I’m sure many of you creative people out there have a typical 9-5 job. Sometimes it can be a little difficult to try and find time to be creative when so much of your time is spent at work. If this sounds like you, continue reading. Here are my 5 tips on how to stay creative while working full-time.

#1 Find Pockets of Time

Finding little pockets of time throughout the day might be hard to work on your creativity. However, if you truly value your creative passion, you will make time to unwind and de-stress. Don’t try and make excuses for why you can’t find time to be creative. Even five minutes could do wonders. Take a look at the day ahead of you. Do you have some time after dinner to work on something? Can you push back household chores to another day? If so, use this time to work on something creative. Also, if you’re the type of person who finds themselves scrolling through your social media platforms frequently, trade this pastime instead for letting your creative juices flow.

#2 Focus on One Thing at a Time

I say this all the time, even though I need to remember to follow through with it myself. Focus on one thing at a time. Instead of starting one thing, then moving onto the next, then getting distracted and starting yet another thing, focus on starting and finishing one thing at a time. For me, I like to make lists. I make a list for everything, partly because I have a bad memory, but also because I like to cross things off as I complete them. You already don’t have a lot of time, so by focusing on one thing and seeing it through completion will help you feel like you have accomplished something.

#3 Make the Most Out of Your Weekends and Days Off

Weekends and days off are the perfect time to rest and unwind from a long week of work. Use this time to do something creative. Whether you need to go to a craft store and pick up supplies or are scrolling the Internet for that perfect pattern, use it wisely. You only have so much time on these days, so make the most of it and be productive. Use your weeknights to work on small tasks that only take a few hours. The bigger projects can wait until the weekend when you have more time. If it helps, plan out your upcoming week on Sunday afternoon. That way you can tackle things throughout the week, so when Sunday rolls around again, you will feel accomplished and happy. Once you make something a priority, it will become second nature to you.

#4 Stay Inspired Throughout the Day

Staying inspired while working a long day can be challenging. However, you can use the Internet to your advantage. If you have access to a computer, and your boss isn’t hovering over you desk, use this time to look up different things to help invoke some motivation and inspiration. Otherwise, look up some inspiration on your lunch break. Blogs are a great way to see what’s out there and to see how other people balance their creative passions and jobs.

#5 Reach Out to Others

Just because you’re working full-time doesn’t mean you can’t be a part of a creative community. Creative groups are important as they help encourage and inspire you to do different things. You’re almost guaranteed to spark your creative bug after seeing someone else’s work. Facebook has a TON of different creative groups you can join where you will meet like-minded people in your creative field. Blogs are also another way to stay connected with people. You can start a blog to show your progress on different projects and connect with other people who share the same values as you. It’s also a great way to showcase different ideas you may have that you want to share with others. Another great thing about blogs is that it’s all online, which means it can be done anytime of the day regardless of your work schedule.

The bottom line is–never stop asking questions and never give up. It might seem hard at first to find ways to be creative while still working full-time, but don’t give up. There are a lot of times where I’m still trying to balance my work life with my creative life. It’s not always easy, and I tend to get discouraged at times, but I keep up with it because I love it.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my 5 tips on how to stay creative while working full-time. Do you have any tips of your own? Share them below by leaving me a comment.

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