How I Plan My Creative Year

Happy new year! January always feels like a strange in-between moment. The holidays are over, we’re going back to work, and suddenly we’re expected to snap back into a new routine overnight.

Instead of rushing into goal setting on January 1st, I like to spend the first few days of the year moving slower. Reflecting, resetting, and gently prepping for what’s next.

This is something I’ve done consistently for the past 10 years—as a full-time artist and as an artist working in tech. The process has evolved over time but it’s always helped me stay grounded and focused, and I’m excited to share it with you today.

Step 1: Start with context

Before I plan anything, every year I do an end-of-year reflection across three areas of my life:

I try not to judge myself or grade the year. Instead, I’m asking myself questions like,

The less time I spend reflecting before planning, the more I’m at risk of repeating the same patterns. I do this exercise in Notion, but honestly the tool doesn’t matter. A Google doc or notebook works just fine.

👇 If you are a Notion user though, I put together a free template for self reflection that you can use below!

Step 2: Revisit your mission

A few years ago, I went through a rebrand for my art business. One thing I learned while working with creative teams in tech was was how seriously these teams treated mission and visions. Not as fluffy statements, but as decision-making tools.

Your mission answers why you do what you do.

Your vision answers what success actually looks like.

I like to revisit both my mission and vision statements every single year. They’ve evolved over time, but they’ve consistently kept me grounded in my business. And every time a new project comes up, I make sure that they align with the overarching goals I’m working towards.

Because having clarity and setting constraints in what I work on helps me stay focused and maintain momentum.

Step 3: Roadmap your year

In tech, every team puts together a roadmap. Not because they know exactly what will happen, but because it forces prioritization.

One of the most common mistakes I see creatives make is setting vague goals like,

“I want to do more art.”

“I want to grow online.”

Those aren’t plans, they’re wishes.

Instead of saying “I want to make more art,” I might write:

“I want to complete one finished painting per quarter.”

Now it’s specific, measurable, and real.

Step 4: Zoom in yearly → quarterly → monthly

Once I know what actually matters, then I plan.

I map projects across quarters and lightly plan month by month. Seeing everything visually helps me notice when I’m overloading myself—and where I need to pull back.

At the start of the year, I only plan through March. I know life happens and energies shift. And I’ve learned that over-planning is sometimes just another form of fake productivity.

Step 5: Execution planning

Finally, I get into execution mode. I break down my monthly priorities into small steps and track them on a simple kanban board:

This tool comes straight from project management, but it works beautifully for creative work.

A calmer way to planning

This system has helped me stay grounded through career changes, creative burnout, and building a business alongside a full-time job.

If January has ever felt overwhelming, I hope this reminds you that you don’t need to overhaul your entire life in one week. You just need clarity, and a plan that actually matches your energy.

Here’s to a slower, more intentional year ahead. 🌱

Cheers,
Chie