Life is just what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.
John Lennon
Yes it’s true – we’re all too busy it seems! One of the biggest challenges we face is finding time to do all the things that need to be done in a day. By the time we’re done dealing with our jobs, family commitments and other responsibilities, what’s left? Where do you find the time to fit creativity into your life?
The hard truth is that there will always be other things to do and if you keep putting creativity on the bottom of the list, you will never get to it.
Taking time to be creative should be considered a self-nurturing activity and it’s one of the very best things you can ever do for yourself. It will nourish your creative heart and sustain your creative soul.
It doesn’t have to be difficult to find the time for creativity. Three simple steps and you’re there.
3 Simple Steps to Finding Time to be Creative
1. Decide if being creative is important
It’s been my experience that when someone says they’re too busy to do something, what they’re really saying is that it’s not important enough to fit into their schedule; that other things are more important and take priority. So you really need to decide if being creative is important enough for you to make time for it.
For myself, I know that if I don’t fit regular creative activities into every day, I feel depleted and anxious. My artful creative expression is like a meditation and helps me to unwind and replenishes me on a very deep level. It gives me space to express myself in ways that sometimes words can’t. It’s my own personal brand of therapy.
2. Make a commitment to be creative
So if you’ve decided that creative activity is important to you, you now need to make space for it in your life.
The mistake that most people make is assuming that you have to carve out huge chunks of time to spend being creative. The reality is that you only need small, regular chunks of time.
Think of it as a “creativity diet”.
Large portions of creativity can sometimes overwhelm and exhaust you with all the choices that have to be made, and can leave you feeling guilty because you’ve overindulged and perhaps stolen time away from other commitments.
Small regular portions of creativity however are a healthy choice. Small portions are less overwhelming and easy to fit into your busy schedule or lifestyle. Small portions give you something to look forward to on a regular basis.
3. Schedule “Creativity Time”
Once you’ve made the commitment, now it’s time to schedule it into your life.
Small portions are easy to schedule on a daily basis, and this is an ideal scenario for developing a creative habit.
I personally am committed to spending at least 15 minutes a day dedicated to something creative. This can be drawing, doodling, sewing, working on a project, reading. Some days I have much more time to devote to my creativity, but I know that every day I have at least 15 minutes to look forward to. This is a commitment that is very easy to achieve and to fit into my lifestyle.
If you’re a morning person, you could get up 15 minutes earlier, or if you’re an evening person set aside 15 minutes in the evening. Or if a daily schedule doesn’t suit, set aside an hour on the weekend or whenever you have some free time.
I find it helps to actually schedule my creative time into my day planner. I don’t usually set a specific time, but it’s on my list and I get to cross it off every single day once it’s done. It’s one of my daily tasks that I actually look forward to. If you don’t use a day planner you might use a digital calendar or reminder.
Or better yet, join the Creative Art’n’Soul Project which makes it easy to stay on track. You can find details here.
So make an appointment with yourself and keep it! No excuses! Don’t you think you’re worth it?
Keep track of your creative activities with my NEW 3-2-1 Printable Journal Kit which you can find here in my online store
