You Don't Need to Create Every Day to Build a Creative Practice
Learn to show up in a way that works for you
Building a creative practice doesn’t mean you have to show up every single day. It’s all about finding a rhythm that works for you—whether that’s daily, weekly, days that you’re off work, or whenever inspiration strikes.
With my Daily Pages, I generally only create Monday-Friday. That’s what works for me and my schedule right now. Here are a few things that are much more important than creating every single day.
Consistency Over Frequency
It's not about how often you do it; it’s about showing up when it matters. Some days are busier than others, and that's okay. The key is to find moments where creativity can fit naturally into your life—maybe a few nights after work, or once a weekend.
When I started Daily Pages, I thought I would work on them during weekends. But soon I realized that didn’t work for my life—my weekend schedule was drastically different than my weekday schedule—and adjusting expectations isn’t failure; its success.
Find what works for you and let it evolve with your life.
Embrace Flexibility
Rigid rules kill creativity. Yes, some guidelines and boundaries are great, but if you put too much pressure on yourself, you’ll end up feeling frustrated and creatively stalled. Flexibility is key. It allows your creative practice to evolve with your life, making space for the unexpected.
Some weeks, I make wildly different pages every day—different color palettes, different supplies, different ideas; and then other weeks, I use the same supplies (usually whatever’s left on my desk) into my pages every day, and just change little things here and there. Both are valid, both are valuable.
Give yourself permission to adjust as you go.
Celebrate Your Wins—No Matter How Small
Whether you spent an hour painting or just ten minutes doodling, it's worth celebrating. Each time you create, you're adding to a body of work that tells your story. Don’t discount the small wins—they’re often the most meaningful.
On days when I only manage a quick sticker in my notebook, I still feel accomplished because I showed up for myself. It’s part of a larger effort and giving yourself space for tiny bits of progression is essential.
Small steps count.
Your creative practice has to be about finding joy in the process, not the pressure of perfection. Thinking about this further—how can you make your creative time feel more like play and less like a task you need to check off on your to-do list? Let me know in the comments below.