Designed Life Challenge day 8
Designed Life Challenge, Day 8
The Completion Mindset
Writing prompts:
Write about a project you’re avoiding right now. What’s the real reason it’s still unfinished? Continue asking yourself “Why?” until you run out of “whys” and get down to the root.
So, what’s your next step?
What is something you’ve completed that you are the most proud of? What was the process like?
Vault:
When to Push Forward and When to Let Go
Some projects move effortlessly toward completion, while others linger in an uncertain state, unfinished, waiting for the right moment, or simply abandoned. Whether it’s a professional task stuck in limbo or a personal endeavor that’s lost momentum, understanding why we delay completion can offer valuable insight. For me, it’s rarely about hesitation but more about timing, energy, and the natural flow of creation.
The Unfinished: A Matter of Time and Priorities
When it comes to client projects, most of my unfinished work isn’t really in my hands. It’s waiting on approvals, decisions, or the next phase to unfold. While these pauses can be frustrating, I’ve learned to accept them as part of the process. I shift my focus elsewhere, ensuring that when the time comes to finish, I can do so smoothly.
Personal projects, on the other hand, are different. They don’t carry the same urgency as client work. Without an external deadline pushing me forward, I find that ideas often linger longer than expected. It’s not about avoidance, it’s about time management, energy, and motivation aligning at the right moment.
Knowing When to Let Go
Some personal projects never get finished. Not because they weren’t good ideas, but because they weren’t meant to be. If something remains untouched for too long, I choose to let it go. Deleting an abandoned project isn’t an act of failure; it’s a practical decision. It clears space for new ideas, ensuring my creative energy isn’t tied up in something that no longer serves a purpose.
The Joy of Effortless Completion
When I think about projects I’m most proud of, they share a common thread: they came together effortlessly. One that stands out is an art camp I participated in, where we built sculptures with kids using simple wooden blocks and screws. There was no overthinking, no hesitation—just pure, unfiltered creativity. Projects like this remind me that the best work often happens when we’re fully present in the process, rather than caught up in the pressure to complete.
Reflection
Not everything needs to be finished, and not everything unfinished is a failure. The real challenge is recognizing what’s worth completing and what’s better left behind. In client work, I push forward, trusting the process. In personal work, I respect the natural flow of creativity. Some projects are simply stepping stones to better ones, and knowing when to move on is just as important as knowing when to push through.
Feeling inspired? Before diving into completion, revisit Day 7: From Inspiration to Action and explore how small steps can lead to big creative shifts.
Have you ever followed your gut instinct in design and seen it pay off? Day 6 of the design challenge explores the balance between intuition and external influences, questioning how much we trust our inner voice when making design choices.
Curious about how personal rules shape creativity? Reflect on your design instincts with Day 5’s Challenge and uncover how they influence your spaces. Don’t forget to revisit Day 4‘s insights for even more inspiration!
Missed Challenge Day 3? Discover how colors from childhood and personal memories influence design choices and how they can inspire your next project. Read Day 3 here!
2 comments