Reflection: The Creative System That FINALLY Worked for Me in 2025

Thoughts on setting up everything around me to fit my creative process.

Mind you, cold feet kill creativity - wear some nice indoor shoes and make sure they are pink!

A Big Year, Personally and Creatively

2025 has been a pretty big year for me. My family and I moved countries—from Thailand to Australia (the second time I’ve moved to Australia, by the way). I’ve been the main support for my two kids settling into everything, as my husband has been busy adjusting to his new job here.

I’ve finally let go of my lifelong fear of driving and just got behind the wheel (on the “wrong” side of the road)—and now I actually really love it.

I’ve also said goodbye (for now) to a very important part of my creative practice—producing and selling my own products (gift wrap and interior décor)—which I did when living in Vietnam and later in Thailand.

Leaving Thailand also meant saying goodbye to many good friends and learning how to find my feet in a new environment, where making friends have felt a bit harder than in the other places we have lived.

And then there are the little adjustments: overhearing conversations on the bus again (after years of blissful language-barrier quiet in Asia), and learning to live in a place where running means running uphill all the time because this is my neighbourhood. Some days I actually miss the fumes of Bangkok—at least it was flat!

Personal transitions aside, 2025 has also been a kick-ass year creatively. I’ve produced a lot of commercially viable artwork, and with the year coming to an end, it feels right to share how that happened—and what I’ve learned about staying productive as a creative.

Honestly, I still haven’t found the holy grail of creativity (tell me if you have), but I’ll share how this positive leap forward has looked for me.

I Still Can’t “Push” an Inspired Production

Throwback to my first few weeks settling in Bangkok: the kids finally had long, consistent school days, giving me almost a real workday after years of Covid, homeschooling, and short hours.

I went to the nearest co-working space, full of plans and hours of time for drawing.

What could go wrong?

Except—it did go wrong. I didn’t produce anything. I did go back and forth to the café a lot, though. And outside. Basically everywhere except where I was supposed to be.

After months of frustration and self-doubt, I learned two things:

Takeaway 1: Acceptance. This wasn’t working for me.

Takeaway 2: Stop being such a s### boss to myself.

I need my morning coffee, I need my friends, I need exercise—and most importantly, I need fun in my life to feel inspired. I don’t need eight straight hours at a boring desk.

Once I embraced that, things shifted. I went for coffees, did my workouts, made time to see friends, and worked from new cafés across town. What happened? I produced more fun art—and I was happier and more inspired.

In Sydney, I finally got something I’ve wanted for a long time—a dedicated home studio with lots of light and a beautiful view (with unlimited coffee). The downside? No co-workers. That’s an adjustment after Bangkok’s buzzing café life as I am a social person.

I fill my days with other things that matter—connecting with new friends outside of home, joining my art community calls, training at my local yoga studio (I’m even doing a 200-hour teacher training there because it's an awesome studio), visiting small exhibitions, grabbing beach coffees, and going for runs.

It leaves me fewer hours for art—but overall, it makes me more productive and creative. It’s all about balance.

I Built a System That Really Works for Me

About a year ago, I was torn between two online courses. One cost $1,111 USD, and I promised the universe I’d take it once I had exactly that in my account. Then, while playing Monopoly with my kids, I realized I had exactly $1,111 in fake money. The universe clearly has a sense of humor!

Yup - I'm Mor (or mum) and I had just earned $ 1,111 in fake money - mind you - thanks Universe - very helpful!

The first course had already closed, so I took it as a sign to join the second one instead. I did and I haven’t regretted it.

I joined Cat Coquillette’s Art of Collections course around this time last year. It’s for illustrators working toward art licensing, and one of its key ideas is creating coherent collections—sets of designs that work together when pitching to companies.

Before that, my work usually consisted of single patterns or illustrations. This course shifted my mindset—it helped me think more commercially and cohesively.

Every month, I produced one new collection. Twelve months later, that’s a lot of work and actively putting myself out there pitching every week. I’ve felt up, down, and all over the place through the process—but the work is there.

Takeaway: A realistic plan are king (and Cat's course really is awesome - as is she!).

Saying No to Say Yes

After years working with project management, I haven’t learnt a thing and I’m still super unrealistic about how many projects I can actually fit on my plate. Around this time last year, I started saying no to projects. I needed time and space to build my collections, and I couldn’t get that if I kept saying yes to everything else.

It felt strange at first—out of alignment with my usual “say yes” energy—but it was what my gut told me to do.

A year later, I see how essential that was. I needed space to create.

Another “no” was choosing not to bring my full production setup with me when we moved. When I say production, I mean that I used to produce my own gift wrapping and interior décor items and sell them when living in Asia. I’ve missed it, and I’ll likely pick it up again soon (I already have a small trial planned before the end of the year), but I needed calm and focus this year to finish my collections.

This is how I best set myself up now—and I keep making sure there’s room for what truly matters.

5 a.m. Mornings Make All the Difference

Everyone’s different, but I’m a morning person. Try getting me to work after 6 p.m.—it’s not happening. I’m in bed by 9 p.m., and I like it that way.

To boost my productivity, I started getting up at 5 a.m. to work without distractions. No Instagram, no emails, no news. I go straight to the couch with a blanket and my iPad and draw whatever comes to me (okay, I do check Pinterest for inspiration).

By the time the family gets up at 6 a.m, I’ve already created something fun—which often sets the tone for my entire creative day.

Major game-changer.

Proof that I have actually been up at 5 AM - pretty dark in winter time here in Sydney.

My Art Is Weird—Live with it

In my art community, I was voted “most likely to start a trend without trying.” Thanks so much guys.

I have a distinct style, and as much as I’d love to be the girl who just draws pretty flowers (my life would be so much easier), something weird always sneaks in. Otherwise, I get bored.

I’m learning to embrace that weirdness and trust there’s a place for it. Apparently, there is, I’m getting nice feedback on my stuff.

Having a mind that’s a bit “out there” hasn’t always been helpful in other jobs—it’s something I used to hide. Now I’m grateful that I’ve found a place where it’s actually an asset.

When Your Energy Works, Everything Else Works Too

I’ve spent much of my life battling myself—trying to do more, be more, live up to invisible expectations.

When we moved abroad, I hit a wall. I was exhausted and finally said, “f### it. I’ll drink coffee for a year and chill.”

That’s when something shifted. I started living a more honest version of my life. I opened up energetically to opportunities I’d been resisting. (I promise I won’t go full yoga on you here, but I have done a lot of inner work these past few years—and it’s changed everything.)

That’s also when I picked up drawing again, after an adult life of not touching a pen.

Now, I trust my intuition. No more second-guessing. If my gut says no, it’s a no. I (try to) show up authentically, give people the real version of me—and it shows.

If the energy isn’t working, you can’t move the rock.

Getting that energy flowing starts with being brutally honest with yourself—and yes, that part can be terrifying. Writing this blog is terrifying, I would much rather be someone who was cool and had everything figured out.

Trust the Process

The process is the process. It’s messy, frustrating, weird, and has a life of its own.

I can’t force creativity when the process isn’t ready. I’ve accepted that now.

Some days, it feels like I’ve achieved nothing. Then the next day, everything pours out in an hour. What feels like wasted time one day is often just the warm-up for a creative breakthrough.

Sometimes days go by without anything happening. Sometimes everything happens at once. That’s just how it is—and it’s why I always build that flexibility into

my client timelines.

Consistency Is Queen

I need to show up every single day for my practice. There’s no shortcut. Even when everything looks terrible—especially on those days—I have to keep going.

That’s how the process stays alive.

Mentors and Community Save You Years

We all need people who’ve walked the path we want to take.

I've joined several courses this year with really really talented mentors and I'm certain that each of them have or will save me years of uncertainty and clarity. Important note, I did also say no to coaching that did not feel right or align with where I was at that moment. No regrets.

Learning from others’ (the right people's) experience doesn’t just save time—it saves creative energy.

Wrapping Up 2025

So, if I am to sum up a piece of advice, that brought me through the year because maybe you have been struggling creatively too? Here are my key learnings for the year – take it or leave it. I know we all need different things, so this may not work for you at all, but this is what works for me:

-       An easy doable monthly goal. This gives me just enough structure that I feel supported but not restricted and not overwhelmed. And 12 months later, I’m so excited to see all the work that has come to life.

-       Say no to more things. It’s super uncomfortable sometimes, but if you don’t create the space for doing the stuff you love, no-one else will. And I promise you those requests for free work, assignments you don’t really feel like doing, but feel you should – and other people’s good ideas that you are not really that excited about – they will keep showing up. No, thank you is your word.

-       Prioritize creative time to play – an hour at 5 am or 10 pm – whatever works for you. Find that perfect time-pocket, and make a non-restrictive goal of putting in creative time then and there – no pressure (we have enough of that) just creative joy.

-       Trust your style and sometimes deviate from it to see where it brings you – we all come to the table with something different. The way you express yourself is your super power. We don’t need more copycats – Temu is filling that void already.

-       Your truth is everything and it affects how the world responds to you – if you’ve felt everything has been uphill for the past year maybe it’s time to stop in your tracks and ask yourself some hard questions. (if you know by reading this, you know). And if you figure out how to stop self-sabotaging, please do let me know.

-       Trust the process – you are producing tonnes – even though you’ll have days where you don’t feel this. It’s just the process hiding this from you. Your next breakthrough is right around the corner. Which leads me to the next point…

-       Consistency is Queen …You need to put in consistent work for the above to be true.

-       Find someone who is doing what you would like to be doing in 1-2 years and figure out what they do -  this is why coaches are so expensive – they are worth every penny because they can save you years of figuring out stuff.

So, these are my takeaways for 2025. The year is flying by, and I’m wrapping it up with excitement: a trip to Bangkok to soak up the company of old friends and some more Asian inspiration, finishing my 200-hour yoga teacher training, and welcoming Danish friends for an Aussie Christmas. I’m super excited.

If any of this resonated with you—or if you have questions or thoughts—I’d love to hear them. Share them in the comments below.