How to make space in your week to experiment with creativity
Even if your schedule is full and your brain is fried. Especially if your brain is fried.
I’ve always wanted to try making plaster canvas art. I bought canvases and plaster two summers ago. And yet… Maybe this is the year.
When people hear the word "creativity," they often picture an artist in a sunlit studio, surrounded by paintbrushes and half-finished canvases.
Meanwhile, I'm over here designing virtual clothing for avatars.
For the past few years, creating clothes for virtual worlds has become one of my favourite creative outlets. I'll sit down with an idea, experiment with fabrics and colours that don't exist in real life, tweak tiny details, and completely lose track of time. It's one of the few activities that quiets the constant mental chatter in my head. For a little while, I'm not thinking about work deadlines, grocery lists, or whether I remembered to move the laundry to the dryer. I'm simply making something because it's fun.
The funny thing is, I almost didn't make time for it.
“It took me a while to realize that creativity isn’t something you fit into the leftover spaces of your life. Sometimes it’s the very thing that gives you the energy to handle everything else.”
Like so many people, I used to believe creativity required a free afternoon, a spotless workspace, and enough energy to tackle a "real" project. Since those magical conditions rarely showed up, neither did my creativity.
It took me a while to realize that creativity isn't something you fit into the leftover spaces of your life. Sometimes it's the very thing that gives you the energy to handle everything else.
You want to feel more creative. Otherwise, why are you reading this?
You know it’s something you miss, or maybe something you’ve never really let yourself explore, but when exactly are you supposed to do that? Between work, dishes, appointments, kids (or fur kids), and trying to remember if you already reheated your coffee three times today, finding time for creativity can feel… unrealistic.
I get it. I live it.
But here’s the thing: creativity doesn’t have to be a major time commitment. You don’t need a studio, a quiet afternoon, or a burst of inspiration from the heavens.
You just need a tiny bit of space. And a shift in how you think about what “counts.”
Let me show you how I make space for it, even when life is full and messy and real.
1. Stop waiting for the perfect moment
For years, I had this idea that if I was going to be creative, I needed the right vibe. Clean table. Long stretch of time. Maybe candles. Definitely silence.
You know what that got me? Nothing. Zero art. No joy. Just pressure.
Now? I give myself permission to try something small, even if the dog is barking, my desk is cluttered, and I only have ten minutes.
Let go of the “ideal.” Make a bit of a mess. Something is better than nothing.
2. “Creativity snacks” are underrated
Not everything has to be a big, meaningful project.
Sometimes my entire creative win for the day is doodling a sad blob with weird hair while on hold with customer service. Or sticking a random quote on a sticky note and slapping it on my wall.
That counts.
Here are a few snack-sized creative things I actually do:
Doodle on the back of junk mail
Take a photo of a weird-looking tree (my personal obsession)
Rearrange the stuff on my desk just to see if it feels different
Make a dramatic 3-song playlist called “Rainstorm Vibes, but I Still Have to Do Laundry”
It doesn’t have to be impressive. It just has to happen.
3. Stack it onto stuff you already do
Trying to carve out new time can feel impossible. So don’t.
Instead, piggyback creativity onto things you’re already doing. Let’s call it “stealth-mode creativity”.
Examples:
While waiting in the car? I’ll open my notes app and write a few random sentences. Sometimes they’re poems. Sometimes they’re to-do lists with dramatic flair.
While cooking? I play music and pretend I’m on a cooking show. Don’t judge me. (A smart person would record themselves and start a YouTube channel. Two birds…)
Folding laundry? I try to match socks by “vibe” instead of color. It’s dumb. It’s fun. It works.
This way, I don’t have to “find” time. I just use what’s already there.
4. Make it ridiculously easy to start
If you have to dig through five drawers and a storage bin to find your paints, you won’t start. Ask me how I know.
I’ve learned to keep little creative setups where I can see them:
A tray with markers and a notebook on my kitchen table
A folder on my desktop labeled “Creative Nonsense” (actual name)
A glue stick and a stash of scrap paper on my nightstand because apparently, bedtime collage is now a thing I do
Make starting so easy it’s hard to avoid.
5. Let go of the idea that it has to be meaningful
Some days, what I create feels thoughtful. Reflective. Kind of beautiful. Other days, it’s a cat with spaghetti arms and one eye bigger than the other. Both days are valid.
Creativity isn’t about making something to show the world. It’s about showing up for yourself in a way that feels different from the rest of your day. It’s a reminder that you’re not just here to get things done. You’re also here to explore. To play. To reconnect with parts of yourself you forgot were even there.
Michelle Arseneault is a certified life coach and instructional designer who loves helping women understand why life feels harder than it needs to, and what to do about it.
“I believe small, thoughtful changes usually have a bigger impact than dramatic overhauls. Around here, you'll usually find me exploring the psychology behind everyday life, creating practical tools, or asking questions that help you see things from a new angle.”
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