Why real life doesn’t have to be the enemy to your creative intentions in 2026
You started 2026 with big, sparkly intentions. This was the year your sketchbook or journal would stop being an ‘I’ll get to it someday’ object and become a real, living, slightly messy companion. January was strong. Nothing like some new stationery and the goal to exist in your main character storyline where you do some things just because you want to.
And now it’s Feb. Maybe the to do lists are longer, there’s less novelty and more reality.
But… if your creative habit feels like it’s wobbling right now, I’m going to help you reframe the thoughts you have around that and say: congratulations, you’re not a failure. That’s you getting to reassess your intention based on having first contact with (not the enemy) February. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s designing a habit that can survive real life.
The first way to help your creative habit make it through February is deceptively simple:
PUT YOUR SKETCHBOOK SOMEWHERE YOU CAN SEE IT, especially in the same place as the habit you want to stack it with or break. Creativity thrives on invitation, not obligation. If your sketchbook is tucked away in a drawer, your brain will forget it exists the moment life gets busy. A sketchbook with a beautiful, tactile, personality-filled cover earns its place on your desk, coffee table, or bedside. In the case of having a BTLT sketchbook in your life, it makes it so easy when your cover is LITERALLY art. So in this case, you can have your cake and eat it too. When it’s right there, and you’re acting in alignment with your values, showing up for yourself in a way that makes you proud, you’re far more likely to open it, even if it’s just for two minutes and a scribble.
Next, it’s important to GET YOUR WHY REALLY CLEAR, especially when motivation dips. You might be able to willpower your way through 52 weeks of creativity, but it will be much easier when you acknowledge the benefits of your sketchbook practice. Why did you want this habit in the first place? More play? Less pressure? A place to think without performing? February is the month where you gently remind yourself that your sketchbook isn’t another productivity tool, it’s support. It helps you regulate, process, experiment, and reconnect with yourself. Even a few lines, shapes, or thoughts count. When you consciously link the habit to how it feels rather than how it looks, consistency becomes far more sustainable.
The third tip is where the fun really kicks in: CHOOSE A WAY TO SHOW YOURSELF HOW PROUD YOU ARE OF YOUR CONSISTENCY. We all love treats and your creative habit deserves celebration. Track your sketchbook time somewhere practical and pretty. Use a habit tracker card (let me know if you want a template), a sticker chart, a dedicated page in the front of your sketchbook. Each mark is proof you showed up. Rewards don’t have to be big: new pens after ten check-ins, a fancy coffee while you draw, or simply admiring a full row of ticks. Progress feels better when you can see it. I am obsessed with tracking habits so if you want any tips, I’m your gal.
Finally, remember this: surviving February doesn’t mean doing more, it means doing enough. A playful, consistent creative habit isn’t built on willpower; it’s built on visibility, meaning, and joy. Let your sketchbook be easy to reach, emotionally supportive, and quietly rewarding. If it lives in your eyeline, it doesn’t disappear when motivation does. And that’s how intentions turn into habits that last well beyond February.
