This year I have really focused on creating a better work and life balance for myself, as I feel I worked way too much in the first two years of this degree. This has had a positive impact on my productivity, as I have created more work than before, to a higher standard, had job and placement opportunities come my way as well as attended networking events. However, I have been just as productive in my non work life, by going to the gym everyday, cooking every meal from scratch and socialised more with my friends. I want to reflect all of this is in a new medium I have been experimenting with this year - animation. I feel it portrays the direction that I am heading in, which is away from purely web design but expanding my horizons within digital design.
What I've done This Year
I wrote down some things that I have done this year, both work and life related which I feel have helped to have a positive impact on my 3rd year
- Explore every avenue - particularly within wireframes (YCN perfect example of this)
- Try new things - animation, food, baking
- Networked - went to my usual events as well as new ones such as Manchester Digital and Dot York
- Baked - procrastibaking if you will, experimented with vegan, raw, sugar free and gluten free baking which has been a good way to take a break from work without eating junk food
- Eat clean - the huge shift in my diet has given me more energy and therefore had a great impact on my productivity and how long I can stay awake and feel refreshed for
- Painted nails - I've made time to paint them every week and this just makes me feel better about myself, especially since I'm always looking at them when on the computer! I've also gotten into nail art.. expanding my pattern and crafting skills if you will!
- Watched Sex and the City boxset - after doing a full days work, helps to relax to watch this with my housemates rather than previously when I would unsuccessfully attempt to do work all night
- Gym everyday - waking up at 6am gives me the opportunity to do this and start the day refreshed. Has also helped with back pain from sitting down on a Mac all day! Feel better having another hobby I spend a lot of time on rather than just design
- Not had a late night - not that I usually did anyway, but going to bed before midnight every night helps me get up early in the morning and start my day refreshed
- 36 Spotify playlists - having different playlists for different types of work tasks helps to zone out and concentrate on work without having to keep searching for songs
- Keep it simple - something that I repeat to myself when creating websites and apps so that I don't get overwhelmed when they could be big projects
Although a lot of these are not work related, they help keep me methodical, resourceful and organised as well as better at time management which are all skills I can translate into my work.
In order to do good graphic design, I have thought about other things to clear my head and keep focused. I've now realised there is more to life than graphic design.
My methodology is doing other things that then help to inform my work and fuel my productivity.
Animation Ideas
- 10 things that are more important to life than graphic design
- Timeline of day showing my daily routine
- Recipe for balance - ingredients are 6 meals a day, 36 spotify playlists etc, mix for a year, result is happy, healthy, productive (good idea, but way too cheesy for me!!!!!)
- How I achieved my work/life balance - limited colour scheme, one for life, one for work - combine illustrated gifs for each point I made earlier
Titles/Routes to go down
- How I kept inspired this year
- Finding that work and life balance
- How I made it through 3rd year
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