Here’s what happened when I added a “Creativity challenge” to my calendar every day for a year
Balance accountability with rest by making this a part of your schedule!
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As a creative who also happens to be a planner (yes, we exist!), I’ve experimented with many ways to make the most out of these two aspects of my personality.
When I was a kid, I used to keep a ton of notebooks. In those pages, rants about school bullies were interspersed with plans for my next novel or a poem about my crush(es).
Later, when I was a fresh grad, I challenged myself to write 1 poem a day. Most of them were written on the bus from Makati back to my house in Fairview. 98% of them were crap. Still, I was writing outside work every day for a good…three to four months. Nice! But on the flip side, I was exhausted. It felt more like a chore than an exercise. And they never got any traction on Instagram…
Since I had already discovered the magic of calendar blocking, I thought to myself: why not include something creative in my task list? I could use that hour to read my Adweek and Adobo Magazine newsletters, listen to podcasts, browse Pinterest, read books, play my instruments, write poetry!
Evolution of the Daily Creativity Challenge
Back in 2021-2022, I made weekly tasks to “Read or watch” “Write or play something”. That’s because back then, I felt that once a week for the “chore” was enough. I thought: as long as I consume something (easy) and produce something (challenging) outside of work, that was enough.
But when I reflected on it, watching series and movies, going to my boyfriend’s coffee events, listening to new music — these were all creative things, and I did them pretty much every day! And why not make my pandemic-induced doom-scrolling more useful by mindfully searching for creative inspiration?
And that’s when my daily creativity challenge hour was born. I challenged myself to do something creative outside work every single day. 24/7/366.
Mechanics of the Daily Creativity Challenge
Setting it up was simple. On my Google Calendar, I created an event marked “Creativity challenge” and set it to repeat every day. Your mileage may vary, but you can also add weekly reminders like I did specifically for reading/watching/writing/playing.
Roadblocks to accomplishing my Daily Creativity Challenge
Just because it’s on your calendar doesn’t mean it gets done, 100% of the time. Since I’m also juggling my day job, chores, self-care, and managing a household that includes a cancer warrior mom and two cute dogs, I still get struck by demotivation and laziness. Sometimes, I simply chalk up a date with my boyfriend as the day’s “creative experience” - which is true, in a way.
I also remind myself that I deserve some space and grace when it comes to this self-imposed challenge. I’m still 1% more creative than I was last week or last month, and that counts!
Perks of having a Daily Creativity Challenge
Around three years into doing this, I find myself working on creative things and dipping my fingers into many passions and pursuits, which is cool!
Here are some of the benefits of this daily challenge:
I’m reading a lot more than I used to, pre-challenge. This goes for both Goodreads stuff and newsletter subscriptions!
I’ve gotten back into crocheting (still a bit on-off here, but at least my hooks see the light of day).
I’ve been watching and rewatching more series and movies. I’m currently rewatching FRIENDS before it leaves Netflix PH, but I also recently saw Nobody Wants This and a bit of Pulang Araw.
Writing outside work happens way more often. Case in point: this weekly Substack newsletter! I also write a bit of poetry and some tea reviews on my other Instagram.
Another cool thing I noticed is that I’ve been playing the ukulele a bit more often now. If not for my electric keyboard not having a proper stand anymore, I’d probably be tinkering around on it, too.
Lastly, this challenge helps me grow as a writer. I consciously try to place myself in situations where I can learn or get inspired or have to eke out something good — it’s just inevitable!
Why you should try doing a Daily Creativity Challenge
What’s great about this daily creativity challenge is that it compels you to consume and produce creative output mindfully, even outside work. With it on your calendar, you can truly see that incremental growth over time! It’s just a simple act a day, 1% a day, but it can really pay off. This is where you can find inspiration for your next ad campaign or novel. Where you can make time to talk to other creatives. And it’s also how you can learn to grow and give yourself grace as a creator.
Would you add a daily creativity challenge to your calendar? I’d love to hear your take on this exercise in the comments!
Such a great idea!
Love it! Like you, I have tons of notebooks, lists, and journals. Since Covid, I’ve developed a daily writing life. It’s great to have a balance between the two sides of the brain.