How to Find Time for Creativity as a Busy Parent

It's hard to find any time for yourself as a parent, let alone make time for creativity. How the heck can you find time to paint a picture or write a book when you can't even go to the loo on your own? Well, in this blog post, I'm sharing what has worked (and not worked) for me, so that hopefully you can manage to find some time of your own for creativity as a busy parent.

Instead of beginning this blog post with a magical tip that will magically help you find Mummy Art Time among the mess and chaos of parent life, I'm going to start with what has NOT worked, which kind of is a magical tip that will help you find Mummy Art Time among the mess and chaos of parent life.

Are you ready for it?

What has not worked is: Waiting for a solo, dedicated chunk of time to be creative.

Poetry inspo: Laughing children, sticky fingers, and ageing hips. Oh caffeine, where art thou?

If I waited until I had a free day, a free half-day, or even a free hour or two, then I wouldn't get much creating done.

The secret is to create anyway.

Create among the mess and chaos.

Create among the noise, among the fetching of snacks and wiping of bums.

Create among the tantrums and construction of Lego houses.

Create through it all.

You might be worried that your messy mum life will get in the way and affect your work, but this is not something to worry about.

The world wants to see your experience in your work.

The world needs real.

And you need to create anyway.

A book with misspelled words and rambling sections that make no sense and go nowhere, is better than no book at all.

A painting of a fruit bowl with a kiddy handprint and a few toddler scribbles on the banana is better than no painting at all.

The book can be edited, and the painting can be hung in your kitchen, and you will smile at it in years to come (I promise).

The act of creating is more important than what you create.

Create through it all.

Okay, so what HAS worked for me?

• Letting go of perfection

  This point flows off the back of what I've been saying.

  Creating something is better than creating nothing.

  The act of creating is more important than what you create.

  If you are a creative human (and I think we all are), then create things.

  Create imperfect things.

• Let go of your perfect creating ideals

  What do I mean by that?

  I mean, forget about the image you have in your head of the perfect environment for creating. I know that it would be fantastic to paint or write in a silent study with a stick of Nag Champa incense burning, some instrumental jazz playing softly, and a hot cup of tea.

  And I know that you really want to tackle that thousand-hour oil painting of the Sistene Chapel. But maybe you can start with a 20-minute abstract chapel painted on your kitchen table with the Hooly Dooleys playing on repeat. I don't think you're going to regret the act of creation.

• Use any moments of free time

  Use those 10 minutes while your little people are distracted outside on the trampoline.

  Let them chuck on a movie and make them a big bowl of popcorn so that you can get some time to yourself at the kitchen table behind them.

  Ignore the mess and create.

• Create together

  Yes, I know, you are allowed to roll your eyes at this one.

  As if little Johnny is going to want to paint his picture without touching yours.

  Of course little Johnny is going to want your time and attention.

  Of course he's going to want your help and want to show you his work every 5 seconds and want to use your nice paints and brushes rather than his own special little Johnny set.

  Yes, Johnny will probably get sick of it in 35 seconds, create a paint mess, tip over the water, and need a bath.

  But not every time.

  You're going to get some minutes of creation time, and if you keep doing it, you will work out a way to make it work.

• Adapt

  Flowing on from the above point and working out 'a way to make it work'.

  I used to paint with acrylics, but now I paint with watercolour.

  Because it's easier to set up and pack up, and the kids have exactly the same set of paints and brushes as me.

  It works for us, and

  I believe that creating something is better than creating nothing.

  
  

How does that sound?

Create imperfect art, where you are with what you have

There are going to be times when you read this blog post and think:

'yeah, I can make that work',

and there are going to be times when you read this and go 'huh, as if. She doesn't have a little X to deal with, does she?' or

'I can't get this baby out of my arms for 5 seconds, I literally have to sleep and poop while holding her. That is not going to work for me.'

Okay, I get it, but in response, it's time for some tough love.

If you want to create, then let me refer you back to all of the above points and remind you to create anyway.

Create while holding your baby.

Make some playdough for little X and deal with the mess later.

Use the time you have.

Adapt.

Let go of perfection and your perfect creating ideals.

Create imperfectly.

Create through it all.

Be real, and keep creating.

Much love,

Marley