Finding Time for Creativity
Prioritisation and scheduling have never been more important to me than it is now. I work full time, I'm a mom of one, I want to keep my relationships and friendships healthy and happy, I need to work out twice a week and also fit in creative time - sound familiar?! I didn't even mention all of the adulting/grocery shopping/laundry etc etc.
Prioritisation tips:
When i think of prioritisation, I try to remember this nugget - in every part of your life, there are glass balls and plastic balls. You want to know what the glass balls are because you don't want to drop them. Plastic balls are more flexible and don't cause as much damage if dropped. I'm pretty sure it was Tony Robbins that I heard it first but cannot find a link to it.
When prioritising, it's important to know those more important elements (the glass stuff) versus the things that can take a backseat. And priorities can change - a sick child will result in a shift in priorities for the week so you can be there for them. A sudden last minute offer to join an exhibition might mean some family or TV time is sacrificed.
I know what times I work and what times I'm the primary childcare provider so I know those times are out for my creative practice. Knowing the times I have available is the first step.
The Steps that I took:
I have discovered that I have seasons where I'm more productive in different areas. As creatives its important to take note of then these are so we can take advantage of the times where our ideas are on overload or where we are producing loads or when we’re more geared for admin tasks or reflection and inspiration gathering.
In this regard, Having a general idea of main projects and targets for the year will definitely help. If you know of specific exhibitions or releases etc. that you have planned or are planning, you can slot these in and work backwards so you can allocate the work and know what to prioritise and when.
- what is on my wish-list of things to achieve this year/period?
- what are the essentials? What are the nice to haves?
- plot out the tasks associated with each item. Or even better, can you estimate a time associated with these?
- Pay heed to your creative cycle!!
Prefer to rest and recuperate in winter? Schedule play and art appreciation and inspiration gathering!
Spring time gets your creative juices flowing - be prepped for it! Have your substrate ready. Make diving into your work easy
I think you get what I mean… On a more micro level, you could plan mundane tasks for days you know you won’t have much creative energy - packing orders, gessoing canvases etc. would be a good use of time here.
Somethings I have noticed about my creative cycles since I started actively trying to pay attention to it include:
Zero interest in creating in November/December 2022
Immediately after Christmas 2022 - HUGE return to wanting to paint and get things done.
January 2023 - very active in planning and finishing
February 2023 - joined 100 Day Project and very active in achieving my goals, getting things done
On a more micro level, because I’m focused more on admin tasks as part of the 2023 100 Day Project at the time of writing this, working on my website is taking a LOT of my time. So my priority has been that at the expense of my creative time. However, I feel like in the background the creativity is starting to gather and I’m trying to make space for inspiration and new ideas.
I share these to give you examples so you can look at your own behaviour and identify your own creative patterns
Questions to help you find the time for creativity in your life:
Grab a pen and notebook and get answering:
What times do you HAVE to devote to work and/or family? This is the non-negotiable time - work hours, times where you’re the primary caregiver etc.
What times have you available to work on your creative practice?
What are you willing to stop to create more time for yourself an your art - it might mean less TV, or giving up some volunteer work, or time out in the pub, or you might prioritise it over housework some days
Do you know what you’re trying to achieve in your creative time? Be honest here!!
Do you have a plan?
If your only plan here is to play - that is 100% valid. However, if you’re just playing around and getting pissed off because “you’re getting nothing done”, then you need to stop and make a plan
I find that generally there are going to be certain days that I know I’ll want to paint, there are other days that I know I’ll be less creative so I can plan some less creative work on those days
Lastly, give yourself permission to create. You creating something, anything, is valid and worth your time. It doesn’t matter how “good” it is, it doesn’t matter whether you want to sell it or not, the validity of your creative practice lies with how it makes you feel. If you like creating and it makes you feel good, then you need to give yourself permission to prioritise creativity in your life.