8 ways to achieve your creative goals in 2025

New year, new you. It's a nice idea, right? But just because the date changes on the calendar doesn't mean anything will change in your life… unless you make it happen. So, right now is the perfect time to decide how to go about it.

After all, 2025 is going to be a challenging year for most of us. Whatever you think about the rising influence of AI, it's certainly going to shake things up. And while that might mean bad things for some people, times of creative chaos can also offer fresh and exciting opportunities… as long as you're ready to meet the challenge.

And that's so important. Because honestly, what separates successful creatives from unsuccessful ones isn't some mythical "talent". It's more about resilience, a willingness to adapt, the flexibility to get on with people, and the determination to deliver in the real world of business (as opposed to the often imaginary world of social media).

So, in this article, we'll explore eight practical ways to achieve your creative and career goals over the next 12 months. We've included a number of tips suggested by the Creative Boom community, and you can read the full chat on Threads, BlueSky and X.

1. Strip away distractions

In our hyperconnected world, distractions are the silent productivity killers that prevent so many of us from achieving our goals. So why do something about that in 2025? That might mean turning off notifications, designating specific work hours, or creating a dedicated workspace that minimises interruptions.

Only you know what truly distracts you, though, so be honest with yourself and forthright about shutting the biggest distractions down. You'll doubtless see quite spectacular results within a short space of time.

This is how John Roescher, CEO at Raw Materials, for one, plans to spend the next 12 months. "I'm going to think more about doing the best work possible and think less about everything else," he reveals. "The work will take care of everything. There is so much noise and distraction in the creative and design space right now. So I plan to strip it away and focus on the work."

2. Ask for what you want

We often sit there dreaming of being offered the perfect project or meeting the ideal client. But how often do we simply go out there and ask for it? As graphic designer Liz Mosley suggests: "Get pitching and asking for what you want, instead of waiting for people to find you or notice you."

This might sound overly simple, but it really does work. Not every time, of course. But as the adage goes: "If you don't ask, you don't get".

Networking, reaching out to potential clients and confidently presenting your work are crucial steps in creating career opportunities. Only once you start to articulate your desires and showcase your skills, they're much more likely to come your way. If you don't, they probably won't.

3. Be more curious

Creativity thrives on curiosity and playfulness. But once you've been creative for a few years, it's easy to get bogged down in the conveyor belt of repetitive work and see all that fade away.

Getting back that childlike sense of wonder requires deliberate effort, but it's not exactly rocket science either. Illustrator Ella Lama sets a good example of how to go about it.

"In 2025, I plan to approach my art and work with lightness and a sense of play," she explains. "That means being more curious and open to experimentation, and one way I see myself leaning into this mindset is by doing one simple sketchbook drawing a day. As a digital artist, this is both intimidating and exciting."

Marketing coach Karen Webber tells a similar story. "My goal in 2025 is to make more time for creative play," she says. "I know from experience that this has a positive knock-on effect on all other aspects of my life and business."

4. Break everything down into manageable steps

If a goal or ambition seems too overwhelming, it always helps to break it down into small, achievable steps. This helps reduce anxiety, build momentum through small victories, and maintain a clear line of sight towards your ultimate creative vision.

This is pretty much how illustrator Giulia Ferrari Ulbrich has planned the next 12 months of her career. "First. I did a retrospective of 2024 to remember what I wanted at the beginning of the year, what I have achieved, and what I didn't," she explains. "I thought about what still makes sense to me and my career at this point. Then, I thought about my goals for 2025 and broke into tiny steps to achieve them.

"One of my goals for 2025 is to draw comics and perhaps publish a comic book," she adds. "For that, my plan is to share one comic strip on my social media every month or week so that I can make my goal into a routine."

5. Don't overdo it

Many self-help articles claim you can achieve your goals simply by going all-out and putting every ounce of energy and passion you have into your career. But in our experience, that approach can actually be quite counterproductive.

We've heard so many stories of how a culture of "hustle" and perpetual productivity can lead to burnout, diminishing the very creativity and passion that drives your work. So, we'd argue that recognising your limits, establishing healthy boundaries, and allowing yourself periods of rest and reflection are crucial.

As creative copywriter ‪‪Yasmin Qureshi‬ puts it: "In 2025, I want to be gentle with myself because I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to do well." And remember: self-compassion isn't a sign of weakness but a strategic approach to maintaining long-term creative vitality and preventing the exhaustion that can derail your most ambitious projects.

6. Learn new skills

Is 2025 the time to learn a new skill? In an increasingly complex professional landscape, we'd argue that it's becoming more and more of a necessity for all of us. And you shouldn't see that as a bad thing because continuous learning is in itself the lifeblood of creativity.

By approaching skill development with structured commitment and curiosity, you not only expand your technical capabilities but also stimulate your cognitive flexibility. Expanding your skill set, whether through online courses, workshops, or self-directed learning, can open unexpected creative pathways.

Design educator ‪Jason Frostholm‬ understands this all too well. "In 2025, I plan on devoting more time to improving my motion design skills," he tells us. "I have several boot camps that I have signed up for, and I am going to try and knock out one lesson a week until I'm finished with them."

7. Do small projects

Does your work feel monotonous? A great way to break the spell is to start one or two small projects.

Small projects serve as creative laboratories, offering low-stakes environments to experiment, take risks, and rapidly prototype ideas. They can provide immediate gratification, build confidence, and prevent the creative paralysis that can come from perpetually planning massive undertakings.

By embracing these smaller-scale ventures, you maintain creative momentum, develop quick execution skills, and create a portfolio of diverse work that demonstrates your versatility and adaptive capabilities.

Comic artist Sam Hardacre, for one, is a big fan of this approach. "I've learned that I'm a bit like a magpie creative: always looking for the next project," he explains. "I'm on the brink of sending a short comic to the printers, which was only conceived of just over a week ago, so in the coming year, I'd like to get more short-form projects under my belt."

8. Elevate intention over goals

One problem some people have with creative goals is setting them in the first place. So, if you don't have a clear goal you're passionate about achieving, maybe take inspiration from artist Berenice Howard-Smith.

"I'm a believer in intentions over goals," she explains. "I make notes on Trello over the year on what worked, what didn't or needs reviewing or more resources and use that to create intentions. It could be workflow, an area I need experience in or more inspiration."

Berenice's approach is ideal for anyone who wants to grow their creative practice in general but doesn't have a specific goal in mind. Focusing on intentions rather than goals acknowledges the hard reality that creative journeys are rarely linear and allows for more flexibility and self-compassion in how one pursues one's career.

Conclusion

Achieving your creative goals in 2025 isn't about perfection but about consistent, intentional progress. By implementing some or all of these strategies – reducing distractions, being proactive, staying curious, setting meaningful intentions, breaking down goals, practising self-compassion, learning continuously, and embracing small projects – you can create a more fulfilling and productive creative journey.

Remember, though, that creativity is a personal process. So take what resonates with you from our list, adapt these insights to your unique situation, and most importantly, enjoy the creative process in 2025!