The creative’s perfect world
Finding time for creativity when you’re busy is probably the biggest challenge creative’s face.
In a perfect world, creatives want to have tons of free time away from daily responsibilities to create until our hearts’ content. Our ideal world would include the perfect setting—a quiet room, a freshly brewed cup of coffee, maybe a candle flickering in the background, and hours of uninterrupted time to dive deep into a project. I even have this vision of what creative time would look like: a clean desk, with everything I need within reach and a sense of peace before I begin.
But life—well, life has a funny way of messing up that picture.
Then reality hits you know you have to find time for creativity when you’re busy. Because, let’s face it – that is our life.
One day, I was elbow-deep in the chaos of daily life, trying to do multiple things at once so I would not “get behind” when I had a sudden creative idea. It wasn’t while I was peacefully journaling or sketching; it was when I was running around cleaning up the kitchen from the night before. Somehow, amidst all of that hustle and bustle, an idea struck me for a blog post. I quickly wiped my hands on a dish towel and jotted it down on the nearest note pad.
In that moment, I realized that creativity wasn’t waiting for me in the perfect setting—it was right there, hiding in the middle of my messy everyday life.
Finding Time for Creativity in the Chaos
Sometimes, the most brilliant ideas come to us when we’re not even trying. When you let go of the expectation that creativity has to be structured or polished, something magical happens: you free your mind to wander and play.
Take, for example, the moments you’re doing something monotonous—like folding laundry or walking the dog. Have you ever noticed that some of your best thoughts pop up when your hands are busy and your mind is free to roam? There’s a reason for that. In those moments, your brain isn’t hyper-focused on “creating” but is instead relaxed, allowing new connections to form.
Instead of pushing creativity aside, what if we invited it into the madness? What if, instead of waiting for the perfect time, we allowed it to show up unannounced, like an old friend who drops by when you least expect them?
Harness the Mess: Where Ideas Really Live
Creativity can be messy, unpredictable, and wonderfully unplanned. That brilliant business idea might come while you’re chopping vegetables, and the breakthrough solution to a problem could hit you in the middle of a conversation with a friend. Let’s stop putting creativity in a neat little box and start embracing the messy, random, chaotic places it often shows up.
Here are some easy ways for finding time for creativity even when you’re busy:
1. The “Two-Minute Creative Sprint”
You don’t need hours of free time to feel productive. Set a timer for two minutes and do something creative in that short burst. Write down random words that come to mind, doodle, or jot down a few sentences of a story idea. By breaking creativity into bite-sized tasks, you’ll find yourself generating ideas faster than you expect.
2. Capture Ideas on the Go
Great ideas don’t always arrive at convenient times. Keep a creativity journal or use a note-taking app on your phone to jot down sparks of inspiration, whether you’re at the grocery store, on a walk, or in the middle of a conversation. The key is to capture creative thoughts whenever and wherever they appear.
You may be interested in using a tool like Trello to help with organizing your projects and ideas.
3. Turn Mundane Tasks into Creative Think Time
Chores like washing dishes, folding laundry, or sweeping the floor can become prime opportunities for creative brainstorming. Next time you’re doing something mindless, use it as brainstorming time—you’ll be surprised by the ideas that pop up when you’re not actively focusing on being creative.
4. Play with Your Environment
Even if your space feels chaotic, inject some playfulness into your environment. Rearrange a few items on your desk, hang up something colorful, or light a new candle. A small shift in your surroundings can shake up your mindset and make it easier for creative inspiration to strike.
5. Give Yourself Permission to Create Imperfectly
Perfectionism kills creativity. Remind yourself that it’s okay if your creative work is messy, half-formed, or incomplete. By giving yourself permission to create without judgment, you’ll actually create more often, and your ideas will flow more freely. Therefore, you will end up having the results you love.
6. Stack Creative Habits
Combine creativity with daily routines. For example, doodle while you’re on the phone or brainstorm ideas while you sip your morning coffee. Add journaling to your morning or bedtime routine. By “stacking” creative habits onto existing routines, you’re making creativity a natural part of your day.
Your Messy Creativity Challenge
Next time you feel too busy or overwhelmed to create, try one of these tips and see how it shifts your perspective. Finding time for creativity doesn’t require perfection or hours of time—it just requires a willingness to embrace the mess and create anyway. Keep your notebook or app handy, open yourself up to unexpected moments, and watch how often creativity shows up when you least expect it.
By reframing your approach and letting go of the perfect creative setting, you’ll find more time to express your ideas—even when life feels chaotic. Share in the comments: what’s the most surprising time or place you’ve found inspiration?
For another opportunity to add creativity to your routine, join us for Creative Power Hour. It is a free virtual co-working session that I host every two weeks. The purpose of this time is for us to be intentional about working on a project we have been putting off for awhile or a task that has been lingering unfinished. Participants are finding that it is very motivating to work in this small group environment and empowering to start getting projects done. You get to choose whatever project you need to complete – whether it is considered “creative” or not. Sign up here to get the link to join us.