Whether with a camera phone or a big DSLR, these short assignments can bring you some well-earned peace.

You know how sometimes we get a little funky about not taking a photograph for way too long? Of course, that time can vary from photographer to photographer, but if I didn’t make something yesterday, it is pretty tough to let the sun go down on that second day of non-shooting.

And occasionally we feel the grind of pressure to do and do some more and balance our regular life stuff with the photography life.

It can get you down a bit, make you wonder what the heck ever made you think you were cut out for this sort of ‘artistic’ life.

Yeah.

Well, one of the things I do is find time for an overnight motorcycle trip. That always opens me up, and sometimes that is all I need.

There’s just something special about the road, cheap motels where you park your bike right in front of the room, and diner food with waitresses who call you darlin’ and sweetie.

But if the ride isn’t possible, I find things around me to make images of.

My home, neighborhood, cactus garden, tortoise — there’s always something worth memorializing with a snap.

I live this mantra: There are photographs in front of you whenever and wherever you are. You have to let yourself see them by putting yourself in the role of a photographer.

Well, that’s one of my mantras.

I’ve got a lot of mantras

• Photographs are everywhere if you see the world as a photographer.
• Three contacts a day will bring wild success.
• Never start a land war in Asia.
• The simplest solution usually has the best ROI.

Mantras.

Photography helps me center, brings me back from the edges. Edges of what I may not be able to tell you at any given time, but edges they are and edges they will remain.

Anyway, here is a list of photographs you can assign yourself to bring a little peace of mind when things get really hectic.

The Gratitude Hunt: Take a photo of something you’re grateful for. Don’t go for the obvious choice. Seek out the subtle, the overlooked. In doing so, you’ll begin to reframe your perspective.

Stillness in Motion: Capture a moment of peace in the midst of chaos. It’s there, you just have to look. This will remind you that calm exists, even when it feels elusive.

The Color of Emotion: Select an emotion you’re feeling. Then, go out and photograph things that embody that color. This allows you to externalize your feelings, giving them less power over you.

Signs of Growth: Find a sign of growth in nature — a budding flower, a growing tree. This serves as a reminder that even in the harshest conditions, life prevails.

Reflections: Capture a reflection in a window, mirror, or water. Reflections can provide a different perspective, a way to look at things differently, quite literally.

Contrast Chaos: Seek out contrasting elements, like soft flowers against a harsh brick wall. This can symbolize the resilience needed to handle life’s challenges.

Natural Symmetry: Look for symmetry in nature. It’s soothing and can remind you of the incredible order amidst life’s disorder.

Tactile Textures: Take close-up shots of different textures. This helps you focus on the minutiae, drawing your mind away from broader worries.

Shadows & Light: Capture the interplay of shadows and the magic of light. Light has a way of revealing, hiding, and making the mundane exceptional.

The Passage of Time: Time is constant. Change is constant. Make photos that illustrate the ravages of time, as well as the miraculous ways time can heal.

Serenity in Solitude: Photograph a place where you feel calm and grounded. Revisit the photo when things get overwhelming.

Life’s Little Joys: Snap a picture of something that brings you simple joy — a favorite mug, a beloved pet. This centers your mind on positivity.

Faces of Love: Capture expressions of love and kindness. This can bring forth feelings of connection and warmth.

Whispers of Wind: Capture the movement of the wind, be it in the leaves, the waves, or a flapping curtain. This encourages a sense of flow and letting go.

A Journey in Frames: Chronicle a short journey, like a walk around the block, with each photo marking a moment. This will remind us that every journey, no matter how long, small, or tough, is made of small manageable steps.

I hope you find these fun little self-assignments fun as well as stress relieving when you just need to take a photograph and you aren’t in somewhere particularly stunning.