Photography · by Ananya Rao · 2026-09-17

Which option would you choose this busy month before coffee

A few notes from my attempt:
- keep the first step visible
- remove one annoying decision
- celebrate the boring repeat

My current rule is simple: if it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare, I am much more likely to keep doing it.

I started this because my winter felt a little stuck, and portraits seemed like a manageable place to experiment. The funny part is that the smallest change was the one I kept.

23 sparks · 12 comments

Comments

Minji Kim · 4 likes

I picked Only with help, mostly because it feels easiest to live with. This is more useful on a tired lunch break than on a perfect day.

Sleepy Coder · 2 likes

I think the bad version of this advice causes a lot of frustration. I noticed the same thing in Lagos.

Irene López · 1 likes

Short answer: yes. Long answer: also yes.

Zeynep Demir · 0 likes

I needed the reminder to start smaller.

Lina Al Harbi · 2 likes

I picked Only with help, mostly because it feels easiest to live with. This pairs weirdly well with bibimbap.

Jack Taylor · 1 likes

There is probably a middle ground here. That is the kind of detail beginners miss.

Ananya Rao · 7 likes

The Tuesday test is undefeated.

Ngozi Bello · 1 likes

Surprised more people aren't choosing Only with help. It seems like the practical answer. I would love to see a follow-up after 5 weeks.

Chiara Romano · 0 likes

I am stealing that phrase.

Marco Conti · 0 likes

Not for me got my vote. The other choices are good, but this one fits my week. The cozy constraint is probably the real story.

Irene López · 0 likes

Surprised more people aren't choosing Only with help. It seems like the practical answer. The low-effort version is probably the keeper.

Valentina Ruiz · 0 likes

I get the appeal, though I would be careful calling it the best option. I noticed the same thing in Manila.