While dieting and exercise are great ways to kick off any new year, I decided to devote my 2018 resolution to preserving memories. Now that 2018 is over, I couldn’t be happier with the simple daily resolution I actually stuck with (almost) all year: a one-second-everyday video.
Recorded on my phone then uploaded to the 1SE app, these quick videos helped me not only remember the big moments (like launching a wildlife film initiative in January); they also helped me look for the small yet important moments in each and every day. (Cough, my dog Harry, cough.)
As you plan your big goals for 2019 (or set any of these creativity-boosting resolutions), here are seven reasons 1SE should make the list.
1SE Video: One Second Every Day from Stephanie Vermillion Studio on Vimeo.
1. It’s a movie of your life
Unlike, say, a photograph every day, video gives you the chance to rewind and relive all the highs and lows of your year. I loved capturing my best shots from trips such as the Baltics, but equally enjoyed reliving silly moments such as the time I met Jon Glaser on his show’s film set.
2. You can rediscover your inspiration
I almost forgot that in early 2018, I tried to go a month without using single-use plastic (that is, until I saw my hopeful one-second video saying “day one without plastic.”) Sadly I barely made it one week given how tough a task it is, but still, this reminder — that I almost forgot — makes me want to give it another go in 2019.
3. You can use live photos as videos
My diligence in taking one video every day wasn’t the greatest, so when I discovered you can use the iPhone’s live photos as videos, my dedication to the 1SE resolution changed drastically. Snapping a photo once a day is simple; with a dog and residence in Hoboken (known for epic city views) I could always find something to capture.
4. Your content doesn’t have to be perfect
As a filmmaker I’m constantly analyzing and critiquing my footage, but as a 1SE “videographer?” Not at all. Like life, these aren’t edited or by any means pretty. They’re raw accounts of my days — the good, the bad, and the I-didn’t-shower-for-a-week ugly from our climb up Kilimanjaro. But that’s reality, and that’s exactly how I want to remember my life.
5. You can notate your shots
Instead of just uploading footage, you can actually add captions to remember the gritty details of each day. Full disclosure, this is not something I took advantage of often, but I did enjoy using it to record a daily log of my film trip to Costa Rica, highlighting the places we went each day.
6. You can mash up your Instagram
If video isn’t necessarily your thing — or you’re afraid of committing to one daily activity for the full year — you can still get in on the 1SE fun with an Instagram mash-up. The app puts your Instagram feed together in one cohesive video. While not necessarily video content, it’s still great to see a year’s worth of work (and play) in one, easy-to-watch, place.
7. Auto-fill content on busy days
Even with all the tricks to speed up the filming and uploading processes, some days you just run out of time to publish your content. That’s when you can use auto-fill, a feature that selects live photos or videos from the specific date to upload empty days with content already stored on your phone.
From career goals to weight loss plans and travel dreams to new hobbies, the new year is full off opportunities for self-improvement. This is, of course, integral to your well-being and happiness, but don’t let a focus on achievement keep you from remembering the major and mini moments that got you there. The only thing better than crushing it in 2019 will be reliving each daily step that, together, made up your best year yet.
Feature photo by Suhyeon Choi on Unsplash
