Crafts on the Spectrum| New Year, New You, Old Projects
- Gracious Chitenderu
- Feb 6
- 3 min read
10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1 - Bang! BOOM! Cheers erupt across the world
Just as loud as the fireworks and the crowd as they counted down to the year’s end, you too welcomed the new year and a fresh perspective. Well yes, we can only hope you did. With the “new” you, you think of ways to improve- going back to the gym, eating healthy, finishing your old craft projects that have been laid aside for multiple days, weeks… or has it been months?
Yes, you are being called out for not finishing those projects.
And no, its not too late to rekindle your love for them again!
Its understandable, life gets busy. We forget or just don’t have the time for it. Or rather, haven’t thoughtfully made time for our crafty hobbies. A passion that once gave you joy, is now buried in a closet. The question becomes- how do we remind ourselves why we picked up that paintbrush, modelling clay or knitting needles in the first place and how do we stay motivated?
SET UP A SYSTEM and write it down
*if you’re not too big on writing, you could draw/doodle out too
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
~ James Clear
We’re all guilty of falling under the trap of “setting goals”, only to forget about them because we did not put much thought into it. Which tends to be the root of the problem. To spend time thinking about a project aids to its success too.
Why is it important to jot down your projects? It was found that “people who very vividly describe or picture their goals are anywhere from 1.2 to 1.4 times more likely to successfully accomplish their goals”
Here are suggestions you can consider as you jot down your list of projects
Do you have projects that were for specific events? Consider repurposing them
Consider ranking them based on priority (birthday gift, new summer outfit, how much joy do you get out of it
Consider planning it into your week- give it a deadline. Let your calendar keep you accountable
BE INSPIRED AND STAY INSPIRED- Set up little rewards/incentives along the way.
Now that you’re back in the swing of things, you need to keep the gas pumping! This can be quite useful for projects that take a while to accomplish and also serve as a great way to look back at your work.
Taking pictures or post different stages of your progress on social media
Completion of a project reward - can buy new craft tools (if you have the money for it)
BUILDING A COMMUNITY, can keep you accountable and motivated
No man or woman, is an island! You can only go so far if you’re keeping your passions too yourself. Pinterest, Behance, Tik-Tok and other online platforms are great ways to connect, but don’t stop there. Find places to meet in-person. Here are a few places, in your city you could consider working on your projects to connect with like-minded crafters:
Work in a café- start a trend in your local café, encourage others to do the same
Public Libraries- some host craft afternoons, if not you could suggest it to them
In the park- set up a craft and picnic!
Open mic nights, as you watch live performances in cozy spaces
This list is not extensive, more of a starter pack to equip you for a year with projects you’ve completed and are proud of! If not today, when will you begin? Let’s begin
Leave a comment on a project you’re working on - let's stay connected and inspire each other
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