Follow These 7 Tips For Your Next Personal Project

Starting a big personal project from scratch can feel overwhelming, here are some strategies to help you along the way

Embarking on a personal project always brings mixed feelings. There's the excitement that comes from starting something from scratch knowing you will have total control of the process, and the joy of spending more time doing something you feel passionate about.

But there is also the fear that the results will not live up to the initial expectations or, if we are talking about a very complex project, of the stress that comes with organizing the multiple tasks involved.

Fear no more. These tips will make working on any project, big or small, much easier so you can focus on letting your creativity flow.

Define Your goals

It seems like an obvious first step for any project, but defining the real goals, what you are really looking to achieve, or when the project is finished requires a great deal of introspection.

Illustrator Laura Varsky recommends generating a mental map of the work that lies ahead. "We must consider our typical work processes and always, always, give ourselves extra time for possible unforeseen events", she says.

You can learn more about structuring and developing a project in Laura Varsky's course 'Professional Illustration: Turn Your Passion into a Career'

Step out of your comfort zone

A personal project is a perfect excuse to expand your knowledge and try new techniques or skills. You don't have the pressure of a client who needs defined results or has set expectations.

Take the opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and do things differently. Experiment with new materials and colors, or try to alter the work processes that you normally follow. Even if the results of your project are not what you hoped for, you will learn a lot along the way, and you'll be able to apply that in future jobs.

Consider the costs

Creative projects can take very different forms and demand different tools or skills. It's easy to underestimate these costs upfront, so consider what you will need to achieve the end results.

The list should obviously include the materials you are going to use, but also the software or training that you will need along the way. It is also important to take into account other related expenses, like web hosting services (if needed) or domain names. Write it all down so you can keep track of it and make sure you are comfortable with the total amount.

An excellent way to plan for all of this is to use a creative business plan template. The course 'Business Models for Creators and Creatives' by Mònica Rodriguez Limia, author of the book How to create and manage your craft project: a business guide for makers and artisans, will help you do it.

Break it down into manageable tasks

If you only think about the final goal, you may become paralyzed, not knowing where to start. This is especially true if your goal is very ambitious, or your project involves many moving parts.

The solution, however, is quite simple. Try to deconstruct the project into small, actionable tasks that you can do in predefined periods of time.This will not only help you make better use of your time but also introduce a little variety to the type of tasks you do each day or week, so that the process doesn't become too monotonous.

Create a Calendar

Lettering artist Martina Flor recommends learning how to organize your time better, especially when you have both personal and professional projects at the same time. "It is important to assign specific time slots to each task. That will also help you determine if you can take on new clients or projects".

It's tempting to think that a to-do list or some post-it notes will be enough, but Martina advises against it. Having an allotted time helps make progress on tasks and also forces you to take breaks.

Large projects will need a dedicated calendar, and it is necessary to be realistic and diligent with the times set on it.
If you want to know more about how to organize your time and plan tasks, the course 'Freelance: Keys and Tools to Find Success as your Own Boss' by Martina Flor can help you.

Join a Group or Community

No one creates anything in a vacuum. Any creative project is always the sum of their influences and past experiences. Being in touch with other creators can be the key to finding inspiration for the next steps to take.

You may also find that what was originally going to be a solo project is best tackled with someone's help. You can start collaborating informally, and later, if things are going in the right direction, formalize the relationship.

Share the results

Once your project is finished, sharing it and getting it seen is key to obtaining valuable feedback from the community.

Ji Lee, creative director for Facebook and Instagram, and author of the course 'Transforming Your Creative Ideas into Personal Projects' at Domestika, acknowledges that this can be a difficult step. "Many creatives sometimes feel insecure about our work and it limits us when it comes to sharing. What happens if I don't get enough likes or a good response?", he says.

But think about it this way: it is better to share a project that you are not 100% sure of than never share it. By sharing it, you are not only giving it life but also inviting others to give you their feedback. This feedback can be useful to improve it, complete it, or to the next project you embark on.

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