5 Ways To Fit Creativity Into A Busy Schedule
As a full-time working Mom, I know the struggle of fitting creativity into the week. The Mom guilt when I take time to draw or paint is REAL. (IYKYK).
But I also know that I get VERY cranky when I ignore my creative sparks for too long. Sitting down and drawing or painting, even if it’s for 15 minutes, is my antidote to anxiety and frustration.
About a year ago I started using a daily Creativity Tracker, so each day that I fed my creativity in some way, I’d check the box. (I created a Creativity Tracker for my newsletter subscribers in January. Get one here).
Here are some other ways that can help fit creative time into a busy week.
Schedule Creative Time: Treat creative time as a non-negotiable weekly appointment. Hear me out on this. You can block out a 15 minute time slot to draw in a small sketchbook while sitting on the bleachers at your kid’s gymnastics practice or 25 minutes on Sunday morning. (A quiet house with a cup of coffee and a drawing pad? Yes, Please!) Whether it's early in the morning before everyone’s awake and yelling for you to find stuff for them, or after the kids are asleep (if you aren’t out cold, too), having designated time blocked out on the calendar reminds you to prioritize creativity.
Short Bursts of Inspiration: You don't need large chunks of time to actually draw to benefit from creativity. Embrace short bursts of inspiration throughout your day. Pull your phone out and snap a pic of something you want to draw later in the week. (Bonus points for creating a “Things to Draw” folder in your photos app). Use your phone’s Notes app to jot down ideas. Creative inspiration can be found everywhere when we train ourselves to look for it.
Involve the kids: Two things here. One is to find ways to integrate creativity into your time with the kids. Maybe they paint while you do, or you get them a drawing app to play with while you do your thing. The second thing I’ll say is that you are allowed to tell your kids you need 20 minutes of quiet time to create your artwork. (Obviously, they need to be old enough for this to work). This not only models the importance of creative expression, but it shows your kids that Mom is values her alone time just as much as time with the fam.
Create a Portable Creativity Kit: Keep a portable “creativity kit” stocked with basic supplies so when that “Creative Time” pops up on the calendar, you have no excuse not to get down to it. Include a sketchbook, pencils, a small watercolor set - whatever you love to use, have it ready to go. Keep your creativity stash in your bag to use while waiting for appointments or during your lunch break.
Creativity is Self-Care: Creativity is a form of self-care. It certainly improves my mental health! Remember that taking care of yourself enables you to better care for your family, and incorporating creativity into your week gives you a way to recharge your mental energy.
“Creative inspiration can be found everywhere when we train ourselves to look for it.”
I hope these tips help! I often share these types of tips on my Instagram page as well. Follow me there: @BridgetGreene.Art
Cheers -
Bridget
