Wrap Up 2025 with Intention:

A call for artists & creatives to celebrate wins, honour growth, and make space for what’s next.

As creative professionals, we may be wrapping up commissioned projects or an academic semester, tying up seasonal sales or performances, or delivering on end-of-year deadlines. It’s a busy time. One that often keeps us looking only forward to what needs to be done before we break for the holiday season, or feeling the pressure to set goals and make to-do lists for the coming New Year. But this season also offers a powerful opportunity: to slow down long enough to acknowledge the ground we’ve covered. When we pause to celebrate our achievements, recognize our growth, and make space for what’s ahead. We wrap up the year not just with productivity, but with intention. For artists and creatives, this kind of reflection isn’t just nice to do, it’s fuel for confidence, clarity, and creative momentum in the year to come.

In my coaching practice, closing out the year has become anchored in two very intentional and meaningful traditions.

First, I take time to send individual thank-you notes and warm wishes for the season and the New Year to current and past clients, and anyone who has reached out over the year to learn more about my coaching practice. These personal notes are not only a way to honour the artists and creatives I’ve connected with and acknowledge the work we’ve done together, but also an intentional practice for strengthening and maintaining professional relationships. In a busy year, it’s easy to let these connections fade; intentionally taking the time to reach out ensures that the bonds we’ve built remain alive and meaningful. It’s a simple gesture, but one that feels both grounding and essential.

Second, every December I set aside space to reflect on my own journey. As creative professionals, we’re often so focused on what’s next—the next task, the next deadline, the next ambition—that our sense of progress can get buried under the weight of the to-do list. I see this often in coaching other creatives: the constant focus on forward momentum can unintentionally diminish our sense of growth, accomplishment, and confidence.

But when we pause to acknowledge the steps we’ve taken, no matter how small and when we articulate what we’ve learned, we give ourselves something powerful: perspective. Reflection becomes a quiet but meaningful “gift to self.”

I now treat my annual reflection as exactly that—a gift. I carve out a couple of hours minutes, make a cup of tea (chocolate is usually involved), get situated somewhere comfy and capture my thoughts. Reflection wasn’t something I leaned into early in my career. This practice has helped me see and celebrate progress, uncover creative ideas, and clarify where I want to focus heading into the new year. Honestly, it’s a practice that has transformed my coaching and creative work. Only after that do I begin setting new goals. The ritual (I think of it as my “annual retreat”) ends with my version of an “office party”. A special dinner where I share highlights with my “plus one”: my partner, proof-reader, on-demand photographer and biggest cheerleader.

As this year comes to a close, I invite you to give yourself the same gift of wrapping up your year with intention. Create your own annual retreat or at least take some time to reflect on your achievements, learnings, and growth—personally and within your creative practice, business, or career. You might be surprised by how much you’ve actually done and how far you’ve already come.

“Here’s to closing out 2025 with intention, celebration, and clarity heading into the new year ahead.”

Image Credit: Cylla Von Tiedemann