Making Time for Art in a Busy Life
Over the past two weeks, I’ve barely picked up a brush. Everything is cyclical. Some weeks, creativity flows effortlessly, and other times, it takes a backseat to everything else. I’m not just an artist; I’m also a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. The last couple of weeks I’ve needed to focus on those other roles, with my art taking a backseat. Those roles are good, meaningful, and necessary—but still, I feel the absence of art especially in those busy days. We can’t neglect those parts of ourselves, but we also can’t neglect the artist within. Finding the balance is tricky, but it’s worth pursuing.
One of the hardest things is avoiding the guilt and wistfulness that creeps in when you feel like you’re half-assing something instead of whole-assing it. But here’s the thing—half-assing is better than nothing. A few minutes here, a quick sketch there, a little bit of progress is still progress. Those tiny moments add up in ways we don’t always see right away, and they keep us from losing momentum entirely.
So how do we set ourselves up for success?
The key is removing as many barriers as possible.
Keep your Supplies Accessible
If you’re a painter, leave yourself a full, clean water jar so you don’t have to start your session by filling one. If you’re a musician, keep your instrument out of its case (as long as kids and pets won’t turn it into a jungle gym). Whatever your art form, make it easy to jump in and out quickly. The setup process is often the biggest hurdle—anything that requires a lot of effort to get started is easy to put off, so eliminate the friction.
Set up a Dedicated Space
Create a dedicated creative space. Even a small, consistent spot for creating makes it easier to start without the mental hurdle of setting up or taking down.
Lower the Stakes
Not every session needs to be a masterpiece. Doodle while you drink your coffee. Paint a single color swatch if that’s all you have time for. Write three sentences of a poem. Keep your creative gears turning, even in small ways, and it will be easier to find your rhythm when you do have more time.
Use Small Time Pockets
Your creative time doesn’t have to be working on a large painting. It can be five minutes of sketching, color swatching, or writing creative notes. It all adds up over time and helps with your mental state in the moment.
Prep Materials in Advance
If you have something specific you want to work on, take a minute or two when you can to prepare for that project. Tear paper to size, pre-mix colors, or have a reference ready so you can dive in immediately when time allows.
Keep a Simple Idea List
Having a go-to list of prompts or quick ideas can eliminate decision fatigue when you sit down to create. Personally I have a problem of looking for too long for a photo or idea of what to paint when I get into the studio, so I created a folder where I put photos that inspire me at the moment so I can quickly pick one and get to work.
Do What Makes You Happy or Excited
Sometimes you have an idea for a an art project and after you start it, you realize oh I that’s not what I thought it was going to be…Don’t force it and don’t judge yourself or the art, just move on and do something else. This happened to me last week - I was going to paint frozen yogurt for my National Dessert Day series and that frozen yogurt was not photogenic…it didn’t even taste good…so instead I’ll move on and replace it with a different dessert day, no big deal.
Give Yourself Grace
Creativity isn’t linear. If you miss a day (or a week), don’t be hard on yourself. Just pick up where you left off and keep going.
Life is always going to be busy. Some seasons will allow for more creative space than others. But the more we weave art into our days—even in the tiniest ways—the easier it is to keep that part of ourselves alive and well.