How to Have a More Intentional & Creative 2026
- Kelly Wallace
- Jan 5
- 3 min read
I almost didn’t do a road map this year.
After 9 years of showing up every January with my new years intentions in hand, I almost didn't have it in me. Life has been so full. But the more scattered I felt, the more I realized I needed my January ritual just as much as I need a fresh cup of pourover coffee.
So, I made my 2026 road map in the margins of evenings and 6am mornings. It ended up being far more life-giving than I expected. I kept showing up to those (miraculously!) quiet spaces feeling refreshed and excited about my creative project. As I refreshed the 2025 Traveller's Road Map I'd created last year to share with others, I was reminded myself about how much I needed a soft reset. Nothing monumental. Just small steps.
So for the people like me that are craving a gentle refresh for the new year, this is for us.
It’s worth doing the hard work of reflection. Not because we’re trying to reinvent ourselves or set impossible standards (my go-to as an Enneagram 1), but because reflection teaches us what we actually want this coming year to hold. Even if just in small ways that we can control.
My prayer is that as you work through your own road map soon, it meets you the same way . ☕
Why a “road map” (and not just resolutions)?
I don’t know about you, but I can’t count the number of times I’ve written down a resolution in January and completely forgotten it by March. A road map is less about forcing your way into a new version of yourself, and more about paying attention to who you’re becoming. It’s a gentle structure that helps you look back, name what mattered, and then move forward with intention. No rigidity here. Just progress!
The intentions you create in a road map are designed to help you lean into who you’re supposed to become.
A sneak peek at what’s inside the 2026 Traveller's Road Map
This year’s version is fully refreshed from last year, with a look that feels warm and a little adventurous (think: Morocco-inspired). But the heart of it is the same: questions that help you slow down, reflect, and dream about what's ahead.
Included in the 2026 Traveller’s Road Map:
A reflection section with 12 intentional questions to look back on your past year
An envisioning section with 10 questions to help you lay out your intentions for the year ahead
A guide to choosing a theme & categories for your road map (with examples)
Sample road maps for inspiration
A hosting guide for doing road maps with friends
If you’re an adventurous creative who wants this year to feel more grounded and more alive, this was made for you.
Cozy tip from me: start your road map in a soft & stress-free way by:
Carve out a space that feels life-giving.
A cozy coffeeshop. A quiet morning before everyone wakes up. A fresh cup of coffee in your favorite mug. Start here.
Give yourself plenty of time.
This is not an exercise for the rushed! I like to carve out at least 2–3 hours to do my road map.
Plan a night to bring along your friends.
Dreaming is more fun with the people you love. No fancy things needed. Just some poster boards, popcorn, and a few good Sharpies! The guide even has a section that tells you how to host a vision board party.
Making it stick
It’s usually around a month into the year that I need a refresh. I can start January with a clear vision and then life does what life does. It gets busy. Routines shift. The best intentions get traded for life being, well, life!
But if we want to become who we feel called to become, more intentional, creative, and adventurous versions of ourselves, we have to take a few steps:
Hang it somewhere you’ll see often.
Print it. Put it in your journal. Tape it near your desk. Let it stay visible.
Make a game plan.
Your road map should be challenging, but attainable. Focus on certain goals during certain months. Do not try to start everything all at once.
Stay accountable.
Share your visions with someone. Ask a friend to check in every few months. And if you’re struggling, invite someone to do it with you.
Here’s to an intentional and creative 2026! What are your words for the year?
