Your Routine, Your Rules
Let’s build something that actually works for your life.
Hi friends,
Today,1 I woke up to thundersnow. Literal thunder and lightning during a snowstorm. It was wild, a little chaotic, and honestly—kind of hilarious. One of those moments where nature reminds you that things don’t always make sense, but they still show up in spectacular, messy ways.
Which, let’s be real, is also how creative routines work.
This time of year always makes me think about rhythm. Mostly, because I suck at rhythm right now. This transition from winter into spring with the constant pressure changes and storm fronts is torture for my headaches.
What I need right now (and always, really) is the kind of rhythm that doesn’t ask for perfection—but just keeps going, even when life gets messy. As we head into spring, I feel like we’re all collectively trying to remember how to move forward again2. So today, I want to talk about what it actually takes to build a creative routine that lasts—especially when motivation runs out.
Let’s get into it: creative routines that work for your life.
When I first started my creative practice, I didn’t have a perfect plan—it wasn’t even supposed to be a practice, just a project to get me out of a rut.
I didn’t have a schedule, an abundance of supplies, or even a clear vision. But what I did have was an overwhelming desire to make something—to tell my story. Fast forward to today, I’ve developed creative habits that have carried me through times of abundant flow and times when literally just standing up at my desk felt like a win.
Over the past several years, I’ve learned a few truths about building a creative routine that I want to share with you today—because your story matters, and you deserve a creative habit that works your way.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this email:
Consistency beats motivation.
Perfection is a trap.
Your routine should fit you—not the other way around.
Let’s do it.
Consistency Beats Motivation
Motivation is a fair-weather friend. It shows up when it wants, and disappears just as quickly. It isn’t something that you can just summon on a whim. But consistency? That’s your real BFF when it comes to creativity.
When I started my Daily Pages habit back in the summer of 2018, I wasn’t chasing a masterpiece. I gave myself permission to make one little creative thing each day. Some days it was a list. Other days it was a collage, a stamp, or a colorful mess. But the point wasn’t the product—it was the practice.
Showing up every day, even with something tiny, adds up. Those small actions build trust with yourself. They remind you that you’re a person who creates. Not just when it’s easy. But always.
Your Turn: What’s one teeny-tiny creative action you could take today—even if you’re completely out of motivation?
Perfection Is a Trap
I used to think I needed everything to be just right before I could create well: the clean desk, the perfect supplies, the ideal chunk of time. But spoiler alert: that moment rarely shows up; and even when it does, it doesn’t mean that what you create is going to be any better because of it.
One day3, I realized that waiting just wasn’t working. I looked at the calendar and thought to myself, if I keep waiting for things to calm down, I’m never going to be creative again. So instead of waiting for perfection, I just stuck a sticker on the page and called it a day. I made something imperfect and half-finished while cleaning up my desk. And guess what? It still counted. It was still mine.
Perfectionism is sneaky. It tells you not to start unless it’ll be amazing. But creativity doesn’t thrive in perfect—it thrives in practice. It thrives in trying, failing, playing, making it weird, and doing it anyway. Working through the hard shit is how you actually get better at your skills.
Your Turn: Where are you holding yourself back, waiting for “perfect”? What would it look like to just start with what you’ve got?
Your Routine Should Fit You
Here’s the truth: your creative routine should work for your life, not someone else’s highlight reel. I tried the early-morning thing because that’s what successful creatives supposedly did. But I’m not a morning person, especially on headache days—I’m a grumpy mess until around noon.
It wasn’t until I embraced my afternoon energy that I really started enjoying my creative practice again. I stopped fighting my natural rhythm and started working with it.
There is no single right way to build a creative habit. There’s just the way that fits your schedule, your energy, your priorities. Your story, your way.
Your Turn: What time of day—or what kind of vibe—makes you feel most creative? How can you lean into that instead of fighting against it?
Building a creative routine isn’t about doing it perfectly (that’s not a thing). It’s about making it work for your life. Whether you’ve been creating for years or you’re just getting started, the important part is that you keep showing up—one small step at a time.
So let this be your reminder:
Start small and stay consistent.
Let go of the perfect setup.
Build a routine that actually feels good.
You’ve got this. Your story matters. Keep going.
Weekly Resource List:
The Basic Guide to Daily Pages (7-minute read): Everything you need to get started with Daily Pages.
Finding Time for Daily Pages (Even If You Work 40+ Hours a Week) (31-minute listen): Real talk on how to build your creative journaling practice even with a crazy busy lives.
The Joy of Completion (5-minute read): Me chatting about why finishing a notebook feels so good.
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Here’s what we covered today:
Why consistency is your creative secret weapon.
Why perfection is overrated and unnecessary.
Action step: Pick one of the "Your Turn" questions above and actually do it. (Yes, really!)
Hit reply and let me know even more about you and your (future?) creative habit!
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.
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Wednesday, April 2nd.
Especially in the now times.
During the Summer 2018
Love the advice of fitting the routine to your life
Love this so much and I can really relate, I try to do something creative several times a week and it doesn't have to be perfect, just always present in my lifestyle.