The Last Day — “28 to Make”

28 to make is a creativity challenge from CreativeLive. Participants create and share a quick sketch every day for 28 days. I’m doing the same but with words.

Each day in February, I’ll set a timer for 20 minutes and write a “sketch” inspired by the prompt for the day.

Day 28: Reflect on the project

When I started working remotely, I made a deal with myself that I would never let jetlag be an excuse not to get work done. Whether it comes down to managing my time effectively so I can take a day to rest, or just pushing through the grogginess to get shit written, I have to find a way to keep the single best part of remote work — location independence — from becoming a liability.

Today is the last day of “28 to Make.” I’m in a new time zone, I want to pass out, but I have a post to do!

The prompt is to reflect on the entire project and on where I might go from here.

I’m Going to Keep Posting, but not Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I’m taking an actual day off. These “day off” prompts at the end of each week called for days off. I ended up doing the assigned reflection out loud in a post, creating more work for myself.

Tomorrow, I’m just going to chill.

Making is better than not Making

In his concluding address to “28 to Make” students, CreativeLive founder Chase Jarvis reminds us that this project isn’t about creative exercises but a creative lifestyle. “28 to make isn’t the end,” he says, “it’s the beginning.

If nothing else, thinking out loud is rewarding for its own sake.

Committing to a daily post made me happier, no question. I’m happier because I’ve remembered why I fell in love with creative work in the first place.

I’m Inspired to Mess Around with New Media

I do plenty of writing. I’d like to explore other ways to be creative. Some of my favorite posts were the ones where I embraced the visual origins of this challenge.

I’m Stoked About the Reaction of Friends and Followers

These posts haven’t exactly set Medium on fire. I’m not sure I’m even in double digits for claps for the entire series. That’s not surprising considering these are “2-minute reads” about nothing.

Over on Instagram, where I’ve been reposting these, it’s a different story. I’ve received a ton of positive DMs include a couple from the folks at CreativeLive and from friends who felt motivated to try their own version of this.

I work on these alone, but it isn’t lonely work.