Starting Small: Creative Goals for the New Year (Without the Pressure)

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I began this year snowed in — cosy in bed, tucked under my electric blanket — and instead of watching only hours of Netflix, I decided to plan out each area of my life for 2026… while still watching Netflix, of course. One of those areas was my business.

Rather than setting rigid resolutions that I know I won’t stick to, I’ve focused on realistic creative goals that I can work towards weekly or monthly. Goals that feel achievable, flexible, and kind — not overwhelming.

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Planning Without the Pressure

One of my main goals for January is to have the year mapped out before the month ends. January always feels like the longest month, so there’s plenty of time to do this properly. Planning ahead helps remove the stress of last-minute launches and scrambling for ideas, and it allows both myself and Alex to see the bigger picture and feel prepared.

It’s less about locking myself into strict plans and more about giving my creativity space to breathe.

Content, Consistency & Letting Go of Perfection

Social media has been a huge pressure point for me. Between working full-time, looking after my dog, and actually having a life outside of a laptop, planning content for my own business often slips down the priority list — even though it’s something I do daily for clients and at work.

So this year, I’ve set myself a realistic goal of posting 3–4 times per week, with content tailored to each platform. I’ve realised content doesn’t need to be complicated — raw behind-the-scenes moments can be just as interesting as a highly edited video.

Honestly, I think fear held me back. Fear of not being perfect, of making mistakes, of things not landing exactly right. But something clicked. I just want to share — without pressure, without overthinking, and without trying to please everyone.

I want my content to feel honest. Behind-the-scenes, imperfect, and real — not overly polished or forced.

Creating Products With Intention

Another big shift this year is how I approach launches. I was honestly sick of panicked releases (yes — very amateur of me) and rushed content. So I’ve set myself a clear product goal: four thoughtfully planned print collections across the year, with the first launching in February around a Valentine’s theme.

Every product I release is carefully considered. Nothing is added to the store “just because” — I want each piece to feel intentional and aligned with the PDCS brand.

Progress Over Perfection

This year, I’m choosing progress over perfection in every area of my life. I’m trusting that consistency compounds, and I’m allowing myself to learn as I go.

I want PDCS to grow into a slower, more intentional creative space — one that reflects why I launched it in the first place and what I genuinely enjoy about it. That means more behind-the-scenes moments, more day-in-the-life content, and more honesty throughout the process.

Starting small is still starting.

Iona x