Have you ever wished for more time to work on your creative projects? Me too 🙂 Chances are you also have plenty of other things vying for your attention and making time for a consistent creative practice might feel like a herculean task. If this sounds like something you grapple with, know that you are not alone in the challenge to make time for your creative work. There are plenty of articles out there that cover productivity and time management tips, so in this post I’m focusing on the psychological and emotional side of this issue. Here are a few things I’ve found helpful for making time and space for my creative work, I hope they are helpful for you too:
1. Change the way you think about time
This might sound like semantics (or perhaps a bit woo-woo), but language matters. I know it leaves me feeling more optimistic and in control of my time when I think about it in terms of making or creating time, rather than finding time. We usually talk about finding the time to do things (hence why that’s in the title of this post), but finding time is passive and conjures feelings of being out of control, maybe even overwhelm. Making or creating time is more of a reflection of reality and gives us a sense of agency over how we spend our time. We might not be able to find the time for things that are important to us, but we can create that time—even if it’s just a few minutes.
2. Set containers around distractions
This is obvious, but worth a reminder. Turn off your phone, close unnecessary tabs on your computer, and avoid interruptions during your creative time. We all have our own pet distractions; mine is social media. When I have a deadline approaching or I want to make significant progress with a project, I remove all social media apps from my phone. Otherwise, they are like a siren song, especially when I’m working on something that is outside my comfort zone or not particularly exciting. Social media is my distraction, but your personal distraction might be different. Whatever it is, first identify it. Be honest. Then, figure out how you can set a container around it. Most distractions are distractions because we can’t or don’t want to eliminate them completely. So maybe you decide you’re only going to respond to emails on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, or only between 9-10am and 4-5pm. The boundaries you set will be specific to your circumstances, but they stop the constant invitation to distraction and the exhausting “should I/shouldn’t I?” decision that comes with each invitation.
3. Use the “Yes/No” decision-making metric
Whenever we say yes to something, we are saying no to something else, and vice versa. When you say “Yes” to your creative work, what are you saying “No” to? And when you say “No” to your creative work, what are you saying “Yes” to?
Think about these answers now and use them to shape your decision-making about how you want to spend your time.
5. Focus on momentum, not motivation
Motivation is overrated as a driving force for action. We give it too much power over us, while also expecting it to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to overcoming our internal discomfort around getting started. Instead, focus on building momentum.
This is why I encourage my coaching clients to start with just two minutes of creative practice. Two minutes isn’t much (everyone can do two minutes), but it’s enough to do the hard part, which is get started. It’s also makes it easier to keep coming back day after day. Lots of things can affect our motivation—the weather, what we ate yesterday, how much sleep we got, other things happening in our life, and so much else that might or might not be in our control. Momentum, however, is in our control, as it simply requires showing up—even for just two minutes. A helpful question to ask is: If I spend the next three years in the same way I’ve spent my time today, what will my life look like then?
6. Focus on the things you have done, as well as the things you haven’t
I’ve written a few times before about the power of the “have done” list, and that applies here too. If you’re struggling to make time for your creative work, chances are you’re hyper-focused on all the things you want to be doing or feel you should be doing, and haven’t.
Instead, also take time to think about the time you have spent on your creative work (however short—anything is better than nothing!) and the things you have accomplished or progress you have made. It all counts and it all contributes to the sense of momentum I described above.
7. Commit to your creative work
Decide you are going to do this. Decide on a schedule and stick to it. Even when it’s hard. Even when you don’t feel like it.
It sounds obvious, but when you decide you’re going to do something, it becomes a lot easier to just do it. When you commit to your creative work, you are sending a message to yourself that this is important, it’s worthwhile, and that it matters. Which it does! If it’s important to you, it’s worth spending time on. Show up for your work, show up for yourself, and see what happens.
What do you find most helpful when making time and space for your creative work? Leave a comment and share your thoughts!
