10 Inspiring Passion Projects for the Soul
Finding What Sets Our Hearts and Brains on Fire
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The idea of passion projects is not new. However, the idea of the passion project being the medicine we need during tough or uncertain times is an idea that becomes relevant and clearer as we move forward year after year. I was having a conversation with teacher friend, and we talked about the importance of having ideas that “set our brains on fire.” In other terms, having hobbies, goals, and dreams that we think about with as much interest, happiness, and concentration as possible. These are the ideas that get you up at 4 in the morning…in a good way. As teachers, the idea of learning and discovering new things is one of the reasons why we teach. We like to see the lightbulb moments in our students. The ah-has. The moments of change that we find meaningful. But, we often forget that learning is something that drives the inner motor of the teacher, too.
This post outlines 10 ways we can find our own light.
Passion projects are activities that we find meaningful because they feed into two parts that are essential to our daily lives: Mindfulness and productivity. Mindfulness in a way that feeds our sense of calm, sense of purpose, and who we are and want to be. Productivity in which we need something that pushes us to not just be busy, but busy with intention. A book to start thinking about finding this purposeful intention is Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
“Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's famous investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow. During flow, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life. In this new edition of his groundbreaking classic work, Csikszentmihalyi demonstrates the ways this positive state can be controlled, not just left to chance. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience teaches how, by ordering the information that enters our consciousness, we can discover true happiness and greatly improve the quality of our lives.”
Passion projects are the keys to unlocking our mission and purpose in a way that feeds back into the magic we all seek in our classrooms and now outside of our classrooms. They are not necessarily about results but about the day-to-day drive for the pursuit of creativity, happiness, and self-fulfillment.
Want to try this in a classroom? Try a genius hour with your kids. A genius hour is a lengthy project that allows kids to become researchers in real time. They get to study what makes them happy and align their interests with their school work.
I love John Spencer’s video and archives that introduce Genius Hour to students:
You can call your own project a genius hour or a passion project, but either way, it is time we encourage our own selves to do what we want our students to do: Be curious. Curiosity will get us through even difficult times because we are looking for the positive.
Finding Your Project
Grab a notebook. Swipe a pen or pencil from your work area (Flair pen if you will...we are teachers after all) Brew some coffee, or tea, or whatever you prefer to sip on while thinking. Answer the following journal prompt questions:
“If I had more time, I would be…”
“If I weren’t grading or lesson planning, I would…”
“I would love to do…”
“Some of the things that make me happy are…”
“As a kid, I would love to…”
“I often daydream about…”
“The things that make me itchy are…”
WAIT. Itchy?
“There is a section in Jason Reynolds For Everyone that perfectly sums up my thoughts on teaching. It reads:
“You hope
The voice that
Delivers the loudest whispers
Of what you envision never silences.
That it never cowers behind fear
And expectations that other people
Strap to your life
Like a backpack full of bricks
(or books written by experts)
Because if it did-
If it disappeared,
If the voices vanished
And you were no longer
Overtaken by the taunts of your own
Potential,
No longer blinded
By a perfect vision
Of your purpose,
No longer engorged
With passion-
What would happen?
Well, I guess nothing.
And to me, there is nothing scarier than nothing.”
I have been fearful that nothing since the first day of teaching. Teaching has and will continue to be a dream in pursuit.”
Itchy is just another word for what bugs you at 3 am. It is an idea. A notion. A pondering. A dream. Because when Jason Reynolds says “nothing” that relates directly to school closures. Nothing is scarier than nothing. So, our job is to fill the cup while we wait to get back to doing what we do best.
Let’s talk about some ideas.
10 Passion Project Ideas
Start a blog
Blogging has changed how I view my own job. Starting my teaching blog, Writing Mindset, was the best choice for a passion project I could have made because it has synchronously made me a better teacher. It made it so I was less fearful about putting my writing out into the world. I had ideas, and I wanted to share them. I now seek out ideas, and difficult situations that arise in my classroom receive immediate reflection. Is this something I need to know more about? Is this something that I can research? Is this something that requires more reflection?
Throughout this journey, I have figured out so many other skills that I can now find handy. Things like building a website, figuring out how to form my own LLC, studying graphic design elements, SEO, social media, and more. I get excited to work on my blog in the hours after school. There is nothing like being excited about your work.
If you have something to say. Share it. Start a blog or website. I would start with Wordpress, Squarespace, or Wix. All of these platforms are great places to start.
Write the book
I was sitting in a session at NerdCamp Michigan when Molly O’Neill, a literary agent from Root Literary, said, “Teachers make the best authors because they already understand the market.” This got me excited. I do read all of the things, and I know you do too! Put your vast reading experience to work and sit down and write the story you always wanted to write. Your story may be the one that is missing from the shelves. Being advocates of diverse literature means we also are aware of the stories untold on the shelves. I love Tomi Adeyemi’s blog for getting some writing advice. She is the author of Children of Blood and Bone and Children of Virtue and Vengeance.
Launch a podcast
I think more people should have podcasts! Mix equal parts good conversation with good ideas, and the result is a great podcast that people want to listen to! I have told my husband for years that he and his best friends would make a great podcast because the way they talk about sports is so interesting. People want to listen. Find something that you are passionate about, and turn your work into something people can hear! All you would need is to make a plan, have something to record your voice, and a desire to speak.
Try photography
One of my favorite teacher friends is an amazing photographer. She was the one who took the photos for my website. You can find her here. However, more so, she loves photography because she loves learning about photography. The angles, the lighting, the composition of the shots, etc. She takes pictures of everything. I think this could even start with using your phone to take pictures around your house and around your yard if possible. You never know where passions can take you. This post was almost called “10 Side-Hustles for Teachers During Uncertain Times.” While I know many of these passion projects are done for joy and meaning, almost all of these can be access points to enter a side hustle. Photography? Sell your stock photos to different websites or bloggers to use or use your photos to create a writing journal and sell it on digital learning platforms. People love good pictures.
Plan a garden
Pinterest made me do this one. I am the kind of person who loves the idea of an herb garden on my deck, but more so, I know I am a person who kills plants who aren’t even designed to be high maintenance.
I digress.
Now is a great time to start planning where to put a garden, a tower garden, herb garden, or flower patch. There is a whole method of planning that goes into what plants into what kinds of sunlight and soil. This could be the perfect opportunity for someone who has always wanted to do some planting or even composting. Anyone that I know who does planting starts planning in the winter and early spring to make sure they are good to go for late spring and summer. Get a notebook, research information, and get inspired to create a botanical oasis in or outside your home.
Learn lettering or calligraphy
Another teacher friend of mine is working on her lettering and calligraphy during the time of school closures. She bought a workbook, but a lot of people have resources for free online. You can do a lot of these classes with simple Crayola markers that you may have around the house. This could not only make your journal more creative, but you could do things like create signs, invitations, and more. There is something calming about handwriting in a journal or on a physical piece of paper.
Plan a trip
This idea has the potential to make you a little sad or grumpy about school closures, at first. But the reality is: This isn’t going to last forever. This is a temporary situation. Planning for the future allows us to time travel to another place and time that is beyond our current worries. And knowing this, I would urge you to throw yourself into planning for a trip. Anywhere. Whenever I have planned a trip in the past, it has taken up so much time and energy. We have the time now to make checklists, do the research, and dream. Now is a great time to make a Pinterest board about where you want to go and come up with all the things needed to plan a big trip.
House projects
I love house projects. Just the smell of fresh paint reminds me of new beginnings. Maybe you have a room in your house that needs work. Perhaps you can make a pile of things to donate. Now is a great time to research different organizational methods to make your house into what you always wanted it to be. You don’t need to be a carpenter or contractor to make big results. I have wanted to watch YouTube videos about how to add backsplash into the kitchen. Start with HGTV, look up some awesome bloggers or home DIY experts, and get inspired.
Do something for the community
I received a letter from my niece and it made me cry. This was a great reminder about the power to do for others. Since our students seem far away, we can try to bring that idea of service closer to home. If you know how to sew, make masks to donate to hospitals. If you can write letters to those in older adults and assisted living facilities, do that. From writing letters to troops to donating materials, if you have a skill, use it to make the world a better place. Teachers are always doing a needs-assessment of their surroundings. if we understand the immediate small needs in our own areas, we can contribute to larger solutions.
Design jewelry
Another teacher friend of mine is obsessed with good jewelry design. She often will come up with different designs and materials that you can order easily online. In turn, she creates things and often will give them to other people. Thus, bringing joy. She loves doing the small intricate designs for hours at a time. You don’t have to necessarily have a craft like this one, but something that gives you joy that also involves your creativity is key in finding a passion project that works for you. Perhaps now is the time to start your own Etsy or Shopify shop. Now is the time to get crafty and create.
