Do you ever look at someone and think, “I don’t know how they manage to do all the things that they do. I can’t even find time for [that thing you want to do] for 30 minutes!” I feel like that’s how a lot of us can think when we see someone else doing things that aren’t the typical “work, family, sleep, repeat” life. I know I get asked “how do you find time for this stuff” a LOT, so I wanted to share what works for me and how I manage to stay motivated, inspired and creative on a consistent basis even when my time and energy are limited.
Now, I’ll warn you - this entry is not meant to be a “follow these steps and you too can accomplish anything” read. This is what works for me, and I’m sharing how I make things happen in my world. Your life might be incredibly different than mine, so some of the things I do…maybe you can’t! There’s that icky saying about “having the same 24 hours in the day and it’s all a matter of priorities,” but honestly, that’s nonsense. Even though, yes, in the literal sense, we all have 24 hours in a day, we don’t all have the SAME 24 hours. So don’t think that these things are going to work for everyone, because that’s not what they’re meant to do. You have to find the things that work for you. Maybe some of these will help, and some you can immediately dismiss. There, now that I’ve said that, let’s talk about it.
It’s no secret that every day I juggle a lot of roles - full time corporate employee, artist, mom, spouse, responsible adult, pet parent, fitness enthusiast, etc. I have a lot on my plate, and I’m very transparent about that. Yet somehow, through it all, I manage to not only consistently create things, but stay motivated and inspired to keep doing it. How?
For one, I may be a full time corporate employee, but I am lucky enough to have a role that is primarily “work from home.” And as with most corporate jobs, there are times when you are incredibly busy, but there are also times when the workload is light. During those lighter moments, I’m able to fill some time with sketches and small bits of projects in between my work calls and emails. On the days I do actually go into the office, I will bring a notebook or a small sketchbook, and if I get an idea, I’m making sure to record it so I can come back to it later. That’s a big help for me.
In that same groove, I’m meticulous about when I work on certain projects. While I will work on small items, ideas and sketches at anytime, I save my larger projects or anything that is “focus heavy” for the days where I’m not expected to give that focus anywhere else. I’m not working on a detailed painting while it’s family time after work on a Wednesday night. I’m saving that work for the days that I’m able to give it my full attention - weekends when my kiddo is hanging out with her grandparents, days that kiddo wants to go to the park with dad, or a random PTO day that I took so I can get some work done. Having those bigger projects stacked up and waiting for me on days when I’m able to do them? Super beneficial to keeping me motivated.
Speaking of knowing when is a good time vs. “less than ideal” time to do tasks, I also have to mention that I am an early riser. If I’m not out of bed and downstairs planning out my day by 5am, something is probably wrong. I don’t just get up early because I have a kid who has to get up for school every morning and a full time job, I do it because I always HAVE been an early riser. That used to be when I got my workouts in, but now that I have my kiddo in the house, the early morning workouts aren’t really the best idea while she’s asleep. So I fill that time with other things, like journaling, brain dumping, list making, scheduling appointments, etc. I I get those tedious tasks done early, I free up time in my day for the good stuff.
About the journaling - that’s a big one too. I set goals for myself, and I take time to journal. I take time every day to reflect on my mindset and see what progress I have made with my creative goals. I don’t hit every goal I set, but I have absolutely noticed a difference in my ability to hit my goals once I started journaling. Journaling has helped me analyze what holds me back, what fuels me forward, and it helps me identify patterns in my energy levels. Journaling is a daily reflection that helps me see where my thoughts are going, and that helps me decide how my creative practice needs to proceed.
And you know what, if there’s a day where my thoughts and my energy just aren’t feeling it - I never force it to happen. That’s reality. Sometimes there are days where nothing happens because I’m too busy or I need a break. If I’m not feeling the energy or the creativity that day, I never FORCE myself to create. That’s important for me to mention.
There are two things in here that not only fuel my creative mind, but my physical energy as well. Number 1 - I work out regularly. I’m long beyond my days of being a self proclaimed fitness junkie, but I do take care of my body and try to keep it as healthy as I can. And by getting myself moving every day in some fashion, my energy is higher and my focus is more clear. The blood gets moving and I’m more inclined to do the things I want to do. Number 2 - I get outdoors. If the weather is nice, it’s not unheard of to see me out in the sunshine. I get to the zoo often for major inspiration, I sit in my back yard with a sketchbook and my feet in a kiddie pool (in the summer of course), I’ll go on a walk or run an errand, and in the summertime you can find me on a beach with a book and sketch. Get me out in the sunshine and suddenly I feel like I can conquer the world.
So what about those busy days? What about the times when I don’t HAVE time alone or it’s just 30 minutes here and there? Yep, I find a way during those times too. For one, if I’m home and have a project that needs to be worked on but my daughter is home with me and my husband is working, I’ll get her involved. She enjoys doing some creative work - coloring, painting, drawing pictures - so if I get her some markers, some paints or even a box of crayons and a coloring book, she’s happy to create alongside me, and I love having a “studio partner.” If she’s not in the mood to work with me, I find ways to entertain us both while I do get work done - I’ll put on some music and she will dance and sing in the same room while I work. Music helps me work better, and she loves to dance.
I’ve saved the best one for last. The one final thing I do to stay creative, motivated, energized and inspired in my creative practice is….constantly trying new things. I have changed my style, my materials and my techniques more times than I can count. And that’s not because I’m “trying to find a signature style,” (I actually hate that concept, and I’ve talked about it in depth before) it’s because creativity doesn’t deserve to be locked in a box. I love trying new stuff because it’s FUN. Sometimes they work out and I’ll create real art that I make available to you. Sometimes it doesn’t work out, but I take what I learned and try to apply it to my own daily practice. But the point is, I'm always TRYING new things. And as soon as I feel like I’m hitting a creative wall or stuck in a rut, that’s how I KNOW it’s time for me to go find something new to try.
So that’s it. That’s how I maintain my creative drive and motivation even when my time and energy are limited. If one of these tips helps you out, great. But remember, this was not meant to be a “here’s how I do it, so try this and you can too” entry - just me sharing what I have found that works for me. What are your best practices for maintaining creativity? Share them in the comments - I’d love to hear!