Themes for this year's creative work
Embodying the months of the year to do our best, most aligned work possible
Happy new year, y’all! Well, a little bit past the new year — I’m the type of person that okay with leaving the holiday decor up until the end of January, so I suppose that means I’m chill with wishing a happy new year until the end of January, too. Also, outside of the podcast episode I posted earlier this week, it’s my first newsletter of the new year. So, I’ll say it again: happy new year. I hope it’s a been a meaningful one.
It’s no secret that I love aligning creative work with the calendar (for real, we have a whole category of writing about it over here). In my experience, channeling our creativity with this existing structure creates more fruitful, enjoyable, and embodied work — in short, the work flows with the calendar instead of working against it. We take action when nature is doing just that; we rest when it’s quiet and dark.
Like a lot of folks, I’m setting goals and intentions during this time of the year. And it’s a great time to do that; looking inward while the energy of the world is low, but on the upswing as we enter the new year.
For me, creating goals for the whole year can be overwhelming. So much ebbs and flows with the seasons.
Each month and season of the year can be so, so different. Although an intention or very high-level goal may make sense for your year, it’s hard to keep specific goals steady for the whole 12 months.
For example, if I want to write a book, the goal of “write the book” might not work for me for an entire year. But, one month of outlining the book, one month of writing a couple chapters, a month of reflection, etc. might.
When considering this for the year ahead, I took note of some of the themes that popped up in each month (based on nature and the zodiac), and plotted out how we might best accomplish our creative desires in the months ahead. How do we work with the calendar, and not against it?
Below, I’ve broken out the calendar into four quarters, with reflections on each month and what their outcomes could be. As you plan for your year ahead, I hope this is helpful as you consider any goals or resolutions or intentions, and maybe even take it to heart as you plot out more specific goals. Enjoy :)
Winter months: Plot and plan
January
Root down and get realistic. Get curious about HOW you can accomplish your intentions and goals ahead.
Take a rest and get curious about what’s ahead.
Outcome: establish habits and understanding about how to integrate into your year ahead.
February
Spinning realism established in January with loftier ideas. Get clear on what your intentions are beyond the tactical goals.
Not blowing up your goals or intentions, but ensuring they are what you want; that you are setting sights high. Being audacious while setting your sights on what you can actually control. Not creating too much, or getting distracted by others’ expectations.
Outcome: a balanced idea of what’s to come. Understanding the push and the pull; both what we’re realistically capable of and the big intentions we aim to embody.
March
March comes in with a burst of inspiration and energy; more sunlight, temperatures are beginning to warm. We tune into what’s around us, observing changes and basking in where we are.
We spent the last two months getting clear on what we hope to achieve, plotting and planning. March is a bridge to begin putting plans into action. As we start taking action, how does it feel, what can we observe? As time and energy speeds up, how can we take it in stride to make things happen?
Outcome: tuning into ourselves as we begin to take action. what feels good, and what doesn’t? how can we make shifts to honor ourselves?
At the end of winter, we have a solid plan for our creative work; we know it will truly honor ourselves.
Spring months: Action taking and advancement
April
The spring energy ramps up even more in April, building confidence in our action taking. It’s a time to hit your groove, vibing on your work and pushing it forward.
As you push your work forward, how can you get curious? How can we try out different ways of doing things, tweaking and experimenting?
We are still in the early stages of the year, and this can be a common time to burn out, pushing forward to completion too early. we don’t need to be serious at this point; we can still be experimental and having fun.
Outcome: don’t take it too seriously. experiment and tweak while taking advantage of the confidence that comes from this stage.
May
May is a time to look inward — to analyze what you’ve worked on and accomplished throughout this year so far. in addition to progress that’s been made, how has it felt? Are you enjoying yourself, or has it felt like you’re checking things off a list?
How can you recalibrate and check in with yourself to ensure your goals and intentions are realistic ones? What are you doing to take care of yourself?
Outcome: getting clear on how to take care of yourself while progressing your goals forward. remembering that your work can (and should!) be enjoyable and fun. it’s not just about the treat yourself moment after the work — the progress and production is enjoyable, too.
June
if you haven’t yet, practice sharing your creations. speak about it — mention what you’re creating in conversation, snap some pictures to share on social media, see if you can get others involved.
find your edge where it comes to sharing. there’s a difference between feeling vulnerable vs. not being ready to share. could you share with a close friend or partner? or are you ready to blast about your work to a larger group?
Outcome: let people know what you’re working on.
At the end of spring, we’ve taken action on our creative desires and have started sharing them with the world. It’s exciting! And scary! And fun!
Summer months: Refinement and deepening
July
Nurture and grow your work. You have a strong foundation you’ve built over the first half of this year; how can you deepen it?
What aspects of your work are craving more development? where is there room for improvement; where is there room to cut; where is there room for more creation?
Outcome: evaluate where you are and develop your creations more deeply. find confidence, banish fear, and move through the next stage.
August
After deepening your work, evaluate how you might make it even more expressive — even more you. What makes it different from the other work in the world? What’s the unique thing that only you could bring to it?
This is one of the last energetic pushes of the year as we head into fall. what are the last bits and finishing touches you’d like to add?
Outcome: finding the sprinkles on top that make this creation even more special.
September
As the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler, what are the nitty gritty details you can tighten up in your work? where are the last crumbs to sweep up?
Outcome: creating a satisfying place to pause and create space for rest.
At the end of summer, we’ve perfected and tweaked our work, and are heading into a restful period. No matter where your work has ended up, rest is here for you to revel in — it’s not something you need to deserve.
Fall months: Rest and reflection
October
With October comes fall and the slowing down of the year. It’s the time to find balance and pause; between creation and rest, between expression and work, between where you are and where you endeavor to go. Finding where the pendulum will take a rest, hitting just the right spot.
This is a time to find peace with what you’ve created so far. has it met your expectations or not? Have you felt the most aligned you can be? We still have time to adjust and make it right.
Outcome: pausing to find equilibrium. enjoying and appreciating where you’ve been and charting the course for where you’ve yet to go.
November-
Now it’s time to sit with your work. We turn inward, evaluating what’s next. with the weather, we turn a bit more solitary; reflecting on what we’ve accomplished.
As we inch closer to the new year, take the time to ease into rest and reflection. now that you’ve completed your creative work?
Outcome: begin to dream up what’s next, and what you aim to do with your finished product.
December
December is like the wild card of months; what it holds is an adventure. it may be time to fully rest after a long year, or it may feel like the time to promote your creative work.
Use the skills you’ve cultivated this year and look inward. What do YOU need and want?
Outcome: whatever you want. you control this adventure.
At the end of fall, we’ve found rest and reflection. We’ve come to peace with what we’ve created and established, and are looking forward to whatever adventure we endeavor to jump into next.
As I jump into my planning for the year, this is what I aim to take to heart when creating each of my goals. If it’s helpful for you, I encourage you to take it, too :)