Good Morning Parents
Let’s start with the obvious: if you’re a parent, you are already doing a lot. The days are full, the mental load is heavy, and the idea of “finding time for creativity” can sometimes feel like something you’ll get around to doing… one day. Maybe when the house is quiet. Or when the laundry basket is empty (yeah, right). Possibly when everyone stops asking for snacks.
Spoiler alert: that moment rarely arrives.
And yet, that little creative pull — the urge to make, write, design, paint, stitch, dream — keeps tapping you on the shoulder. Not loudly. Just enough to remind you it’s still there.
This post isn’t about overhauling your life, waking up at 5 am, or squeezing productivity out of exhaustion. It’s about finding creativity gently, in a way that fits around real life.
Creativity Isn’t Another Thing on the To‑Do List
First things first: creativity is not a chore you’ve failed to complete.
It’s easy to feel guilty for wanting time to make something when there are so many other responsibilities pulling at you. But creativity isn’t selfish. For many mums, it’s grounding. It’s a way to feel like yourself, not just the person who organises everything for everyone else.
Creativity doesn’t always energise you in a loud, exciting way. Sometimes it’s quiet. And sometimes it’s calming. Sometimes it’s the thing that helps you breathe a little deeper at the end of the day.
That matters.
Redefining What “Creative Time” Actually Means
One of the biggest blocks to creativity is the idea that it needs a big chunk of uninterrupted time. A clear desk. A clear head. Silence.
If, like me, you feel that setup is unrealistic, and waiting for it often means creativity never happens.
Here’s a gentler reframe: creative time can be ten minutes. It can be half an idea. It can be jotting something down and coming back to it later. I have a notebook where I jot down ideas or do very rough sketches so I can return to it later.
Thinking counts. Planning counts. Saving inspiration counts. Daydreaming while folding laundry absolutely counts.
Creativity doesn’t have to be finished to be valid.
Finding Small Pockets of Time (Without Rearranging Your Whole Life)
Instead of finding time, it often helps to notice where time already exists.
Little Moments Add Up
After schoolclubs, nap times, evenings after bedtime — only if they work for you. Not every pocket of time needs to be productive, and rest always comes first.
Keeping creative tools nearby helps. As I said, I have a notebook on my desktop and on my side table in the living room. Or an app you always use for ideas. A small project that doesn’t need setting up from scratch.
When energy is low, tiny tasks are your friend. One sketch. One paragraph. One decision. Then stop.
Pair Creativity With Something You Already Do
This might look like:
- Sketching while watching TV
- Writing ideas while having a cup of tea
- Editing photos while dinner cooks
Creativity doesn’t need a set time in your calendar. Sometimes it just needs permission to sit alongside everyday life.
Use the In‑Between Time
Waiting times are surprisingly creative-friendly.
Notes apps, voice memos, saved folders for inspiration — these are wonderful places to hold ideas until you have the space to return to them. You don’t need to act on every idea straight away. You’re allowed to collect them quietly. I use Pinterest to collect and save ideas like a mood board.
Why not read my blog How I Plan my Workdays Around School, Family & Energy Levels to find out more about finding time to be creative.
Your Creative Space Doesn’t Need to Look Pretty
A gentle reminder: creativity does not require a beautiful studio.
Kitchen tables count. Sofas count. Corners of rooms count. Working among hundreds of Hot Wheels cars doesn’t make your work any less meaningful.
If it works for you, involving your children can also help creativity feel more accessible. Often it’s chaotic. Sometimes it’s lovely. Or sometimes it’s both.
And sometimes creativity is something you keep just for yourself — and that’s okay too.
The Mental Load Is Real (And It Affects Creativity)
One of the hardest parts of finding creative time isn’t physical time — it’s mental space.
Decision fatigue, constant interruptions, and carrying everyone else’s needs can make creativity feel impossible. Reducing friction helps.
That might mean:
- Having fewer choices about what to work on
- Keeping a short list of “easy creative tasks”
- Letting yourself pause mid-project and return later
You don’t need to finish everything in one sitting to be creative.
When Creativity Feels Completely Out of Reach
There will be seasons when creativity feels quiet. Or distant. Or like too much effort.
That doesn’t mean it’s gone.
Rest is not a failure. You don’t have to produce to be creative. Sometimes staying connected means simply noticing what inspires you, or allowing yourself to enjoy other people’s creativity without pressure.
Your creativity isn’t fragile. It will wait.
A Gentle Reminder for Creative Mums
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I barely do anything creative anymore,” please know this: you are still creative.
Creativity doesn’t disappear because life gets busy. It just adapts. It softens. It waits for quieter moments.
Small moments matter. Half-finished ideas matter. Coming back to creativity slowly matters.
Closing Thoughts
Finding time for creativity as a busy mum isn’t about doing more. It’s about being kinder to yourself, lowering the bar, and letting creativity exist in small, imperfect ways.
You don’t need to choose between motherhood and creativity. They can sit side by side — gently, realistically, and on your own terms.
Put the kettle on. Take a breath. Start small.
That’s enough.
Got your own ideas? Why not leave a comment below or follow me on social media?
Leave A Comment