A few years ago, a friend of mine through Forever shared about how she was making headway with her photo projects with a new approach she was using of spending just 15 minutes a day – about 3-4 times a week. She would set a timer for 15 minutes and work with organizing, labeling, or even creating a few pages in her photo books. If she was on a roll and had extra time, she would allow herself up to 30 minutes but had a hard stop at 30. Some weeks she would only work 1-2 times a week and others she might get 5 or more but she kept it simple and short. I have given it a try too over the last couple of years and have found it is a great approach to not be overwhelmed with a project like organizing our photos or keeping up with our albums or honestly many other non-photo projects I have around the house as well.
If you are interested in giving it a try this summer too, I would encourage you to consider giving this until at least the end of the month – just over 3 weeks. It doesn’t matter how many times each week just give it about 3 weeks to see how it works for you.
Here are the simple steps to get you started:
- If you have picked your photo project already, use that with this approach but if you haven’t decided or you don’t know where to start, I suggest start current and then you can work back. Since we are early in the month of June, I would start with your May photos so you have a full month of photos to work with for the first step.
- The majority of my current photos are typically on my phone so I work from there first with the Forever App.
- If you are already a Forever customers (either FREE or Permanent account holder) and don’t have the App downloaded yet – You can find it in the App store on either Apple or Android Devices or check out this link: https://www.forever.com/mobile_apps
- If you are new to Forever, I would suggest that you get started with a FREE Forever Account here – https://www.forever.com/ambassador/elizabethgoodson . Using this link helps make sure you are connected to me and helps you get a $10 welcome coupon you can use when you confirm your e-mail address. There is no obligation to buy anything but this will give you a great place to try this approach out and get started. Once you have an account set up then download the app and log in and you will be ready to go too.
Now that you have the tools you need and are ready to go, be sure to set that timer – 15 minutes and then get started with these next steps. I have a Android Phone so these are my steps but if you are an Apple phone user or you are working from your computer you can find similar step by step instructions at the link I will share at the bottom.
- With your phone, Find your Forever App (green and blue circle icon).
- Open the App and Log in if prompted (same log in as the website).
- Select Albums (at the bottom)
- Select the + at the top to create an Album (unless you created your 2019 album last month, if you already created it jump to #6)
- Name your Album 2019 Favorites and click Create.
- Select your 2019 Favorites Album
- Click the + at the top.
- Choose Add From Device
- Go to your May 2019 photos and click on your favorites – pick 5-25, click the check mark at the top once you are finished with your May photos.
When your timer goes off you will want to stop where you are and pick up at that point the next day. Typically I can get about a month of photos done at a time but some months when I take more photos like going on a trip or at Christmas, it may take me a few days of 15 minutes to get through those. I typically work through the most recent month (i.e. May) and then go back and do April, March, Feb, Jan. Once I get to the beginning of the year I am working on, I go back to the current photos and catch up the current month too.
This is how I stay current on picking my favorites and making sure I have them all in one place so I can find them when I want to share them or am ready to create a photo book or project.
Give just this part a try for the next few days and see how it works for you. If you get your 2019 photos caught up, you can always go on to do your 2018 Favorites too. Once you have picked your favorites for the year, you can decide if you want to delete the extras or same them in a separate Album for Extras. Either way, getting then off your phone can help free us space and clear out the clutter.
If you are looking for instructions for iPhones or your working in your account on the computer, you can find step by step instructions here: Forever Fit – 15 Minutes a Day . You can take a peak at the other cards that are here but for now we are only doing Cards 1 & 2 with the info about Uploading Photos and Setting up Albums.
I would love to hear how you are doing so feel free to comment on this posts and share when you complete your 15 Minutes for the Day.
Do you know someone who might enjoy learning about this too? Please share my blog www.seeingagreaterpurpose.com or my FB Page with them so they can follow along too.
I also would love to have you join us for on of our in person monthly Photo Workshops this summer. Check out the dates and information on the Events Tab too.