Is it just me, or has it gotten pretty crowded in your bathroom? Sometimes it feels like the constant stimulation of the digital age follows us everywhere we go, invading every last bastion of peace and solitude in our lives. I’m an avid Snapchatter myself, but, to put it bluntly, you’ll never find me snapping while I’m crapping. Underrated and underutilized, your time spent on the toilet is an excellent opportunity for personal development. Listen, I think we can both agree you won’t be bragging about the scores you achieved while playing Clash of Clans in five years. So, put the phone down for a minute, pick a craft, and start refining it every time you’re on the pot.
Do A Little Whittling
I have to warn those who haven’t whittled before, this can become a very addicting passtime. And, boy, is it easy to get into. Beginners can start out with just about any pocket knife, and there’s no shortage of good cheap ones on Amazon. The Spyderco Tenacious, for example, is a cheap option that can get the job done for any novice whittler. Or, if you’re really out to become a master whittler, you can spring for some sharper, more advanced whittling blades. Then, just pick up some wood from your local hardware store, and you’re in business. I personally recommend pine, basswood, or balsa for your first whittling project as these are all soft, dry woods. You can whittle anything your heart desires, so don’t limit yourself. Start with basic shapes or objects, graduating to more complex projects like vehicles or animals as you progress. No need to rush. You can always come back to an unfinished piece of artwork when nature calls.
Start Sketching
I’m an ardent believer in the old adage “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Anyone who has ever struggled to convey their vision for a creative project with words will agree with me when I say that sketching is an incredibly important skill to have. Being passionate about filmmaking myself, I know that providing my team with a visual representation of what I want a scene to look like is exponentially more effective than trying to describe the same with words. And the better I am at sketching, the more effective I am at conveying my vision. This storyboarding practice has parallels in professions across many industries, not just the “artsy” ones. Whether you have ambitions to become a lead engineer or business executive, you’re ability to translate the vision in your head onto a piece of paper using nothing more than a pen or pencil will serve you well. So, order a sketch pad and some pencils—you’ve got some sketching to do.
Creative Writing
Hemingway once said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” And while noticing blood in or around the toilet is still certainly cause for concern, laying your thoughts out on paper while atop the porcelain throne is a surprisingly cathartic experience. Studies have shown seeing your own words on paper help promote self confidence. An easy way to start is by attempting to recall and record the dreams you had the night prior. More rewarding still, try moving beyond reflections on your own life experiences and start crafting stories. Just like any skill in life, your propensity for creativity is greatly increased with practice. Try focusing on developing unique, identifiable characters complete with personal histories, passions, and dreams. Then, develop intriguing plots that intersect these characters in interesting and meaningful ways. This process can be very frustrating at first, but I really encourage you to stick with it. You never know when that crappy story you’ve been working on while crapping will become the screenplay for the next must-see summer blockbuster starring Shia LeBeouf. ∎
