10 Ways to Make 2020 Artsier and More Creative

Well, we’re just a couple days away from the start of Hanukkah with Christmas close behind, so perhaps you’re reading this in full holiday swing. Or maybe you’re like me and you’re already super stoked for the beginning of the new year!

I love this time of year almost as much as I love Back to School. Beginnings are so magical, and of course the turning over of the year is the most natural and intense of all fresh starts. Whether you’re someone like me who loves New Year’s resolutions (they’re fun! It’s a great time to set a goal!) or you’re more like Ryan (“I can pick any day I want to start something, why does it have to be January 1st?”), you can’t deny that starting a new year can be an ideal moment to embark on a new adventure or turn over a new leaf.

Which is why I’ve made the following list of 10 ways to set up your 2020 to be artsier and more creative. If you’re looking to infuse your day-to-day with a little more inspiration, look no further than picking one (or several!) of the following for your new year. Resolutions don’t have to be crazy or drastic or super hard – some of my favourites have been pretty minimal effort for maximum effect. Which is how I hope these will feel to you. So let’s dive in, and let me know if you adopt any of these for your 2020 planning!

1. Commit to a daily creative process

I started with the scariest sounding one to weed out people who weren’t into this whole exercise… did it work? Ok, for those who remain, this one is actually not so difficult – it just sounds onerous. Here are some of my past daily creative practices that I would highly recommend: do a post-it note doodle each morning at the start of the workday; write a one sentence poem; find a different way to write the date each morning in your notes… etc.. A daily creative practice for you might be 10 minutes of playing guitar after dinner, or it might be a dance break in your bathroom while you do your makeup. This is the ultimate in “you do you.”

2. Make a reading list or category

I love to read, and I pound back at least a book a week right now, often more like three. But once our bébé arrives in April, that will… likely change. Which is why I’m doing what I’ve done a couple of busy years before and setting a yearly theme for my reading. I’ve done children’s literature/YA before, I’ve done personal development books, and I’ve done business books. This year, I’m doing classic fiction (I started collecting Penguin’s Clothbound Classics, so I’m going to build my collection while I read). Having a category or list is great motivation to read more, which is wonderful for igniting creativity.

3. Take a course

Ok, again, this one might sound scary, but it’s really not. With the advent of the ol’ internet, taking a course in a creative or artsy topic or skill is SO EASY. Personally, I love Skillshare, and every podcaster and their uncle seems to have a promo code for free months of classes (just google it to find one). I particularly loved author and artist Elle Luna’s course about finding and pursuing your passion. If you’re more into group activities/hands-on learning, check out your local art school, improv theatre company, or even university continuing education program.

4. Buy some tickets

Obviously, this is my favourite. Have a look at the next, say, four months of the calendar for your local arts groups (symphony orchestra, ballet, theatre companies, chamber music groups, opera companies, etc.), and buy some tickets now. I’m all about pre-deciding things to boost your happiness and reduce your stress, and booking things way in advance is a great way to make sure you work enough creative inspiration into your calendar.

5. Make a monthly playlist

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that music is a huge part of my workday. Well, since the CD-burning days of high school, I’ve loved to make a monthly playlist. I love the act of pulling together songs that appeal to me, then putting them in an order that flows. And I love having a little boost of personality every day by listening to my playlist. Simple but effective.

6. Choose a new skill to develop

You could do this by taking a course (see number 3 above), or you might do what I’ve done in the past and simply chose a skill (like public speaking, networking, or technical writing) that you would like to develop over the course of this year. Skill development takes creativity, particularly because it helps you reframe challenges as opportunities. Loads of what we think of as “workplace skills” are actually rooted in craftspersonship (like writing and speaking), so think of yourself as an artisan and embark upon a year of improvement!

7. Revisit an old passion/hobby

One of my personal favourites. Perhaps 2020 is your year to remember why you really loved to paint in high school, or why you’re pretty sure you loved playing the piano as a kid. I read recently that you should reflect on what you loved between the ages of 10 and 12 to figure out what you should do for a living. Well, I say the same is true for your hobbies. When I was between 10 and 12, I loved to play piano and draw, just like I do now. What did you love to do that you could revive this year?

8. Dress “you-er”

Curating your wardrobe is a shockingly easy and transformative big change you can make in the new year, and it’s a super creative ongoing exercise. Figuring out your personal style, honing your closet, and feeling true to you in how you present yourself every day is one of the most amazing creative gifts you can give yourself. Where do you even start? I love Anuschka Rees work and Courtney Carver’s Project 333 system. Why not start there?

9. Curate your daily routines

The reasons artists from all disciplines LOVE routines is because they free up brain space for creative thinking and they also make sure creativity has the space it needs to flourish. Some routines (like journaling, singing in the shower, and drawing) make space specifically for creativity. Others, like streamlining your morning and bedtime routines, free up your brain (it’s shocking how choosing what to eat for breakfast burns up decision-space!). Resolve to fix up your daily routines for more creativity every day.

10. Commit to making mistakes and being a beginner

Finally, resolutions don’t need to be something you quit or something you start – they can also be a practice or mindset you commit to having for the year. My favourite is making an agreement with yourself to welcome mistakes and embrace the beginner’s mindset. These two essential qualities of artists are also useful for pretty much anyone. Trying to uplevel your career? Put yourself out there, knowing you won’t always hit a home run. In a new phase of family life? Be a curious beginner and seek continuous improvement. In other words, live a little more like an artist in 2020.

And that’s it! I hope the coming week of festivities (or, if you’re like Ryan and I, cozy movie and basketball watching) brings you so much joy and restoration. And happy early planning for 2020!