J P Rowan

Let’s be honest: trying to make space for creativity when you work full-time feels a bit like trying to keep a candle lit during a wind tunnel test. You start with good intentions. You block out a Saturday afternoon for writing or sketching or whatever lights you up—and then the laundry glares at you, the dishes start multiplying, and suddenly it’s Monday again.

I work full-time as an accountant. I spend most of my day squinting at spreadsheets, decoding vague client emails, and pretending I didn’t just spend 30 minutes Googling whether lunch counts as a deductible expense (it doesn’t, stop asking). By the end of the day, my brain feels like a well-used lint roller: slightly sticky, mostly useless, and covered in miscellaneous fluff.

So how do I actually make time to be creative?

1. Tiny Pockets of Time Are Still Time

I used to think I needed a whole uninterrupted afternoon to write. That’s a nice fantasy, like believing I’ll wake up one day magically organized. But I’ve learned that 10 minutes in the morning, 15 before bed, or a scribbled idea while microwaving leftovers counts. Some of my favorite story ideas came from half-finished thoughts jotted down between client calls.

2. Lower the Stakes, Raise the Output

Perfectionism is creativity’s clingy ex—it shows up uninvited and ruins everything. I had to unlearn the idea that every writing session had to produce gold. Sometimes, it’s okay to just write a messy paragraph or a scene that doesn’t go anywhere. Not everything has to be publishable. It’s like stretching: you do it so you don’t snap later.

3. Routine Helps… Kind Of

I won’t lie—I’m neurodivergent and “routine” is a flexible concept in my world. But having some gentle structure helps. For example, I now keep a tiny notebook on my desk and open it every day before work. Even if I only write a sentence, it keeps the creative tap dripping. (We don’t need a fire hose. Just a drip.)

4. Reframe “Wasted Time”

Scrolling your phone for 40 minutes isn’t a crime, but sometimes I’ll catch myself doing it when I meant to be writing. I don’t beat myself up—shame doesn’t inspire creativity—but I’ve started asking, “What do I actually want to do right now?” Nine times out of ten, the answer is “write something weird.” So I do.

5. Be Sneaky About It

Use your breaks. Write in your notes app while waiting in line. Dictate a scene idea while driving. Creativity doesn’t always look like sitting at a desk with a candle burning and a latte in hand. Sometimes it looks like voice memos full of dramatic whispering about your next horror story idea.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to be productive all the time. This isn’t a hustle post. You’re allowed to be tired. You’re allowed to rest. But if you’re anything like me, you also need to create. It’s not optional. It’s oxygen.

So make space for it, even if it’s weird, even if it’s messy. Even if your only accomplishment today is that one strange sentence you typed while half-asleep.

It still counts.