Aaron got me a trial subscription to Lynda.com for Christmas, so I can learn how to use Photoshop and lots of other nifty programs. I love that they’re all about short video tutorials. I’ve already watched a bunch but if I don’t keep this on my radar, I’ll blink and my trial month will be over.
So this week’s thing will be learning how to do one new thing on Lynda.com. I’m thinking I’ll focus on Photoshop but I might go with screencasting. I’ll let you know in next week’s how-I-did update.
The easy: I really want to learn how to create nice looking things for CulturallyTeaching, so I’m motivated to do this thing.
The hard: Free time. I have very little of it this week.
My commitment: To make time to watch the relevant Photoshop or screencasting videos, produce something for CulturallyTeaching, and not get sidetracked by other videos or perfectionism.
I’ll tweet about my progress throughout the week. I welcome accountability, supportive comments, and hearing about your own projects for 2010!
At first, I thought my quick choice of morning pages as my first thing was too easy.
I’ve done morning pages before so I knew I could successfully complete my first week’s thing. And, with the exception of the one morning I was so focused on finishing a project that I completely spaced off morning pages (probably because writing morning pages helps me get really focused), I was successful.
Looking back though, I realized that this week’s thing wasn’t about the morning pages. It was about making a choice, taking action, just Doing. Something. Already. And being ok with not finding the perfect thing before taking action.
So I’m happy that I wrote my morning pages first thing every day because I felt so much more balanced, focused, and productive last week. But I’m even happier I recognized that I was pondering perfection when action was much more useful.
Will I continue writing morning pages? I’m going to make a concerted effort to continue, but I won’t beat myself up if I don’t.
It’s a few hours into the first week of my one-new-thing-a-week project. I’m already struggling with perfectionism.
In December I came up with lots and lots of ideas for new things I could do each week. I was super excited. But then, as January 1 drew nearer, I no longer liked any of my ideas. I started thinking…
Gah! What should my first thing be? No, I can’t do that, what a dumb idea. I have to think of something better. Something more interesting. Something more…perfect.
When I realized I was searching for the perfect thing, rather than a thing, I forced myself to simply choose.
So…what thing did I choose for this week?
Morning pages. (If you’re not familiar with this term it refers to the practice of putting a pen to paper and writing down whatever is on your mind until you’ve filled 3 pages.)
The easy: I’m a journaling type of gal, so I look forward to this week’s thing.
The hard: I already get up extra early to work on CulturallyTeaching and other projects before leaving for work. This week I’ll have to get up even earlier. Ugh.
My commitment: To write 3 full pages every morning this week, no matter how early I have to get up.
How it’s going: I did my 3 pages this morning. I think I chose a very easy first thing.
I’ll tweet about my progress throughout the week. I welcome accountability, supportive comments, and hearing about your own projects for 2010!
