Creative Director: Planning

I Create: Creative Director of my Life

First we reflect (last week), then we plan.

I’ve found a specific kind of day-timer that works for me. It took me a few years to find the right one. The criteria is this:

-Must have a visual calendar view for each month.

-Must have each week of the month laid out with enough room, specifically for the weekdays, to write out the affirmations and notes that I write daily.

-Must have note pages at the front or back that I can make my lists.

What I list in regards to planning:

Intentions ~ my written intentions for what I aim to see accomplished in the year.

Actions ~ what specific things I can and want to do this particular year.

At the end of 2024, I used a note page in that day planner to start a Brainstorm list for 2025. I just wanted to get down on paper all my ideas for 2025, and then I can narrow it down to which ones are the most important for where I am at now. Ideas include drafting my own Children’s book stories, entering in a specific craft fair towards year end for my cards, get my cards into more shops, specific illustrations and paintings I want to do.. the list goes on a bit more. So I’ve listed all the things I would like to do. And then it’s prioritizing which ones are my top picks to focus on this year, and some can be a priority next year or after the ‘top picks’ items are accomplished.

I hadn’t done a brainstorm in writing like this in past years, but going into 2024, I did know two things I was going for: I wanted to get this first illustrated book done, and I wanted to get my Webshop open for cards and prints. Both of these were accomplished in 2024! I hadn’t planned on entering craft fairs but I did that too – a bit last minute.

So now that these two ‘bigger goals’ were checked off in 2024, I know the power of wanting to do something and doing it, so I didn’t want this year to be unproductive. I wanted to choose some action and direction again.

I also started a new list specifically for my artistic development: more sketchbook pencil drawings that don’t have anything to do with the Instagram presentations and also more detailed scene illustrations. My favourite illustrators have all these little details in their pictures and I want to practice making my own style of detailed pictures as well. Putting more time and effort into the development of a piece.

I love a fresh day planner, so the planning stuff is fun for me and as I open my day planner every day, it’s always top of mind. I imagine a lot of people use their phone and notes in there, but I love the visual of flipping through the pages and seeing the month laid out in one place and each week following. The most important thing though is that, whichever method works for you, do that. If it helps you get closer to your goal, do that.

Until next week,

Devon

Ps, I’d be happy to hear what your planning methods are! Let me know in the ‘contact’ page. 🤗