The myth that almost killed my creativity

How I learnt to create in the cracks (especially in motherhood)

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Hey Homebodies,

As I write this, my son is asleep on me like a little koala, his little chest slowly rising and falling. The laundry isn't done. There are dishes in the sink. My to-do list remains stubbornly unchecked.

And yet, here I am, stealing this moment to create.

This is what creativity looks like in my life now. Not the romantic vision of uninterrupted hours in a sunlit office, but rather these stolen moments, these thin slices of time wedged between responsibilities and routines.

I'm learning to create in the cracks.

an unintentional matching outfit moment for his midday nap

The myth of the perfect setup to create

Before motherhood, I believed a dangerous myth about creativity. I convinced myself that creative work required specific conditions: hours of uninterrupted time, sunlight streaming through windows, incense burning, fresh flowers on my desk, a steaming cup of something caffeinated, and the mental clarity that comes from a full night's sleep. The space needed to be tidy, my inbox cleared, and my mind free from pressing obligations.

once upon a time, this was my desk

I was waiting for ideal conditions that, if I'm honest, rarely materialised even then.

Now, with a toddler, a part time marketing job, and the general chaos of life, those conditions have become even more elusive. If I continued waiting for perfect circumstances to create, I'd be waiting forever.

*Actually* finding the time

My creative practice now happens in scattered moments between responsibilities:

• While I heat something up in the microwave

• During nap time (which is happening literally right now)

• Driving in my car and voice noting myself

• Writing in my notes app while waiting before appointments

• On the couch at night while I watch an episode (or two) of Mad Men with my husband

I've learned to work in shorter bursts, to pick up and put down projects more fluidly and to mentally bookmark where I left off so I can dive back in quickly when the next opportunity arises.

This isn't the romantic vision of the dedicated creative I once held. But in some ways, it feels more honest and integrated with the fullness of life.

the first introduction of crayons/drawing with my son (it totally failed and he tried to eat the crayons the whole time)

I’m going to be honest, motherhood has limited and simultaneously expanded my creativity

It would be disingenuous to say that motherhood hasn't limited my creative practice in some very real ways…

The most obvious limitation is time. Projects that once took days now stretch into weeks or months as they're completed in small increments. The start-stop rhythm can be so frustrating, especially as someone who used to love getting lost and drowning out the world in a creative project.

Energy is precious currency. When you're running on broken sleep, the idea of channelling what little energy remains into creative work can feel impossible. A lot of the time, when I do show up for my creative side, it is out of discipline, not inspiration.

Yet for all these limitations, motherhood has also expanded my creativity in unexpected ways. It has sharpened my observational skills. I notice little details I once overlooked. I also honestly just feel things so much deeper.

I believe maintaining this connection to my creative self makes me a better mother. It keeps me whole. It models for my son that following your curiosity and making things matters.

Accepting (well, kind of) that it’s time to let go of perfectionism

I simply don't have the luxury of perfectionism anymore.

This writing and the content I make on instagram won't be perfect. It can't be, given the circumstances of its creation. And there's unexpected freedom in that realisation.

I'm learning that done is better than perfect. That sharing something imperfect still adds more value to the world than keeping the perfect vision locked in my head, never to materialise.

a snippet of my art project inspiration board on Pinterest

Practical strategies for creating in the cracks

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and can’t seem to find time for your creative projects, here are some of the ways I create in small pockets of time.

• I keep multiple entry points into my work. If I have 30 minutes, I might draft new material. If I have 5 minutes, I might edit a paragraph or brainstorm titles.

• I use voice to text religiously. Some of my best ideas have come while pushing a pram through the park or driving to the gym. I often talk to Claude and do a full brain download or talk out a whole post, and then ask it to create a transcript for me.

• I’m never creating from a blank slate. I have a visual ideas bank on Canva for instagram, and Notion database for Substack. I often will start a draft on Substack, even if its just the title, so I don’t forget the fleeting idea and I can come back to it at another time.

• I set really small goals, like ‘edit one paragraph’ or ‘write one caption’. These tiny accomplishments maintain momentum between longer sessions.

• I save art projects to Pinterest, so that I can later reference them and keep them top of mind.

Can you create in the cracks?

If you're reading this and thinking, ‘I don't have time to be creative’, I gently challenge that belief. You might not have the time you want or the time you imagine you need, but there are cracks in your day.

What can you create in those spaces?

A paragraph of writing. A quick sketch. A new quick recipe. A few new lines of crochet.

Creation doesn't need to be huge to count and it most certainly doesn't need to be for public consumption.

Looking back, I can see how that myth of perfect conditions nearly killed my creative life entirely. If I'd continued waiting for those pristine circumstances, I might have stopped creating altogether.

This is creativity in the cracks. Imperfect, interrupted, but stubbornly present.

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I'd love to know: How do you find time for creativity in your full life? What small creative acts sustain you? And how has your creative practice evolved through different life stages?

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Thank you for being here, for your continued support, and for growing alongside me.