As the year comes to an end, it's time to reflect on all you've accomplished. What insights have you gained into yourself and your creativity that will help you set meaningful goals for 2023?

What have been your biggest takeaways?

How have you changed and evolved as a creative?

I invite you to join me and write these down, so that you can use them to focus your progress and chart your course for the year to come.

The other day, I was cleaning out my studio when I stumbled across the list of resolutions I wrote back in January. It made me sentimental and reflective about my journey throughout the year, so I thought it would be a great opportunity for us both to share some of our experiences and learnings from the past year to prepare for the upcoming one.

In case you are curious, here are some of the lessons I have taken away from 2022:

Self-Care is the BEST productivity hack.
Embrace Change even when it is unexpected or scary.
Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Celebrate small wins along the way.
Focus on what truly matters, and don't get too caught up in the details.

Let's explore each of these lessons further and come up with some practical ways to apply them in the year ahead.

Lesson One: Embrace Self-Care is the BEST productivity hack.

Have you ever noticed how much harder it is to work on a difficult project when you are feeling exhausted, cranky, and hungry?

Those days everything seems to take twice as long, and the results are never as good. As someone who can be a bit of a workaholic, I thought this was the only way to get things done. But it turns out that you really "can't pour from an empty cup”.

I think it is safe to say we have all heard about how science has shown that self-care actually increases our productivity and improves problem-solving and mood.

So, this year, I decided to test the science and instead of pushing myself beyond my limits, I made sure to take time to rest and relax. And guess what? I found that by taking care of myself, I was able to get more done in less time – even with half my usual hours. Against all odds, I am now a recovering workaholic and a firm believer that taking care of yourself is essential for success.

Prioritizing self-care means carving out time to relax, reflect, and recharge - so instead of constantly pushing ourselves beyond our limits, why not give ourselves a break? Not only will it replenish your energy levels and help with decision-making, but also it can be key in keeping you motivated through challenging projects. So take some time to treat yourself – you're worth it!

Lesson Two: Embrace Change even when it is unexpected or scary.

I'm sure you can agree that so much has happened this year that has been difficult, confusing, and downright scary. The world has been in turmoil, and on top of that, many of us have had to navigate the fears and uncertainty that AI-generated art has brought to our industry.

At first, I was so upset I couldn't get myself to create anymore. I was hurt - I had the feeling that something beautiful had just been stripped away from the world. And although I am still struggling to adjust, I have come to terms with the fact that change is inevitable and can be beautiful too.

The best thing we can do is to try to make the best of this change. What helped me through this time was to stop dwelling on what I had lost and allow some time to go into a journey of self-discovery.

I asked myself:

What does creativity mean to me?
What can I do that AI cannot?
Who am I if my identity as an artist is stripped away?

These are hard questions, but over time I realized that at the very core, my mission is to help and inspire people. And that's what we all can do, and AI cannot.

And even if the concept of drawing disappeared overnight, there would still be infinite ways to be creative, express ourselves, and help each other.

So while the world is changing around us, and this can be scary, it's important to remember that there is also a lot of beauty and potential for growth if we stay flexible and strive to protect our work.

Lesson Three: Don't be afraid to ask for help.

This is a lesson I have learned the hard way this year. I tend to take on too much and try to do it all myself, even if it pushes me to the brink of burnout.

But this year, I was forced to ask for help and reach out to my network more often than ever.

And you know what? It was the best decision I made in 2022. It gave me a chance to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and share the workload. I was able to delegate tasks to people who had a fresh perspective and could provide more insight than I could have done on my own.

Plus, I was reminded that we don't have to do everything alone - there is no shame in asking for help and accepting it when it's offered.

Lesson Four: Celebrate small wins along the way.

This year has been an uphill battle for many of us, and it can be easy to get stuck in the hustle and grind of problem-solving.

However, these strange times have been a precious reminder of how crucial it is to take some time to celebrate the little wins along the way.

It can be something as small as finishing a page of your sketchbook or getting a positive response from a client. Whatever it is, take a moment to appreciate that you've made progress and are closer to achieving your goal.

Celebrating your small wins can be invaluable to staying inspired and motivated. Not only can it help you feel good about the journey, but it can also be a powerful reminder of what’s truly possible when you put in the hard work.

By acknowledging these little steps forward, you’ll also be able to celebrate yourself and your accomplishments when imposter syndrome starts creeping in. You’ll have something to look back on and be proud of as time goes on, which will keep you moving closer to that end goal.

Making progress is key – no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it might seem at first. It's like climbing a mountain one step at a time. Every single step brings you closer to the summit, even if you can't see it from your current position. The same goes for making progress towards your goals – every small victory counts and should be appreciated!

Embracing the Creative Journey, One Lesson at a Time

This year, I've been fortunate to gain a wealth of meaningful lessons on my creative journey. And I hope that by sharing them, you can also take something away that will help you on your path.

As we move into the next year, remember creativity is a lifelong process, and although the path may be difficult at times, it is rewarding and worth the effort.

Embrace your creativity, take chances and don't give up. When times are tough, draw strength from those who can support and encourage you. Above all, take time to enjoy the process of creating something beautiful and allow yourself to rest when you need to.

We all have something special to offer in this world, and tapping into your unique gifts can open doors you never even knew existed.

As you travel along your journey next year, remember that you are capable of achieving remarkable things - all you need is a little faith in yourself and some courage.

So, what lessons have you learned this year? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Serena Avril Archetti

Artist and Creative Entrepreneur

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