[0,0] Weekly Projects (Next)
Churning out weekly projects isn't a particularly new challenge; however, such an endeavor is, without a doubt, extremely difficult. For lack of a better example, I've attempted this challenge many times and failed many times over precisely because this challenge is not easy to do. After numerous attempts over the years, I have finally figured out a structured method that should reliably solve the challenge at hand.
Each weekly project is a complete execution on an idea. Naturally, any idea worth executing needs to be able to generate value (preferrable immediate value), otherwise it's a waste of time. The idea needs to answer the following questions:
What problems does the idea attempt to solve?
Are these problems worth solving?
If the idea satisfactorily answers these two questions, then add that idea to the list. In order to get a sense of the idea's difficulty and scale, roughly plan out and collect possible methods and tools for the idea. Start with the easier ideas since they are typically yield more value per unit of effort.
Note: Ideas like art are never quite complete, so keep them in the list even after executing on them. They can always be improved upon.
The weekly in weekly projects means that an idea needs to be taken from start to finish in the span of seven days. The days don't necessarily have to be consecutive, but nonconsecutive days should be the exception rather than the norm.
In each day, make sure to complete one or more sessions, where a session is doing as much as you can in one sitting. The duration of one sitting varies. It should be long enough to get something done and short enough so burnout isn't as much of a risk. In my case, I'll be aiming for 45 minute uninterrupted sessions.
The content of each session in the entire week should preferably be determined in the first session of the week after choosing the idea. Each session should have a documentable milestone, and completing a session should mean its respective milestone has been reached.
In the beginning, session milestones need to be small, since it is imperative that they aren't missed. Later down the line, they will probably still seem small due to accumulated skill and experience. Session milestones are an opportunity to obtain what I call proof of progress. Want to maintain motivation throughout the week? Obtain proof of progress. Want to tell people about your cool ideas? Show them proof of progress. Proof of progress is more or less the magic behind continuous hard work as well as self validation.
One more thing. If only...
So far I've discussed ideas, sessions, milestones, and proof of progress in varying degrees. Those are all pieces of the weekly projects puzzle. Since the pieces are few, putting the pieces together is relatively straight forward. However, that assumes we have all the pieces in the right shapes beforehand. I'll discuss piece creation and sculpting at a later date. (To be honest, I haven't gotten those processes down to a science yet.) In the meantime, try doing weekly projects using the above method.
Start and persevere. Take one step and go.