Spring Cleaning Your Creative Life
Making Room for What Matters
Spring is a season of renewal, a time when we instinctively open the windows, clear out the dust, and let fresh air in. But just as our homes accumulate clutter, so do our creative lives. Mental distractions, unfinished projects, and overcommitments can weigh us down, making it harder to create with clarity and joy.
Over the past two years, I’ve learned firsthand the power of clearing both physical and mental clutter. When I began my creative writing program at Oxford, I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a gift I didn’t want to squander. To make the most of it, I had to prioritize, which meant saying no to many good things.
It helped that I could still vividly recall the time I spent months building a beautiful online course six years ago, only to sabotage my efforts at the last minute. Just before launching, I let myself get distracted by a business “opportunity” that had nothing to do with writing. The result? A failed launch and a hard lesson learned: fear and people-pleasing led me away from what I truly loved. Now, I guard my creative work hours like a mama bear.
Decluttering Your Creative Commitments
One of the biggest shifts I made was recognizing that not every opportunity is meant for me. I’ve stepped away from online writing groups, critique groups, multi-author book projects, social media, weekday volunteer work, and even my beloved golf game. All of these were good things—but they didn’t fit into this season of my life.
I’ve also had to embrace a new mindset about unfinished projects. In my school program, for assignments, I often need to write 2,000-word starts of larger projects and then move on to something else. At first, this was uncomfortable. I used to believe that everything I started needed to be finished. But now, I love knowing that I have a collection of possibilities waiting for me. Some of those beginnings may grow into something more, and some may not—and that’s okay.
Clearing Physical Clutter for Creativity
My ideal creative space is simple: a clear desk, a candle, a few pens and notebooks, and my thesaurus. When I really need to focus, I put in earbuds and play ambient noise. A cluttered, chaotic space makes my mind feel cluttered, too, so I keep my workspace as serene as possible.
Letting Go of Creative Distractions
One of the hardest things for me has been learning to say no to reading and reviewing every book that comes my way. One of the perks of being an author, which can also be a distraction, is being asked to do early reviews. I love supporting fellow authors, and I want to say yes—but if I say yes too often, I won’t have time to write my own books. I’ve learned that protecting my creative time isn’t selfish; it’s necessary.
I also remind myself that rest is part of the creative process. The pressure to be productive all the time is real, but I give myself the gift of Sabbath rest. And when I really need a creative reset, I take a solo retreat—two days of uninterrupted time to write, meditate, read, and spend time in nature.
Making Space for What Matters
Spring cleaning isn’t just about tidying up our homes—it’s about clearing away anything that no longer serves us so we can focus on what truly matters. For me, that means creating space to write, to dream, and to trust that the work I’m doing is enough.
As you step into this season, what creative clutter do you need to clear away? What do you want to make room for?
Exciting news! My serial novel, Cascading Courage, has launched. This dual-timeline story unfolds between the 1990s and 1930s, weaving together themes of friendship and the fight for justice. It will be released in 40 weekly installments on Mondays between February and the end of 2025. The first chapters have already been published, but you can join anytime by upgrading your subscription and catching up in the archives, ensuring you don’t miss anything.
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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever he may send you; may he guide you through the wilderness; protect you through the storm; may he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you; may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.
This is so refreshing! Decluttering my mental space and letting go of half-finished projects. Such a good framework to use as I head into the even busier season of spring!
"One of the biggest shifts I made was recognizing that not every opportunity is meant for me." This is such a healthy mindset and one I've come to learn over the years. It really helps to regularly evaluate our creative commitments. Great tips here and a good reminder for me as we enter spring. Thanks, Dawn!