Self-knowledge and reflection
An interesting project for a creative journal is the so-called 100-day project. You set a goal that you want to achieve in a hundred days. This could be writing a book or a thesis, learning the basics of crystallography, or even taking one photograph every day for a set period.
The point of 100-day projects is that it's a relatively long time to learn or do something, but at the same time, it's not so long that it can't be sustained. A creative journal can be interesting in projects like this because it allows for mapping and adds reflective elements, especially for adding different creative ideas or insights.
At the same time, this is a relatively good time to start working with a creative journal. Setting some goals that this form will support is quite effective. There are relatively many options on how to proceed. For example, one can choose one of the above practices and combine these or perhaps use one each day of the week.
The classic option is to use the techniques systematically to solve real project problems. You must generate ideas, look for new solutions, analyse, and prepare a presentation. Creative methods can be used at different stages of the development of this hundred-day project, not only in a training or effective way but in a functional way.
Our journal is not concentrated for a hundred days, but you work with it for only ten days. On the other hand - you've already done some work in the course, and if you add it up... you'll get to a hundred days of working on your creativity.
An essential part of the process of creativity is reflection, i.e. the ability to look at what the use of particular techniques and procedures was like and what it did or did not bring to the person. The goal of a creative journal is to work with one's creativity long enough to have some real insight into what is and is not working for the person. At the same time, it should lead one to the ability to discern and perceive one's feelings.
Try to focus on the following questions in reflecting on the whole journal:
- Did I like working with technology or with paper? Why?
- Do I feel that creative techniques lead me to be creative, or do they tie me down?
- Has my sense of the everyday changed? Do I see more creativity in it? Do I feel different?
- Do I have anything I will carry over into my next life?
- What techniques work for me? Why? Which ones do I have a problem with?
- How do I understand creativity? What role does it play in my life?
- What metaphor would I use to express myself about creativity?
One can ask many such and similar questions. They aim to map what suits us and where we are heading. As is valid throughout the course, there is no ideal solution or perfect approach. Each of us is different, and even in life, what works for us changes. Firstly, by changing the context in which we find ourselves, but also by changing ourselves. When he first created this course, the author used to work a lot with mind maps. Nowadays, he makes much more use of notes post-its (he used to hate those) and occasionally enjoys writing in a minimalist word processor that he didn't know what it could suit.
Beyond this practical part of a specific optimisation of life, reflection substantially adds to the formation of humanity. Already the Jesuits created the Spiritual Exercises or Examen, tools for systematic (four-weekly or daily quick) reflection on what is happening inside us. Martin Heidegger builds on this with his emphasis on procuring ourselves - we are too busy doing something, chasing something, and meeting certain milestones that we forget ourselves and become strangers to ourselves. Reflection encourages you to stop and reflect sometimes on what you are experiencing, thinking and your creative processes.
The Creative Journal is one of the most effective and recommended methods for working with your creativity. It can be used for improving individual elements, components or techniques of creativity, as well as for self-reflection and personal development or for solving specific projects or problems.
If you decide that you would like to process it digitally, we recommend that you consider a suitable tool. There is OneNote (free for some time), which has an infinitely large area for individual notes and allows you to combine drawing, multimedia content and writing nicely. A second choice might be Evernote with Penultimate unless you're using iOS.
If you're a writing fan, we recommend installing one of the minimalist pro creative editors. A very interesting one is Writt, which is discounted for students. It is an editor that will be appreciated by both prose writers and anyone who wants to play with undisturbed text. There are many free and paid tools, including the best-known Ulysses. Notion and Obsidian are also functional options.
