2017 | Week in the Life

Week in the Life. Year Four. 

This will be my 4th year participating in Week in the Life. 

If you haven't heard about Week in the Life. You can find more information on the blog of Ali Edwards, the creator of the event. This year, those that follow the project, will be documenting their week in the life from April 17th through April 23rd. 

I was looking through my albums this year and I was trying to get a fill of what worked, and what didn't work. 

What Worked?

1. For me, using a kit is key. It makes me focus on the project and the supplies I use are all centered around the project. They also spark stories for me. I choose the polka dotted Week in the Life album this year. It is the same spine size as last year. 
2. A reason why. It's an amazing reflection each year, and each year the reason changes.
3. An overview of the week. I love it. I love doing this in a lot of my projects, because there are tons of stories in this one overview. 
4. 6x8 page protectors. Not for photos, but for stories. I have some WITL templates from last year, and the year that I want to use. I always start the day with a 6x8 page protector. Last year, I did a Dear You letter in the beginning, and the template in the back. This year, I am thinking of adding the template in the front, and the time chart that I use during the week in the back.

What didn't work?

1. Good photos. I think I need to condition myself to take several more photos and duplicate of a photo sometimes. I also took way too many photos on my phone last year, and I want to utilize my DSLR more. 
2. Jumping into the project. I highly suggest working with the product before hand, or even get some sort of a layout or structure built before for your project. Throughout the week, I touch some of the project trying to get an idea of what to take pictures of. 
3. Less stories. Even if I have to type it up, I'm telling more stories this year. I want to be heard, and I want to document more of how I feel in each day. I feel like in the past some stories weren't told, or feelings were hidden. This year, we document all. The good and the bad. I'm thinking of adding a how I felt 3x4 to each day. 
4. Blank Photos. Don't be scared to embellish a little. I feel like I did this a little last year. 
5. Staying inside of the box. I approach WITL the same way I approach Project Life and I need to stop that. I've been debating about letting Project Life go, just because I feel like I need a break. I might move onto doing it monthly instead of weekly that way I get both. I get to keep project life but it doesn't feel like a burden. And I work Month by Month. This year, I will get more creative with Week in the Life. Take a different angle. Go somewhere different. Tell a different story. 

I hope you join Ali and all of us in Week in the Life. Take your photos now, and buy product later. Make a mini album. Use up your own supplies. Anything is possible. 

If you need more inspiration, Ali wrote a wonderful blog post here - It is a really good read, and a good boost of confidence right before the project. I can do this. I will do this. And I will be back to tell more stories. 

Until next time,