Welcome To Week In The Life 2012 | Thoughts On Getting Started


Photo spread from Week In The Life Sunday 2011.

Welcome to Week In The Life 2012!

I know many of your around the world have already started the process of documenting your week - thanks for sharing your excitement via Facebook!

Two things before I share some additional thoughts on this process:

• SHARING YOUR CONTENT | In my post tomorrow morning, where I share my words and photos from today, I'll include a spot for you to link to your photos and words. It's been fun the last few years to check out all the different links to see what's happening for others as they experience the content gathering portion of this project. In addition, here's a couple other places to share: (1) Big Picture Free Week In The Life Community (message board + gallery) and (2) Flickr Week In The Life 2012.

• GIVEAWAYS | Today begins a week long series of giveaways celebrating this project. Each day you will find a new giveaway post featuring two of my Week In The Life giveaway sponsors. The giveaway post will be open from 3am Pacific to 9am Pacific the following day. On Sunday I'll have a giveaway featuring all the 2012 Title Sponsors. All the winners will be posted next week on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Don't miss today's giveaways from Chic Tags and The Vintage Pearl. Click here to see what they are giving away and leave a comment to enter.

THOUGHTS ON GETTING STARTED 2012


As I get ready to embark on this project once again, I wanted to share a few things that are rattling around in my mind:

1. FIND YOUR OWN RHYTHM. I usually begin with lots of enthusiasm and end feeling so very ready for it to be over. And that's totally okay. This can be an intense project - it's also one that is very rewarding when you commit to seeing it all the way through. Everyone is going to have their own pace with this project. Set yourself up for success with the right attitude: you'll do the best you can with what you have in front of you. For some of you your rhythm will be all iphone photos with text documentation via Instagram (love the idea of using that one tool to capture the words + the photos). Others will use the Daily Sheets as you go about your day. Some will use a blank journal or a Smashbook. There's no right or wrong. Make it work for you.

2. USE WHAT YOU HAVE. A combination of iphone and dslr photos will likely make it into my album. With this project I tend to use my big camera more because I'm thinking about it - and it's good practice. So many of my favorite shots happen during this week because I take more photos than usual of whatever it is that's happening around here. And I keep it simple.

3. THOUGHTS ABOUT THE "STUFF." Week In The Life used to be more about capturing the "stuff" than it is these days (for me at least - again, make it what you want it to be). Last year when I did WITL I collected very little stuff - for me it's mainly because I'm already actively capturing those things in Project Life. What I liked and learned last year is removing the "stuff" component enabled me to focus more on the words + photos for this project. It's really totally and completely up to you. I loved the stuff that I gathered in my older Week In The Life albums.

4. NO GUILT. I say this every time - with all the projects. If you miss an afternoon or a day don't throw out the entire project. All the stories and photos you collect can come together into a million different formats.

5. LIFE HAPPENS. Good, bad, sad, crazy, boring, fun, life-changing, life-affirming, life-challenging. Anything can and does happen because that's how life goes. Be open to capturing it.

6. HAVE FUN. Sometimes this project can feel a little like a chore - especially towards the end of the week. Make it fun. This is something I'm going to try to remember as this week progresses. When I start feeling stressed or overwhelmed I'm going to be conscious of it and just take a step back and a deep breath. When it starts feeling like that something that often helps me is to figure out what I haven't captured yet. Did I manage to get photos of breakfast each day but nothing of dinner because I was too busy? Do I have a ton of photos of Simon and very few of Anna? What's missing? Asking myself those sorts of questions usually helps get me back on track to finish out the week.

7. BE REAL. Yes. Your life may look completely different next year or two years from now...mine certainly looks different than last summer. The cast of characters is essentially the same but there are some very big differences. Take this opportunity to document what your life is like right now - all of it. My hope, and one of the reasons I keep doing this project, is that you use this as an opportunity, not just as a creative project, to take a good look at your life. What do your love? What do you dislike? What do you hope never changes and what would you change right now if you could? Show me the wonderful, simple everyday pieces of your life.

Wishing you all the best as you embark on this journey of documentation!

Ready, set, go!

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96 thoughts

  1. dawn says…
    04/23/2012

    HAPPY FIRST DAY OF WITL ALI, SOOOOO EXCITED FOR TODAY!! I'M KEEPING AN OPEN MIND AND READY FOR WHATEVER THE DAY BRINGS ME. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS ALWAYS BEING SO ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTIVE IN THIS JOURNEY, YOUR GENTLE AND HONEST THOUGHTS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS PROJECT.

    SENDING YOU HUGS, LOVE, PATIENCE, AND POSTIIVE ENERGY RIGHT BACK TO YOU THIS WEEK. I KNOW IT WILL BE TOUGH FOR YOU SHARING THE NEW LIFE YOU HAVE NOW, JUST REMEMBER YOU HAVE ALL OF US HERE TO KEEP YOU GOING AND KNOWING YOUR DOING GREAT!!

    GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND ALL THE OTHERS JOINING IN THIS AWESOME WEEK, HAVE FUN EVERYONE!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Sarah Jane says…
    04/23/2012

    Yay... day ONE under my belt. (At least, I took photos yesterday since my PL runs Sunday through Saturday and thought I'll probably slip WIL in there.) Need to remember to charge up my camera battery at night. Thanks for the inspiration, Ali! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Annette Green says…
    04/23/2012

    Feeling excited about starting today. A little scared at the same time. Can't wait to see what comes of this exercise.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Vera says…
    04/23/2012

    I really look forward to the day when I can join in WITL. For now, I shall admire all the inspiration that you and other followers are going to share :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. karrinann says…
    04/23/2012

    Ready to go! Have been looking forward to doing this for awhile now.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. elinjanne says…
    04/23/2012

    I`m already five days into the project and I love it. I have extended my week with a few days - from Thursday 19 to May 2. Looking forward to see what everyone is up to around the world.
    Thanks for the inspiration Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. sherry says…
    04/23/2012

    is it monday already :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Paula says…
    04/23/2012

    Excited to get started! Great outlook about the overall project in your post today Ali, thank you!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Ellie A. says…
    04/23/2012

    Looking forward to making the most of documenting each of our happenings this week. Even doing PL I wanted to do this so I could get EVERY bit of details. It's always so fun to see.Thank you so much for bring this project to us!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Dawn says…
    04/23/2012

    Yay! So excited to start today for the first time ever! Can't wait to capture what a week looks like in my new life as a newlywed farmers wife! Memories to last a lifetime. Thank you so much Ali!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Dawn says…
    04/23/2012

    Yay! Didn't sleep much last night..too excited to get started this morning!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. J3SS1C4 says…
    04/23/2012

    Super excited about starting out... Day 1 is over for me here in Australia, but I got a few shots I like in and have a record of the day. I'm looking forward to the linkups, so that I can see what everyone else is doing. It's especially helpful later on in the week when I'm struggling for photo ideas!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. mel says…
    04/23/2012

    Thanks for the words Ali. Especially the being real.

    I was struggling with if I should do Week in the life because of Project life but I think I sahll do it and a few phrases came to my mind about it and I popped them on the blog today.

    I am just going to see where the week goes.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Kathy Farnsworth says…
    04/23/2012

    So happy to be starting my second WITL! Yes it's a lot of work, but last years album is my favorite scrapbook ever. I'm full of gratitude this morning for the push/nudge this gives me to be present for all the moments of this wonderful day.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Susie Leggett says…
    04/23/2012

    Have fun everyone. Love Ali's week in the life. I did witl for the first time last year and absolutely loved it. I cherish all the "real life" moments that were captured and am so thankful for the opportunity to do this. Hoping to do witl later in the year, maybe fall, since we are busy with a messy house remodel at present. Enjoy all.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Erika Beckwith says…
    04/23/2012

    So happy to start WITL today! I have actually decided to take the day off from work to celebrate and to make sure I have everything that I need to make this a fun and successful WITL. (Ok I'll be honest, I just needed an excuse to take the day off that this was the best one I could think of.) LOL! :-)

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      04/23/2012

      Enjoy your day off!

  17. Beth says…
    04/23/2012

    Love love LOVE Week In The Life!!!!

    I think this year, I'm going to keep track of the day to day happenings via Twitter and/or Facebook. I tend to be an "in the moment" person and seeing as I have a bad Facebook addition, that habit has already been established!

    I really appreciate your comment about "failure," Ali. Last year, I totally scrapped the project after I forgot to take pictures for almost an entire day. I now regret not having any documentation at all for that week!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Stefanie Prigl-Gumpl says…
    04/23/2012

    That's my 4th weekinthelife and I'm looking forward to it, but now my little baby boy is very sick and so I think it turns out to be a ordinary week, without playdates, babywatching and so on - but guess what, that's totally o.k!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Sharon F. CA says…
    04/23/2012

    Yay WITL. Funny, i usually take a photo of my Monday morning tea- i am using the same cup that i used the last 2 years at this time. I have several favorite mugs- and sinehow I have chosen the same mug on the starting date. Good luck everyone!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Katkat says…
    04/23/2012

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Marilyn Nimmo says…
    04/23/2012

    First time to do this...loving it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Jeni says…
    04/23/2012

    Yay! I think I just might join in on all the fun!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Lucrecia says…
    04/23/2012

    I already started the week off by forgetting to get any pictures this morning! I won't let that stop me though! I'm determined to finish this year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Tere (Marie) says…
    04/23/2012

    Hi Ali. I did WITL last year, but am opting out this year. Keeping PL up is work in itself. I'm excited to watch how it goes for you and others. I'm always impressed by your work and impressed that you have two kids out of the house for grocery shopping so early on a Sunday :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Megan says…
    04/23/2012

    So excited to be starting this project. My very first week in the life!

    Reply 0 Replies

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