One of the downfalls of living a creative life is that sometimes it feels like you have no time to be creative.
Ironic, isn't it?
If you work full time at a regular 9-to-5 job, you probably resent having to squeeze in your creative activities around the edges. It seems like if that pesky job was out of the way, then you could paint or write or bead for endless hours.
It doesn't usually work that way. For one thing, there's still a lot of not-fun administrative tasks to do no matter how you earn your living. You may need to send invoices, work on marketing materials, order shipping supplies, and create (and stick to!) budgets on a regular basis. (If you don't do those things yourself, you will still need to hire and supervise someone to do them for you.)
Some people are surprised at how much time those boring, routine types of tasks can take. I've know people who've giddily quit their full-time jobs only to find that they actually had less time to create in their new life. Sometimes having less free time because you're working is actually a blessing. You are forced to become very efficient and focused.
For me the administrative part of the creative life was less of a surprise than the other part.
You know, the part where your hobby has become your job and you are having trouble figuring out the boundaries between your job and your real life.
What Is Work?
You're working all the time but at the same time is it really working if what you're doing falls into the "fun" category of work? Are you working when you're sketching new jewelry designs or visiting a bead show to see what the new trends are? Is writing your blog work? Is testing out a new set of markers work? Is posting on Instagram work?
There's a saying that if you love your job then you'll never work a day in your life.
It might be more accurate to say that if you love your job, you'll work every day in your life.
The line between work and fun can get blurry.
Maybe this doesn't matter to you. It doesn't matter to everyone.
For me, though, I've been finding it difficult to work on creative projects that definitely won't pay the bills. I have a few "just for fun" projects that have been on my table for more than a year. I've also been reluctant to start on bigger projects because I don't know how to fit those in. I feel like I don't want to start if I don't have a plan for continuing and ultimately finishing.
A Creative Prescription
I'd been mulling about what to do when I came across this passage from a writing book, The Kite and the String by Alice Mattison:
"Think of your need to write as a minor disability. It almost is, correct? You're a mess if you don't get it. If you had a worrisome symptom and a doctor said, 'If you simply take two hours twice a week and nap, on a fixed schedule, you'll be fine,' you'd find a way to do that."
I don't love schedules, but this struck me as sensible advice. It has helped me tremendously this year to make and stick to an exercise schedule. I'm going to think of having a little free "just fun" time as a medical prescription.
It may take some tinkering to figure out what works best. A little time every day? The same time? A big block of time on the weekend occasionally? Would being in different environment (like on the back porch or at a craft meet-up) occasionally be helpful? Should I make a specific plan as to what I want to work on or should I just block out some unstructured time in the studio?
I have high hopes that I'll be able to figure out what works best for me this fall. Just thinking about this plan makes me feel a little lighter inside. I've never looked forward to taking medicine before.
Maybe this will work for you, too? If so, consider this a message from your creativity doctor:
Take two hours as needed and call email me in the morning.