10 Goals for Turning Daily Pages into a Creative Habit

As we head into the holiday season (and for me, an even busier season of life with a baby on the way), I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to keep showing up creatively. Daily Pages are my anchor—it’s how I make sure I’m creating, reflecting, and taking up space even when life feels chaotic. These ten goals help me stay grounded in the practice. They’re simple, doable, and designed to evolve with whatever’s going on in your world too.

1. Be Creative (Even When It’s Messy)

Use your Daily Pages to exercise your creative muscles. Move your hands, tear paper, layer stickers, stamp something—anything that feels good. It’s not about perfection; it’s about energy and flow. Every mark is a reminder that you made something today.

2. Make It Part of Your Routine

Five minutes is enough. Truly. Pick a time that fits your real life—over morning coffee, right after dinner, or as a bedtime wind-down. When it’s part of your rhythm, it becomes second nature, like brushing your teeth or checking your messages.

When in your day do you feel most open to a few quiet, creative minutes?

3. Celebrate Visible Progress

There’s nothing quite like flipping through a finished notebook and seeing every stage of your creative journey. Each spread is proof of progress—you can see your growth right there in ink and paper. That’s the kind of motivation that builds itself.

4. Experiment with New Supplies

That new stamp set? The paint color you’re not sure about? Daily Pages are the perfect playground. You’ll learn what you love and what’s not for you—without wasting a full afternoon or a ton of materials.

Pro tip: Test supplies here before they make it onto your big projects.

5. Try New Techniques, No Pressure

Whether it’s collage layering, doodling, or mixing paper scraps, your notebook is a judgment-free zone. Think of it like stretching before a workout—these experiments warm up your creativity for everything else you make.

6. Play First, Practice Later

Play = practice. Let yourself make something just because it looks fun. When you treat your pages as play, you naturally build confidence and skill. (And let’s be honest—it’s more fun this way.)

7. Step Outside Your Usual Style

Try colors you never reach for, layouts that feel strange, or supplies from brands you’ve never used. Growth happens when you stretch a little past what’s comfortable. Daily Pages are the safest place to take those creative risks.

8. Use What You Already Have

Your stash deserves love! Those leftover papers, random embellishments, and half-used sticker sheets are perfect for Daily Pages. There’s a special kind of joy in finally using up what’s been waiting in your drawer.

9. Have Fun, Always

It sounds simple, but this is the whole point. Let your brain and hands connect in a way that feels good. If your pages make you smile or help you breathe a little easier, you’re doing it right.

What’s one tiny thing you can add to make your next page more joyful?

10. Add Your Own Goal

Maybe your focus this season is rest. Maybe it’s connection, or self-reflection, or simply showing up when you can. Write it down here, stick it in your notebook, and let it evolve over time.

Add your own: ___________________________________________

Your Turn ✍🏻

Pick one of these goals and make a Daily Page inspired by it this week. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just five minutes of paper, glue, or whatever’s already on your desk. When you’re done, share your page in the Activity Feed so we can cheer you on and celebrate your creative progress together.

Want more inspiration?

Visit my Daily Pages Archive on Substack to see how I keep up with these goals week after week.

Check out the Daily Pages 101 Workshop for practical tips to keep your habit going.