My Biggest Takeaways From 2025 About Content Creation

Tis the season!

If you’re reading this right now, I hope you’re cozy and warm, wrapped up in a blanket with hot chocolate (or whatever your Christmas Eve tradition is, if you celebrate!).

I’m going to be honest: I wasn’t sure what to write in this week’s newsletter. It’s Christmas Eve, most online business owners are OOO, and I don’t know if you’re reading this now or if it’s just gonna sit in your inbox until January 😅

But either way, I wanted to show up because I don’t take the fact that you’ve invited me into your inbox lightly.

Especially right now, when it feels like everyone online is getting so tired of consuming, consuming, consuming and getting pickier about who they let take up space in their inboxes.

So if you’re here, thank you thank you THANK YOU. Genuinely 🫶

What I Learned About Content Creation This Year

I started Sunny Send Up in May, and I’ve been reflecting a lot on how this first (almost) year in business has gone and what I want to take and leave going into 2026.

Here were my biggest takeaways from 2025:

1️⃣ I learned that planning too far ahead kills my creativity.

I used to have this idea that planning and batching was the end-all be-all of content creation. But all that ever did was make me dread creating because there was alwaysss a gap between what I’d put on the calendar vs. what I actually wanted to make.

This year I figured out that the less meticulously I plan ahead, the more consistent I am.

2️⃣ I learned that my best content comes from what I’m actively thinking about.

Not what I think I “should” write about or what I think is going to resonate based on trends, what’s currently being talked about in “the space,” or even what I’m most knowledgeable about.

Content always turns out better when it’s born out of a NEED to say something.

3️⃣ I learned that conviction matters more than perfection.

Your content doesn’t need to be perfect if it’s born out of conviction. Acknowledge nuances, yes, but you don’t have to always address every objection and explain every potential variable for it to be good content.

You really just need to take a stance and back it up – even if it’s a tad bit messy.

4️⃣ I learned that pivoting isn’t failure.

When I started my business, I started a newsletter called Side Notes for ADHDers – then realized I was building an email list that didn’t actually relate at all to my actual services.

Then I started a more relevant newsletter called Sunny Sampler, realized I hated the format, then burnt it down and started Shelf Life.

I could choose to see those previous newsletter as failures or as vehicles that carried me along the journey of figuring out what I really want to be doing.

5️⃣ I learned that repurposing isn’t just about sustainability – it’s about amplification.

Being in the business of content repurposing, there’s a lot of talk about sustainability and saving time and energy. Which, like – yes, of course!

BUT I personally believe repurposing your content is also about amplifying your message. Making your voice heard in your industry by getting LOUDER about your takes.

And this is something I cannot wait to dive into and talk more about in 2026!

Thanks for being here this year. I’ll see you next Wednesday – or whenever you’re back at your computer!

Merry Christmas (if you celebrate) and happy almost-new-year!