How I Stay Creative During the Busy Holiday Season
The holiday season is a whirlwind, isn’t it? Between gift shopping, family gatherings, decorating, and baking enough cookies to feed an army, it’s easy for creative pursuits to take a back seat. But as a writer with looming deadlines (and characters that refuse to leave me alone), I’ve had to figure out how to carve out time for creativity even in the midst of the chaos.
Spoiler alert: it’s not about doing more—it’s about making little adjustments that help creativity flourish during this festive season.
Finding Pockets of Time
One thing I’ve learned is that I don’t need hours of uninterrupted quiet to be creative. Sometimes, just finding small moments throughout the day is enough to keep the ideas flowing. Whether it’s jotting down scene ideas while waiting in line at the store, brainstorming during a morning tea break, or even mentally outlining while wrapping presents, those little bits of time add up. My secret weapon? Keeping a notebook or using the notes app on my phone. That way, I can capture any spark of inspiration before it slips away.
Seasonal Rituals to Stay Inspired
I also lean into the season to fuel my creativity. There’s something magical about this time of year that naturally inspires storytelling—twinkling lights, crackling fireplaces, and cozy blankets create the perfect backdrop for dreaming up new ideas. One of my favorite rituals is to light a seasonal candle, put on some instrumental holiday music, and let myself free-write. There’s no pressure to work on a specific project—it’s more about playing with ideas and seeing what comes to life. Sometimes, these moments lead to my best breakthroughs.
Protecting Your Creative Energy
Amid the holiday buzz, it’s also important to protect your creative energy. That means saying no to commitments that feel like too much and carving out time just for you—even if it’s only 15 minutes a day. I’ve learned that it’s okay to prioritize what fuels me creatively because, ultimately, it helps me show up better in every other area of my life.
Make It Your Own
If you’re trying to balance holiday chaos with creative pursuits, my biggest advice is to find what works for you. Maybe it’s waking up a little earlier to journal, creating a festive playlist to spark ideas, or simply letting your mind wander during a winter walk. The key is to embrace the season rather than fight it—use the magic of the holidays to fuel your creativity instead of letting the busy pace snuff it out.
So, here’s to staying creative through the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Whether you’re a writer, artist, or just someone who loves to dream, don’t forget to nurture that spark. After all, creativity isn’t just something we do—it’s who we are.
