We're just two days from 2025 - a time filled with new opportunities, excitement, and fresh starts. But it can also feel overwhelming. How do we break down our big creative goals into achievable steps for the new year? And how do we truly embrace being "more creative" as promised in our New Year's resolutions?
"A goal without a plan is just a wish."
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Grab your notebooks, pens, mindmaps, or whatever you prefer—it’s time to set your creative goals in a clear, actionable way, that inspires you!
Reflect on 2024
Put on some music and take a moment to reflect on your creative journey over the past year. How did creativity enrich your daily life? What projects made you proud - whether it was reading more, starting a journal, or picking up a new skill? What challenges did you face - burnout, lack of time, or inconsistency? Reflecting helps you identify what you want to build on, or leave behind.
Dig deeper and think about why you want to be more creative, and what kind of creativity you're interested in. This could be mastering a new skill, exploring new artistic mediums, or even building a community where you can explore your creativity with other people.
Clearly Define Your Goals
Now that you've reflected on the past, think about what you want to achieve creatively in 2025. Keep your goals actionable. For example, instead of saying, "I want to write a book by the end of the year," try, "I want to write for 10 minutes every day."
Write down three goals. Some people find it helpful to create a physical reminder of their goals, such as printing out a vision board or writing them on a sticky note.
Schedule Creative Time
Now we come to the actual doing bit. Consistency and routine are the keys to being your best creative self. Set aside some time every day, or every week, even if it's just 30 minutes every Sunday, to work on your creativity.
Schedule it in, put it in your calendar like an appointment - this is your commitment to your creativity and yourself.
Then enjoy the process! Enjoy feeling frustrated, excited, challenged, and inspired - because each emotion is part of the creative journey that will help you grow. And don't forget to celebrate your milestones, big or small.
Join a Creative Community
"It takes a village to raise a child." Think of your creativity as a child that requires attention, nurture, and importantly, a community! Surround yourself with people who inspire and support you. On a practical level, a creative community holds you accountable for your goals and encourages you to show up for yourself regularly.
At Synonym Lab, we offer two mystery creative activities every month, along with a monthly creative social. This is a space where you can explore your creativity without pressure and judgement, alongside a community that is on the same journey as you!
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