Shiny Thing Syndrome, Staying Focused, FOMO + more!

Hey Past-me,

You ever have a project you’re working on that you just can’t get enough of?

And all of a sudden, another idea comes along that you just need to get out of your head.

And then another…

And another…and another…

And all of a sudden, you have a pile of these amazing but unfinished ideas?

Yeah…me too….

Anyway…here’s this week’s stash of ideas to help you FINISH your ideas.

In the box:

1. Spotlight on Shiny Thing Syndrome

2. Tips on How To Stay Focused

3. A-ha! Quote on Perfection

4. Strategy for FOMO

5. Hits of the Week: Animations, Pitches, Revivals!

Spotlight: Shiny Thing Syndrome

Everyone struggles with this, but particularly artists.

Creativity is about finding connections.

And when you choose to become an artist, it’s all you do. Your work consists of endless possibilities: ideas to explore, new techniques to try, styles to craft, etc. Your creativity is your fuel, your source of inspiration, but…it can also become a distraction.

You’ll excitedly start multiple projects only to leave them Untitled-01.psd when another new tasty idea comes along.

Then they pile up, and you get frustrated and feel inadequate as an artist. And you’d be right because it’s often in the “finishing” of something, the deep focus and effort on a single idea, that we cement what we learn.

Focus is a skill that we can master. Attention is precious.

Aside from writing, or drawing, or painting, learn how to be mindful of your attention and be clear on what you’re trying to accomplish.

Cause what would you rather have?

A solid body of work?

Or a collection of shiny but broken things?

Tips on how to stay focused:

1. Know what’s important: Decide what you really want to do. Prioritize your artistic goals and stick to them. Don't let every new idea pull you off track. Check-in with yourself now and then to make sure you’re still on the right path. Establish systems to help you achieve those goals.

2. Do it first thing: If you’re able, do the most important thing first. Take advantage of early-day energy and topped off willpower, before it runs out from every decision and distraction of the day.

3. Match your mood with the task: Sometimes you’re just not in the mood for the task at hand. Choose another task that pushes you towards your goal that you’re more excited about and get to the other thing later. You’ll feel better about it and might end up with more energy to tackle the other thing.

4. Keep an idea inbox:  Jot down new ideas when they hit you, but don’t run off after them. Just write them down in a small notebook you can carry around with you. Look over your notes once in a while. If something still looks good, maybe it’s worth a shot. But remember, you were working on something else first.

A-ha! It’s not about perfection but direction.

The idea here is simple: don’t chase perfection like it's a trophy to win. See it more as a north star, guiding you through the mud.

Life’s full of bumps and scrapes.

Each one teaches you a bit more about how to stand against the wind, how to keep pushing.

Think less about crossing some finish line without tripping and more about what those slips along the way teach you. That’s where real growth happens. You learn, you get better.

It’s not about never missing the mark, but about learning with every missed shot.

Strategy for FOMO:

Cause one of the big reasons we get distracted is when we follow trends and forget about where we were going.

So here’s a strategy to get back on track:

Get back in the driver’s seat.

FOMO is like being lost on the road. Take the wheel back. Decide how you interact with the world. Cut down on looking at everyone else's lives through screens. Make choices based on what’s in front of you, not what’s out there.

Actionable Tip: Avoid social media or simply set specific check-in times and stick to them. For example, only allow yourself lunchtime and evening check-ins. This creates boundaries that put you back in control, and saves the morning for YOUR LIFE, not others.

Remember where you were going.

Think about your own path. What were you after before distractions hit? Like checking the GPS, this guides you back to what's important. Your goals, not the crowd’s, show you where to go.

Actionable Tip: Keep a journal. At the start of each week, write down your main goals and why they're important to you. Refer back to this journal whenever you feel off-course. It's like having your own personal map and compass to remind you of your direction.

Get to your destination.

Now, move. Not fast, but steady. Break it down into parts you can handle. Mark your wins. Change course if you need to. The point is, you're heading somewhere that matters to you. That's how you beat FOMO. Focus on your own journey, your own fights. That’s where you’ll find what you're really looking for.

Actionable Tip: Break your goals into small, achievable tasks, and set deadlines for each. Celebrate completing each one, however small. This process keeps you moving forward and makes the journey rewarding, diluting the power of FOMO by focusing on your progress.

Hits of the Week:

@KrisAnimated dropped this excellent Astroboy Fanimation. I am always in awe of personal projects like this.

@denorelli2 dropped a simple breakdown on FX design. If it gets overwhelming, start here!

Andrew Chesworth dropped a Pencil Test version of their film The Brave Locomotive. It’s always amazing seeing 2D hand-drawn animation.

Yuhki Demers and Patrick Harpin pitched a Batman Beyond animated feature to WB. It went from a “no way” to a maybe…hope it becomes a YES!

GIGANTIC REVIVED - I was so bummed when this got canned, can’t believe it’s back! Beautiful designs and a super fun game. Can’t wait to get back!

That’s it for the stash this week. Hope you found something useful here.

Next week, I’ll have a new deep dive for ya on artists’ roles in an Animation Design team.

(Something I didn’t fully understand until I started working in one.)

Talk to you soon,

—Future-you

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