A Creative's New Years Resolutions for 2018

Well, here we are in 2018--and here we have that obligatory New Year’s Resolution blog post.

Why do we do this to ourselves every year? We make promises to ourselves that are difficult to keep, and then we all crack jokes about it on the internet. I’m not sure that it’s exactly funny that you went to the gym everyday January 1st-7th, and then on January 31st you write that Facebook status about how you went to the gym for one week, and now you’re stuck in a 2-year contract, you’re on the couch watching Netflix and eating Doritos, and LOL. It’s not really funny, but it’s relatable. We “LOL-back” because we can relate. I’m not judging, but I mean...we do let ourselves down when we fail at our resolutions, right?

I’ve written a New Year’s Resolution post every year I’ve had a blog as a creative. It’s nice to reflect, see how you’ve grown, and where to go from here. It’s awesome to feel inspired and motivated at the start of a new year as if your slate is wiped clean and you can start fresh. I also know the feeling of letting myself down. I’ve always had a bulleted list of at least 10 resolutions with descriptions of my reasonings for why I’m taking on each challenge. I may have accomplished a few of these, but never all of them. In years of doing this, I never took my own advice. I wanted to do ALL THE THINGS and always bit off more than I could chew. Story of my life.

I still want to do all the things, and that natural ambition of mine will likely never go away. It fuels my inner fire, but it’s important I don’t let it burn out.

Instead of taking on 10 resolutions, I will take on two. One, not to bite off more than I can chew. If you know me personally, this has been quite the journey of learning how to say no.

Secondly, I’d like to grow as a creative taking on one challenge at a time, always growing and not limiting myself. I’d love to earn a passive income through digital marketing, blogging, and my shop. I’d like to start selling digital products. I’d like to grow and become unstoppable in my profession. I’d like to continue to rescue all the animals, chase all the monsters and ghosts, and become the best creative that I can be. I just need to do this one day at a time, and one challenge at a time.

Blogging about New Year’s Resolutions does allow you to hold yourself accountable, at least somewhat. Holding oneself accountable was a great lesson in 2017, and learning to do that for myself has gotten me here now.

Many photographers and artists always share their favorite projects in a blog from the previous year and I’ve always found that to be profoundly boring (sorry!). I’m not going to do that, as every project, regardless of what it meant to me, has impacted me in some way and has gotten me to where I am now. I can’t wait for what’s ahead.

Happy New Year,

The Girl in the Unicorn Pajamas