. For some reason, my center of balance is extremely important to the way my brain works.

When do you do your best work? Do you find different times of day for different types of work? If you could set your own schedule, what would it be like?

Mine might go something like:

06:30 wake up, greet the day, etc.

07:30 coffee/tea, breakfast, emails, Tweets, RSS feed

08:00 research, reading, etc.

10:00 go to the gym, work out, shower, change, etc.

12:00 have lunch, get organized for the afternoon, check emails again

13:00 administrative tasks, other business-related tasks

16:30 take a walk, clear my head

17:00 finish administrative work, other business

18:00 make and have dinner, chores, errands, etc.

20:00 creative work

22:00 wind down, watch tv, read a book, catch up online

23:30 bed

I know my body likes best when I get a work-out in mid-morning, but unfortunately, having a normal 9-5 type job prevents me from having this ideal schedule, so I do what I can with what I’m given. However, at least I know what times of day and what situations maximize efficiency and creativity. Under what condiditions do you best work? How would your schedule differ from mine?

Do you Twitter at work? Do you read your RSS feed while having breakfast? Talk on the phone and respond to emails at the same time? How many tabs do you have open in your internet browser right now? How many applications are running on your computer?

As many of us go about our days, we find our attention being pulled in many directions: family, work, school, friends, hobbies, taking care of our bodies and minds… I’m sure all of these things sound familiar to you. But how to you have time to balance and juggle all of your responsibilities (and even add a little fun and entertainment into the mix)?

Many people answer: I multitask. We all do it. But should we?

For someone like me whose mind tends to wander, multitasking can make or break my day and, ultimately, my career. I’m certain that there are times when ‘multitasking’ is appropriate in the sense that we should write down an idea to come back to later or that we should take a break from working on one project to work on another and come back to the first later. I am not convinced that my habit of working on more than one task simultaneously is such a great idea. After all, the allure of getting two things (or more!) done at once is hard to resist!

It used to be the case that employers wanted new hires who could multitask and even asked for the skill specifically. However, if you really do your homework, ‘multitasking’ isn’t really what employers (or anyone else) should be after. Why? Let’s take a look at the definition of the term and its etymology.

Following is the entry for multitasking in the Mirriam-Webster online dictionary:

definition of 'multitasking' from Mirriam-Webster online dictionary

Note that the first definition is specific to that of a computer performing more than one task simultaneously. Before computers, this concept had never been conceived. Now, in the Golden Age of computers and online media, it’s almost unheard of to NOT multitask, at the very least in the original sense of running more than one program on a computer.

It’s hard to remember sometimes, but humans are not computers and vice versa and there are reasons why two have yet to converge into one entity (though sometimes it does seem like our online identities can shape our ‘real life’ identities perhaps more than even we like or expect). Humans are imperfect and computers are only as intelligent as their programmers. But when it comes to multitasking, computers excel at processing more than one thing at a time and in running multiple programs, while humans tend to be most effective (read: accurate and precise) when their attention is not divided in ten different directions at once. The New York Times confirms that Multitasking Can Make You Lose… Focus, and the APA (American Psychological Association) has been claiming this very fact since 2001, saying that Shifting Mental Gears Costs Time.

So, while multitasking may have that allure, its promise to get things done faster and more effectively really holds no water. For the sake of my own health and sanity, the integrity of my work, and the sake of my personal relationships, I am making a commitment to leave behind the multitasking. Say what you will about how you can do a handful of things at once, but I would rather excel slowly at one thing at a time than find myself mediocre at everything I do.