Questions to ask when stuck (or trying to explain a good day)
The other day I came up with 100 reasons to write an essay.
It got me thinking about other impractically long lists that I could use for thought-provoking reflection. This one is for when you’re in the thick of a project and trying to understand what’s going on. Specifically, they all ask about some aspect of the question, ‘how am I relating to this thing I am trying to do?’
Here’s the list; most could have the word ‘why’ added to the end:
1. Am I tired? Am I wired? Or somewhere in between?
2. Do I know when I’m alert and when I’m not?
3. Do I know what a good one looks like?
4. Do I know what a bad one looks like?
5. Do I know someone who’s done it before?
6. Where am I on the hunger spectrum?
7. How well can I deal with ‘bad’?
8. What will stop me from concentrating?
9. What will help me concentrate?
10. What’s good about the task?
11. What am I dreading (or otherwise unenthused) about it?
12. Do I know why?
13. Am I iterating, or trying to make a single perfect copy?
14. Am I treating this task as the most important thing in the world?
15. Am I treating this as the least important?
16. Does exercise help?
17. Can this be done on the footpath, or outside?
18. Am I resisting finishing it?
19. Am I being perfectionistic?
20. Am I procrastinating?
21. Who is it for?
22. How does it help?
23. How does it help me?
24. Am I playing it safe?
25. Am I taking an unnecessary risk?
26. Is this an investment, or an enjoyment project?
27. Is there a return on energy here?
28. Is there a backup plan?
29. Is there a backup copy?
30. Would I do this if I had to do it every day for the rest of my life?
31. If no, do I have a good reason for persisting?
32. What will I learn from the work?
33. What opportunity to teach is there within the work?
34. What’s my exit strategy?
35. How will I persist when you get tired?
36. How will I stay on task?
37. How will I deal with an epiphany when one comes along?
38. What will I do if I have an idea away from the desk/computer/workshop (etc. etc.)?
39. How will I know when I’m burning out?
40. Do I know what help I need?
41. How will I get the help?
42. How will I get feedback?
43. How will I give feedback?
44. How will I know when to quit?
45. What’s my theory of inspiration (how will I understand its role, and deal with its absence)?
46. How will I find space away from the project?
47. What don’t I know?
48. What do I know?
49. What’s the story, I’m telling myself, and why is it true?
50. What’s the story I’m telling myself and why is it false?
51. What are the costs of doing this work?
52. What are the benefits?
53. Where else could I be doing this work?
54. What attitude am I bringing?
55. How will I prepare to work?
56. How will I finish a working session?
57. How will I deal with getting stuck?
58. How will I explain it to someone else?
59. When is the deadline?
60. How will I renegotiate the deadline if I have to?
61. How will I fund it?
62. Who am I responsible to?
63. What have I promised?
64. How would I finish it today if I had to?
65. What would I do if I had a year?
66. Would I do this if I could avoid it?
67. Why does it need to be done now?
68. Why might it not be the most important thing right now?
69. What will happen if it fails?
70. What will happen if it succeeds?
71. Why is it worth doing regardless of success?
72. What is my guiding myth?
73. How will I know I am on the right path?
74. Do I need to know I am on the right path?
75. How could I be more specific?
76. When would it be useful to be less specific?
77. Do I believe that there is a secret here that I don’t know? Why/why not?
78. Whose agenda am I serving? Why?
79. Am I doing this to avoid doing something else?
80. Is this healthy, and does it matter?
81. Do I believe that things will be better if just get through this?
82. Can I recognise the difference between being in motion and being stuck?
83. Do I know what to do with advice/criticism?
84. Do I know how to solicit advice/criticism?
85. Do I know what I’ll do when it’s finished?
86. Where am I on the optimism-pessimism spectrum?
87. Do I think my close friends and family are likely to be helpful if I talk to them about it?
88. What are my fears?
89. What are my hopes?
90. How can I be more concise?
91. How can I be more elaborate?
92. How can I be more accessible?
93. Am I being honest? Does it matter?
94. Who do I have to thank for the opportunity to do this?
95. Who (or what) is this thing dedicated to?
96. Why am I grateful for this?
97. Am I on the hook?
98. Am I scared?
99. Am I confident?
100. Can I see the next step?
