Start Your Creative Practice Small & Watch It Grow
Tiny steps today can lead to something amazing.
Hi friends,
The secret to staying consistent with a creative habit? Start small. Really small.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the idea of being a “creative person.” Like, where do you even start? How do you make time when your schedule is already packed? I get it. I’ve been there, juggling everything and wondering how to fit in one more thing.
Spoiler alert: starting small is the answer. Micro small. I’m talking about those “barely-a-blip-on-your-radar” kind of baby steps. They’re more powerful than you’d think.
Today, we’re gonna talk about how starting small can help you build a consistent creative habit.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Why starting tiny is the most powerful move you can make.
How simplicity is your secret weapon.
The magic of tracking and celebrating your progress.
So, let’s jump in.
3 Small Steps to Build a Sustainable Creative Habit
In order to get consistent with creativity, you need a plan that’s simple. The goal isn’t to go from zero to 26.2 miles overnight; it’s to learn what works, one step at at time.
What small step can you take today to move your creative journey forward?
1) Small Steps Are the Foundation of Creativity
We’ve all felt that rush of excitement when starting something new. Maybe it’s a fresh notebook, a new set of supplies, or a big project idea. But that same excitement can sometimes feel overwhelming. How do you decide where to start?
Here’s my advice: start tiny.
Use a smaller notebook or page size than usual.
Limit your time—three to five minutes is plenty.
Set a timer or listen to a single song while you create.
Place one item on your page: a sticker, a quote, or a photo.
Why does this work? Tiny steps make showing up easier. They reduce the pressure and let you focus on the act of creating, finishing, and starting the next thing; rather than the end result. And let’s be real—it’s so satisfying to finish something, even if it’s just one small page.
Your Turn: What’s the tiniest action you can take right now to start creating? Grab a pen, open your notebook, and give it a try.
2) Keep It Simple
Creativity doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, some of my best pages have come from just using what’s right in front of me. Here are a few ways to keep it simple:
Use whatever is already on your desk.
Reach for the newest supply you’ve got (no overthinking!).
Remember: you can always add more, but it’s harder to simplify once you’ve started.
When I’m feeling stuck, I like to remind myself that creativity isn’t about perfection, and if I hate this page, nbd, I’ll make something better tomorrow (after all, I just set the bar pretty low). But, for me, creativity is about playing, experimenting, and seeing what happens. Some of my favorite pages started with a sticker or a stamp.
Your Turn: What’s one supply you’ve been meaning to use? Pull it out and make it the star of your next page.
3) Track and Celebrate Small Wins
There’s something magical (or scientific1) about recognizing your progress—no matter how small. Here’s how I like to do it:
Use shorter notebooks. Finishing a notebook is such a good feeling, and fewer pages make it easier to get there.
Share your pages with your creative community. It’s not about saying ‘ooh, look at this pretty thing I made’—it’s about saying, “I did it.” After all, I still send you all the Daily Pages that I don’t love. Good or bad, you get to see me show up.
Notice the tiny accomplishments: finishing a sticker sheet, trying a new technique, or showing up on a busy day.
When you celebrate small wins, you reinforce the habit. Your brain tells you that you’re doing a good job (because you are). It’s like tracking your steps—every time you take one more step, the next session gets easier. And, before you know it, you’ve built strength, confidence, and you’re flying past where you started.
Your Turn: What’s one small win you can celebrate today? Write it down, share it, or give yourself a high-five
Building a creative habit is like starting a new exercise routine (or anything routine). It takes consistency, care, and a willingness to begin where you are. But over time, those tiny actions add up to something transformative.
If I can leave you with one bit of advice for today: Let Yourself Be a Beginner.
So, what’s your next step? Maybe it’s gluing down one sticker or writing a single sentence. Maybe it’s opening your notebook for the first time in weeks or just cleaning off your desk. Whatever it is, know that it’s enough. Your creativity matters, and so do you.
Weekly Resource List:
The Basic Guide to Daily Pages (7-minute read): Everything you need to get started with Daily Pages.
Artists Need a Creative Daily Habit (2-minute read): Why you, as an artist, need to build up your own creative habit in order to be the most successful version of yourself.
CAF EP 179: The Life Changing Magic of a Small Habit (73-minute listen): Hear from different creative women on their own Daily Pages creative practice.
Show Up (2-minute read): The importance of just showing up and not worrying about anything more than that.
Sponsored by: The Awesome Ladies Project
The Awesome Ladies Project is a FREE community where you can connect with other creatives, share your work, and find inspiration from a community that gets it. Whether you’re making pages, writing in journals, or just playing with stickers and glue, there’s space for you here.
Check out the site at theawesomeladiesproject.com join us for free today!
Reply below and let me know even more details about your wins <3!
Here’s what we covered today:
Starting with really tiny steps is the key to consistency.
Keeping it simple makes it easier to show up for yourself.
Tracking small wins keeps you motivated and makes it fun.
The main thing to remember? It’s not about diving in with grand plans or making it perfect. It’s about showing up, even in the smallest of ways, and letting that build over time. Small steps can lead to big, amazing things. Trust me.
Action Step: Find one small thing you can do today to nurture your creative habit. Whether it’s five minutes of doodling or gluing down a few photos, just get started.
Talk to you next week!
xoxo,
Kristin
P.S. If you’re enjoying these newsletters, please consider sharing this edition with a friend who might need a little creative boost today.
And whenever you are ready, there are 3 ways I can help you build your creative habit:
Upgrade your Substack subscription and join me Monday-Friday at Noon ET for my Daily Pages creative time (bring any project you’re working on). And—join us on the first Saturday of the month. for our live masterclasses, a new topic each month on building and sustaining your creative habit. See the full archive here.
Check out the free Awesome Ladies Project community + app and join us for weekly challenges, free stickers, and amazing friendships!
Sorry that I missed the poll! I showed up and stuck something down ;)