5 Tips for Maintaining a Creative Practice when Life Gets Busy
Navigating a busy life and a consistent creative practice is a challenge familiar to many artists. In the whirlwind of daily responsibilities, from work demands to personal commitments, the pursuit of a creative passion can often take a backseat. Sometimes that’s necessary, like when illness strikes or you are a caregiver for a loved one. Events like that are immovable and sometimes you just really can’t make any room for art.
But what about the hectic times when life just gets busy?
Look at the big picture of your overall life, not just the single moment you exist in. Where have you been spending your time and energy? Time and energy are the two things your creative practice requires from you. They are precious and yours to give, so first reflect on where you have been spending them. Are you really in a place where you have no time or energy for creating? If the answer is yes, you really are there, then give yourself some grace. Chances are, it won’t be like this forever. If you know in your gut that you have some wiggle room to squeeze in some time for art, then keep reading the five tips below to help you maintain a creative practice, even when you’re busy:
Re-prioritize - How important is your creative practice? If you’ve been using your precious time and energy doing things that don’t fuel your body, mind, or soul, then it’s time to get your priorities straight. If you truly need a timeout to mindlessly scroll Instagram or TikTok for a little bit, there’s no shame in that. If you’re scrolling for an hour every evening and you aren’t getting anything out of it except for numbing your brain, maybe you can take that time and spend it on something that matters more, even if that thing is not art. You know yourself better than anyone else and you know what you truly need. Follow your gut and be intentional with your time and energy.
Set Realistic Expectations - I don’t mean to brag, but I am so good at setting unrealistic expectations. I always think that I have more time than I actually do, or I forget that I am human and require things like sleep. I think it’s because I am a little bit stubborn and don’t like to be told (even by my own inner voice) that I can’t do something, and so I end up thinking that I can accomplish anything, even if the circumstances aren’t set up for my success. Know what you’re working with when you’re setting expectations for yourself. And remember that you’re not Superman/Superwoman.
Let Go of Perfection - Done is better than perfect. What perfections can you let go of in order to make more space for your art? Is cleaning on your To Do list? Maybe not every surface in your house needs to be glistening. Is your landscaping looking like a hot mess? Pull some weeds, tackle the biggest eyesores, and call it a day. Adopt the mantra “It’s good enough” and make peace with it. Do you really need a perfectly manicured lawn or would you rather spend time in the studio?
Set a Timer- This is a great hack to deal with overwhelm and goes hand-in-hand with letting go of perfection. If you have a lot of tasks to accomplish, set a timer for no more than 15 minutes for each task and start to tackle your list. When the timer goes off, move on to the next task, even if the first isn’t completely finished. You will make a lot of progress moving through your To-Do List and will learn a lot about how much time certain tasks actually take.
Ask for Help- You don’t have to do it all alone. If you are overwhelmed ask for help. Help can come from family members within your household, friends and loved ones outside of your home, and even acquaintances with special skill sets that you don’t yourself possess. Maybe you’re thinking “but I don’t have a support system that can help.” We sometimes forget that help can come in the form of hiring someone to do the tasks that we don’t want to do. Don’t love to mow your lawn? Hire a landscaping company if it’s in your budget. Need to design a website but don’t have the time or expertise? Hire a web designer. Figure out what you are not passionate about or skilled in where it would make more sense to outsource.
We all go through busy seasons in life, but busyness doesn’t mean you have abandon your art altogether. Even small periods of time to paint or create can help you to hold onto your creative spark and fuel inspiration. Hopefully these tips can help you to make some room for your creative practice and nurture your passion.
