Hundred Days of Creativity

Have you ever committed to doing something – intentionally – for 100 days? Not 10. Not 30, but a full 100 days?

It sounds a little wild, doesn’t it? Almost like a lie we tell ourselves: “This time, I’ll really stick with it.” But when you are trying to build a skill or shape a new habit, consistency is the key. Doing something small every day helps it become part of your rhythm – something that feels natural over time.

Is there something you have always wanted to try? A creative outlet? A long-abandoned hobby? A skill you promised yourself you’d pick you “someday”?

That’s exactly where I found myself when I stumbled across a social media challenge called The 100 Day Project. I was instantly intrigued and kept clicking on reels and links to learn more. The more I clicked, the more it showed up in my feed – ah, the magic of the social media algorithm. However, I still had questions:

Is it a course?

Are there daily prompts?

Does it cost anything?

Do I have to leave the house?

Eventually, I came across a short podcast series – just 5-6 episodes – that explained everything. That was my lightbulb moment.

So, what is The 100 Day Project?

At its core, it’s simple: you pick a project and commit to it for the hundred days. That’s it. No rules about what the project must be. It can be anything you want to work on – writing, painting, cooking, exercising, gardening, or even reading. Though, many seemed to choose artistic paths.

Some participants stick to one canvas, sharing their journey for 100 days. Others commit to one medium or theme throughout the duration. One woman, who’s been doing this since 2016, divides a large poster into 100 boxes and fills each with a tiny 1–3-inch daily inspiration.

The project initially started a Yale graphic design assignment in 2007 and took off in 2014 when it became an Instagram trend. Today, the hashtag has over 2.5 million followers. Lindsey Thompson, who co-leads the movement, set the official start date for 2025 for Feb 23, 2025 – but she emphasizes that you can start whenever you want. It is a flexible, forgiving challenge. You don’t even have to commit to all hundred days. Start where you are with whatever you want. The important part is showing up and sharing the journey.

That flexibility was what I needed. It wasn’t about perfection- it was about permission. Permission to explore. Permission to pause. Permission to play.

And truth be told; this wasn’t the first time I was promising myself that I’d stick with something. There was the “I’ll exercise every day” phase that lasted two days. The “I’ll blog weekly” plan that fizzled in a month. The “I’ll write on Medium regularly” goal that actually did stay strong for few months. My book? Still waiting. You get the picture.

But this project felt different. There was no pressure to be amazing. If I doodled a single line, it counted. If I taped a leaf to a page, it counted. If I snapped a photo of my messy desk and called it “inspiration,” it counted. It wasn’t about the quality, it was about the presence – showing up for yourself, every day for 100 days.

And today, I am proud to say I have reached Day 100. There are hundred reels on Instagram, each one showing a small step in this creative journey. I started with a new sketchbook and gel printing – smearing acrylic paint on a gel plate and pressing it onto a paper, then I would add a motivational word or two and called it an art. I continued with Micron pens and Zentangles, which I had experimented with earlier this year. Eventually, I dug into my old stash of art supplies – some dating back to high school! I experimented with watercolors, acrylics, metallic markers, graphic sticks, paint markers, Distress crayons, stencils, and stamping tools. Each project with a new adventure in color, texture, and self-expression.

Did I create every single day? Not exactly. I planned ahead when I could. I batched content. I prepped posts. Some days I made two or three pieces. Other days I played catch-up. I even shared some flops, because it wasn’t about being flawless, it was about honoring the process.

And wow, did I learn.

The biggest lesson? Consistency and imperfection are powerful partners. When you show up -even for five minutes – you build momentum. You build trust and commitment with yourself. You try something new. You fail. You try again. You grow. Not every canvas ends up in an art gallery – and it doesn’t need to. Sometimes, the real reward is rediscovering your creative voice.

Now that Day 100 is here, I find myself wondering … What’s next?

Do I continue the same project? Try something new? Life’s about to get chaotic with summer break, social commitments, and the unpredictable rhythm of family life. Will I still find time to create? As I look back at my binder with 100+ projects, I am enticed to explore the world of greeting cards and post cards. Maybe I will engrave or vinyl new projects. I did come across a new notion of “doodle your emotions”. Maybe I will return to writing, publishing a book still whispers to me from the shadows of my to-do list.

Whatever I do, I know one thing: this project rekindled something in me. A love for color. For exploration. For expression. For showing up. For trusting myself to follow through. And I want to carry that energy forward – even if it’s one doodle, one page, one imperfect step at a time.