One of the things I value most during holiday breaks is the space they create for intentional reflection and creative brainstorming. When life slows down just enough, it gives us permission to pause—not to stop creating, but to create more thoughtfully.

For me, break times are an opportunity to sit down and take a strategic look at the creative projects I’ve launched over the past year. I review what I put into the world, what worked, what didn’t, and what surprised me along the way. I examine the successes and the challenges, especially during launch periods, and take honest notes on the marketing strategies I used and which ones were actually effective.

This reflection isn’t just limited to my own work as an author. One of the things I love most about working alongside other authors is how much it stretches my creativity. Seeing how others approach storytelling, publishing, and marketing pushes me to think deeper and explore areas where I can grow and strengthen my own creative practice. There’s something powerful about learning not only from your own experiences, but from the journeys of other creatives around you.

Break times are also when I intentionally look forward. I take time to think about what I want to create in the coming year. I’m incredibly grateful that my personal creative projects for 2025 were successfully launched and are now available for sale. That sense of completion fuels motivation—but it doesn’t end there. I already have goals in mind for 2026, including some exciting and challenging projects that I’m personally pursuing.

Some of those goals are deeply personal, and I plan to share them in more detail with my exclusive community. If you’re interested in accessing that behind-the-scenes content, you can sign up here.

At the same time, I believe it’s essential to balance ambition with honesty. Writing down your goals matters—but so does taking a realistic look at what actually worked for you this year and what didn’t. Creative growth doesn’t happen without reflection. When we allow ourselves to assess past projects without judgment, we open the door to new ideas, new strategies, and fresh ways of thinking creatively about what comes next.

I’m a firm believer that creative people should always be creating. That doesn’t necessarily mean launching a new book every year. It can look like experimenting with content in different forms—writing blog posts, video blogging, creating social media content, or exploring other creative outlets that allow you to use your gifts and talents in new capacities.

There is so much opportunity available right now for creatives to share their voices and ideas. Break times are the perfect moment to explore those possibilities, stretch your imagination, and reignite your passion.

So I’ll leave you with this question: What are you currently working on, and what goals are you setting for the future? If you’re comfortable sharing publicly, I’d love to hear about it. Let’s keep creating—intentionally, honestly, and boldly.