Breaking Through Procrastination: Lessons from Boxes, Kittens, and Bathroom Drawers
Procrastination—an artist’s familiar foe and occasional friend. We’ve all faced it: that lingering resistance to creating, to writing, to innovating. But what if, instead of fighting procrastination, we leaned into it? That’s exactly what I did recently, and it turned out to be one of the most enlightening creative experiments I’ve had in a while.
The Box Challenge: A Lesson in Light and Consistency
It all started with a simple idea: what if I could do the box challenge with my foster kittens? I grabbed some random objects—foster kittens (always ready for mischief), a bathroom drawer (trust me, it was overdue for attention), and a variety of lights to test out. What began as a playful challenge turned into study in light control and composition.
The bathroom drawer, however, put up a fight. It wasn’t cute or fluffy, but its jumble of textures—oils stains and fur stuck to its rough edges. The lesson? It’s always easier to remove gunk during shooting than that to remove said gunk in post processing. I thoroughly cursed at myself in post and vowed to do better next time. Then,from consistant ever present gunk to the drawer that refused to remain still. The bathroom drawer with the kitten inside would slightly wobble and change angle with the kitten’s movement which altered the highlights and shadows in the drawer causing as alignment issues in Photoshop.
The post processing of this image was a nightmare due to aforementioned issues but I also ran into inconsistencies in lighting because I used natural light from my front room window in combination with studio lighting. The day was a mix of sun and cloud making the light in each shot slightly different demanding more attention in Lightroom.
Taking a Break to Move Forward
What surprised me most was how these activities—seemingly unrelated to productivity—helped me break free from the paralysis of overthinking. I wasn’t writing blog posts or brainstorming marketing strategies. I was just playing, experimenting, and, most importantly, creating.
Sometimes, taking a break doesn’t mean stepping away from creativity altogether. It means redirecting your energy into something new. For me, this break became a way to refocus and re-center, while also learning valuable lessons about light, form, and the importance of consistency during shooting.
Why Try Something New?
Procrastination doesn’t have to be the enemy. It can be an opportunity to try a new skill, like experimenting with collage photography. By stepping out of my routine, I discovered new perspectives—literally and figuratively. The consistency of working through the box challenge helped me see the value of staying committed, even when the results weren’t perfect.
Photography isn’t just about the final image. It’s about the journey—the trials, errors, and unexpected discoveries along the way.
What’s Next?
If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, take a break. Try something new. Rearrange your bathroom drawer, play with your pets, or set up a challenge with objects around your home. You might discover, like I did, that the act of experimenting can spark inspiration in ways you never imagined.
Here’s to breaking through procrastination, one playful moment at a time.
Keep creating,
Melissa Checkley
