What Six Years of Project 365 Taught Me About Life

Episode 4 of Life, Documented is about what I’ve learned from documenting my life for over six years.

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“A daily photo project isn’t really about photography. It’s about paying attention to your own life.”

Six years of photographing every single day has taught me more about what I care about in life than it ever did about photography. Dorothea Lange said it really nicely: “The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera”

Hi, I’m Anja, and this is Life, Documented — a little space to notice life and explore the impact of documenting it.

I started this project to challenge myself creatively, to document my life and to see what happens if I just show up every day with my camera.

What I thought would happen is that I might get a few nice images, a series of photos that tell a story, maybe a new habit.

But what actually happened was this:

I captured everything from adventures to boring days, uninspiring shopping carts to tiny details of my life. Some days I used my camera for twenty seconds — just to take that one daily photo. Not motivated by what I saw, but by the commitment I’d made to myself. Other days I got inspired by the way the sunset turned our living room in a pink hue, by something creative Lee did, by a milestone event, by the sea outside my house.

The truth is, the mundane, quiet moments often became my favourites. They’re the ones that anchor memory, that show the shape of everyday life.

Over time, I noticed five core shifts in how I see life and myself:

1. Consistency doesn’t mean perfection

Some days I didn’t feel like taking photos. I still did it anyway. That taught me discipline, but also compassion and the importance of rest.

2. Boring days are the most important

Those mundane images — brushing teeth, commuting, tidying the kitchen — they become anchors. They show the real shape of life, not just the curated highlights.

3. Creativity is a cycle, not a straight line

Some months, inspiration flowed freely. Others, I felt depleted. Both are normal. Learning to accept the ebb and flow is part of the practice.

4. The camera became a way of grounding myself

Photography became mindfulness in disguise. Documenting daily helped me slow down, notice, stabilise myself emotionally — and feel more grateful for my life.

5. Photographs reveal things you didn’t notice at the time

Patterns, growth, subtle changes. Small signs of life passing, of becoming.

This project, out of all my personal projects, is by far my favourite. It’s also the one I’ve stuck with the longest - over 6 years now. And because I’m so obsessed with it, I love talking about it - and inspiring others to try it too.

So if this motivates you and you’re thinking about a Project 365, let me share some things I wish I’d known before I started:

• Keep your motivation manageable — don’t aim for perfect images, you won’t get them. Not every day, not every week - occasionally you’ll get some that stand out. And that should be enough.

• Remove pressure — it’s your life, not social media. You don’t have to share any of these photos with anyone. If you’re doing this to impress someone else, don’t do it. It’ll be too hard to keep that up.

• When you choose your daily photos, pick the shot that matters to you, not what looks impressive. This is a tough one - sometimes the image that hits hardest isn’t the one that looks the best.

• Accept failure — some photos are boring, some days are skipped. That’s fine. It’s your project, your rules. Be kind and gentle to yourself when you start a year-long project.

• Small habits build over time — consistency matters more than intensity. Keep at it!

So after 6 years, what has changed for me? Actually, the exercise changed something inside me.

• I’m more present, more aware of everyday beauty.

• I’m more patient — with myself and with life.

• I’m more grateful for small, fleeting moments because I know how easy they are to miss or to forget

• I notice the passage of time in a new way.

• I pay more attention to details in my life, in my interaction with others, in my surroundings.

• I’ve become more compassionate with myself — I accept imperfection and embrace effort because I can see the bigger picture

Ultimately, the camera didn’t just capture my life — it helped me live it more fully. I know this sounds super cheesy but it’s true.

A Project 365 isn’t about producing beautiful images. That’s a by-product. It’s about giving yourself proof that your life — exactly as it is — is worth remembering.

The extraordinary hides in the ordinary. If you start noticing it, documenting it, even in small ways, you’ll see your life differently.

If this resonates, I invite you to experiment — even a week of daily photos will teach you something about yourself. Come back for Episode 5, where we’ll talk about how to start your own Project 365 without burning out.

Life, Documented

Hosted by Anja, a documentary family and personal branding photographer, the show explores what happens when we start documenting our lives with honesty and attention — without pressure, perfection, or fancy gear.

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Thank you for reading Life, Documented.

You can share this with someone who’s documenting their life. ❤️