Tips To Make The Most of Your Time In Your Creative Practice
This month in The Creative Faith Club we are starting our Faith in The Margins Sessions and looking at different aspects of margin—small spaces physically, mentally, of time and resources. This topic has made me think of all the little things I’ve had to implement to help myself become more of an actual creative and not just someone who wants to create. I hope they will help you too.
How to Make the Most of Your Creative Time
For years, I told myself I didn’t have enough time to create. I’d dream about projects, gather supplies, and save inspiration. But the truth was, I wasn’t making the most of the little bits of time I did have. Creativity doesn’t require endless hours or perfect conditions—it requires intention. These are the practices that have shifted everything for me:
Stop scrolling. Inspiration is wonderful, but too much of it becomes paralyzing. When I’m overloaded with ideas, I often end up doing nothing at all. Instead of endlessly collecting, I’ve learned to stop and start making. How many times do you start on Instagram only to “wake up” an hour later?
Pick one project. Multitasking might feel productive, but it usually leads to scattered results. Linger with one project. Let yourself stay with it long enough to enjoy the process and see it through.
Limit supplies. This sounds backwards, but the less you use, the more freedom you’ll find. Pick one supply or a set color palette and stick to it. Boundaries push creativity in the best way.
Set a timer. This one was life-changing for me. When I set a timer, I give myself permission to fully create until it goes off. Then I put the project away guilt-free, knowing I’ll look forward to picking it up again tomorrow.
Join a course. When we pay for something, we tend to show up. Courses have given me accountability and direction, but also the relief of not always being the leader. Sometimes it’s a gift to your brain to let someone else plan the details.
Work small. Smaller scale projects build momentum. Completing something—even tiny—fuels confidence and creativity. Work in a small journal, repeat the same type of small project over and over.
Schedule time. Don’t wait to create until “time is left over.” It never is. Put it on the calendar and treat it like the priority it is. You are worth more than scraps of time.
Make a commitment. Tell a friend, say it out loud, or write a creation contract. Inside The Creative Faith Club, we do this together, and it makes all the difference in following through. Accountability goes a long way.
Stop collecting. I’m a collector at heart, especially when it comes to supplies. But there’s a point when gathering becomes a substitute for doing. Make some rules for yourself. Try no new supplies until you use what you already have.
Start doing. At the end of the day, this is what matters most. Stop thinking, stop planning, stop waiting until it’s perfect. Put pen to paper, paint to canvas, words into action. Creation happens when we begin.
These simple shifts have helped me actually use my creative time instead of just wishing for more. I’d love to know—which one do you need most right now?
