A realistic first-week to-do list for creatives in January

Overwhelmed by the feeling of starting a new work year? Here's my advice. Forget the 20-point action plan. Forget the ambitious goals. Forget trying to sort out your entire life by Friday. Here's what you actually need to do in your first week back: three things. That's it.

One task is to clear mental clutter. One task to remember you're creative. One task is to take care of yourself. If you do these three things, you're winning. Everything else can wait.

1. One admin task: clear your desktop

Not your inbox. Not your entire filing system. Just your actual desktop: the one on your computer that's probably got 47 random files scattered across it from December. Spend 15 minutes creating folders and dragging things into them. Delete the screenshots you don't need. Archive old projects.

The goal here isn't perfection; it's visibility. When you can actually see your desktop wallpaper again, your brain registers it as a small win, and small wins matter when you're easing back in.

Why this works: It's concrete, it's achievable, and it creates a sense of order without requiring deep thinking. You're tidying your digital space, which tricks your brain into feeling like you've got your act together. Plus, you'll actually be able to find things later, which is always helpful.

2. One creative task: Make something just for you

Not for a client. Not for your portfolio. Not even for Instagram. Make something purely because you feel like it, with zero pressure to make it good or useful or finished.

This could be a quick sketch, a mood board for an imaginary project, a colour palette that pleases you, a piece of writing that goes nowhere, or 20 minutes of playing with new brushes in Procreate. The medium doesn't matter. What matters is that you're creating without the weight of expectations.

Set a timer for a maximum of 30 minutes. When it goes off, stop. Don't polish it. Don't show anyone. Just close the file and move on. This isn't about producing something brilliant; it's about reminding your hands and brain how to work together again after the holidays.

Why this works: You're rebuilding your confidence through low-stakes practice. There's no client feedback to worry about, no deadline looming, no need to justify your choices. It's creative work in its purest form: making things because you can.

3. One nourishing task: Book something to look forward to

January feels endless when there's nothing on the horizon except work. So put something in your diary that has nothing to do with productivity and everything to do with joy.

This could be tickets to an exhibition, a table at that restaurant you've been meaning to try, a weekend away in February, or even just blocking out an afternoon to visit a bookshop with no agenda. It doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate; it just has to be something that makes you think, "Oh, that'll be nice."

Here's the important bit: actually book it. Don't just vaguely think about it. Get it in the calendar. Pay the deposit. Commit to it. Having something concrete to look forward to transforms January from an endless slog into a temporary state before something good happens.

Why this works: Anticipation is a powerful motivator. When you know there's a reward waiting, even if it's weeks away, it's easier to show up for the mundane tasks in between. Plus, it's a reminder that your life exists beyond your to-do list.

You're done!

That's it. That's your list. Three tasks. One admin, one creative, one nourishing. You can do them all in one day, or spread them across the week. You can do them in any order. You can adapt them to suit your circumstances. The point isn't rigid adherence to a formula; it's giving yourself permission to start small.

If you manage these three things and nothing else, you're doing brilliantly. If you do more, great. If you don't, also fine. You're not a machine. You're a person who's allowed to ease back into work gently, especially in the dead of winter.

Be kind to yourself. The year is long. You've got time.