Time-Strapped? How to Find Time for Your New Creative Hobby (and Maybe a Side Hustle!)
Unlock Time for Your Passion: Practical Strategies for Busy Professionals & Creatives
Find Time to Create
We live in a world that constantly demands our attention, leaving many feeling like spare time is a mythical creature. Between demanding careers, family commitments, and the endless to-do lists, the idea of adding a new creative hobby – let alone nurturing it into a potential side hustle – can feel utterly overwhelming. If you've found yourself yearning for a creative outlet but consistently hitting the "no time" wall, you're far from alone.
This post is for you: the driven professional with a hidden artistic spark, the busy creative seeking to expand your horizons, the individual who believes in the power of making but struggles to find the minutes in the day.
We'll cut through the noise and explore practical, actionable time management strategies specifically designed to help you carve out space for your passions. Get ready to discover that even in the busiest of lives, there is time to create, to explore, and perhaps even to build something uniquely your own.
The Universal Hurdle
Let's be real, the feeling that there aren't enough hours in the day is something we all grapple with. A valuable piece of advice I once received was, "If you need something done efficiently, give it to the busiest person on the team." Counterintuitive as it sounds, the rationale proved true: those with the most on their plate often possess the strongest time management skills.
So, how do we, amidst demanding careers, family responsibilities, and the general hustle of life, carve out space for a creative hobby – let alone the possibility of a side hustle?
It Starts with a Conscious Choice
In my conversations with many individuals, one thing becomes clear: time itself rarely expands. Instead, finding time for what matters often requires a deliberate decision, a conscious scheduling of "me time." Think of it as making an important appointment with yourself. You deserve the opportunity to explore, create, and pursue something you genuinely love. I often ask myself: if I were looking back at my life from the vantage point of old age, would I regret not taking the time for these passions?
The benefits of having a creative outlet are well-documented. It's not just about personal enjoyment; it significantly contributes to our overall happiness, mental well-being, relationships, and even productivity in our professional lives.
How Much Time is Enough? The Power of Consistency
The beauty is, you don't need to dedicate vast chunks of time to see results. As we'll explore, even small, consistent efforts can yield significant progress.
1. The Tiny Habits Concept: Small Steps, Big Impact
Have you ever identified as an "all or nothing" person? Do you tend to sprint out of the gate with new endeavors, only to lose steam?
I want to introduce you to the powerful concept of "tiny habits." If you haven't encountered the work of BJ Fogg or James Clear's insights on habit formation, I highly recommend exploring their ideas. The core principle is that starting incredibly small and building momentum gradually can be far more effective than attempting a complete overhaul of your schedule and launching into a full-speed "sprint."
From a business perspective, this translates directly to planning and executing small, manageable steps towards your goals. I often see aspiring business owners brimming with enthusiasm and ambitious plans, but their approach is often unrealistic.
A common example is solopreneurs attempting to manage a presence on five different social media platforms. Let's be frank – even large businesses with dedicated marketing teams and social media strategists often focus on fewer channels for maximum impact. Why would a single-person operation, juggling product creation, finances, order fulfillment, customer service and social media, spread themselves so thin? That's a recipe for burnout, a sprint destined to fail.
A far more effective strategy is to choose one platform and commit to consistency.
A single, well-crafted post per week, maintained consistently over a year, will invariably yield better results than a month of frantic activity across five platforms followed by radio silence.
ACTION STEP - Reflect
Are you more inclined to be a sprinter or a marathon runner in your approach to new endeavors?
2. Time-Saving Strategies for Busy Creators (and Aspiring Side Hustlers)
Finding time for a new creative hobby, especially when you're already juggling a demanding career or existing creative pursuits, can feel like a monumental task. But the good news is, there are proven strategies to help you carve out those precious moments. Here are a few effective techniques, including some of my personal favorites, that can empower you to reclaim your time and nurture your creative passions:
1. The ABC Method: Prioritizing What Truly Matters
Developed by Alan Lakein, this straightforward method involves categorizing your tasks to ensure you're focusing your energy where it will have the biggest impact.
A Tasks: High Priority & Urgent. These are the non-negotiables – deadlines, critical work projects, anything with immediate consequences if not done. These get your focused attention first.
B Tasks: Important, But Not Urgent. These are the tasks that contribute to your long-term goals, including dedicating time to your hobby or planning for a potential side hustle. Schedule these in after your "A" tasks.
C Tasks: Low Priority. These are tasks that are "nice to do" but don't have a significant impact. These can be tackled when you have extra time, or even delegated or eliminated if necessary.
How it Helps You: By clearly identifying your "B" tasks – which include your creative pursuits – you can consciously allocate time for them instead of letting them get perpetually pushed aside by urgent but less important "C" tasks.
2. Pareto Analysis (The 80/20 Rule): Focus on High-Impact Activities
The Pareto principle suggests that roughly 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Applied to your creative endeavors and potential side hustle, this means identifying the 20% of activities that will yield 80% of the joy, skill development, or even business growth.
How it Helps You: Instead of spreading your limited time thinly across numerous tasks that yield minimal return, focus on the core activities that truly move the needle for your hobby or side hustle aspirations. For example, if you're a maker, spending focused time on product development or marketing to your ideal customer might yield far greater results than endlessly tweaking minor details or getting lost in less impactful tasks.
3. GTD (Getting Things Done): Mastering Mental Clarity
David Allen's "Getting Things Done" method emphasizes capturing all your tasks and ideas externally, freeing up mental space and reducing stress. The core principles involve:
Capturing: Writing down every task, idea, and commitment.
Clarifying: Deciding what each item is and what action is required.
Organizing: Putting tasks into appropriate lists and categories.
Reflecting: Regularly reviewing your system to stay on track.
Engaging: Taking action on your prioritized tasks.
A key tenet of GTD is to tackle small tasks immediately and break down larger tasks into manageable smaller steps that you can start working on now. As Allen wisely states, "The truth is, it takes more energy to keep something inside your head than outside."
How it Helps You: By externalizing your creative ideas and breaking down the steps involved in your hobby or side hustle, you make them less daunting and easier to integrate into your busy schedule. You're no longer relying on mental reminders that can easily get lost in the daily chaos.
4. ROTI (Return on Time Investment): Prioritizing for Impact
This is a crucial lens for busy individuals. We often invest significant time in activities that yield minimal return, whether it's endless scrolling or getting bogged down in tasks that don't align with our goals. ROTI encourages you to evaluate the potential payoff of your time investment.
How it Helps You: Think back to the social media example. Spending hours crafting elaborate social media stories with no clear strategy or understanding of your target audience's buying habits might have a low ROTI. Instead, focusing that time on understanding your ideal customer, developing a pricing strategy, or creating a core product line might yield a much higher return in terms of hobby satisfaction or potential business growth.
5. The Power of Simple Task Lists
Don't underestimate the effectiveness of a good old-fashioned task list. Whether it's in a physical diary, a dedicated journal, or a note-taking app on your phone, simply writing down what you need to do can provide clarity and a sense of control.
How it Helps You: A task list for your hobby could include "research macrame knots," "gather beekeeping supplies," or "sketch miniature furniture designs." Checking off even small items provides a sense of accomplishment and keeps you moving forward.
6. Time Blocking: Scheduling Your Creative Time
Treat your creative hobby time like any other important appointment. Block out specific slots in your calendar for it, even if it's just for 15-30 minutes. Consistency is key here.
How it Helps You: By proactively scheduling your creative time, you're making it a non-negotiable part of your week, rather than an afterthought that gets squeezed in (or doesn't) around other commitments.
7. Leveraging Technology (Time Management Apps)
Numerous time management apps are available to help you list tasks, set reminders, track your time, and even block distracting websites. The key is to find an app that aligns with your workflow and preferences.
How it Helps You: These tools can provide structure and accountability, helping you visualize how you're spending your time and identify areas for optimization.
Finding Your Rhythm
Ultimately, the best time management strategy is the one that works best for you. Don't be afraid to experiment with different methods. If something isn't clicking, iterate and keep trying until you find a system that suits your lifestyle and helps you consistently make time for your creative passions.
ACTION STEP - Experiment
Have a look at these methods. Which ones resonate with you? Commit to trying one or two this week.
Now, let's move on to three crucial insights I've learned along the way that can further streamline your journey into a creative hobby and potential side hustle, consistency, saying no, and setting realistic expectations.
Three Key Insights for Time-Strapped Creators
Beyond specific time management techniques, there are fundamental principles that can significantly impact your ability to find time for your creative hobby and potential side hustle. These are lessons I've learned firsthand, often the hard way, and I hope they can provide you with a smoother start:
INSIGHT 1: The Power of Consistent Small Steps
We often hear the adage, "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey." This rings especially true for creative pursuits and side hustles. The joy lies in the process itself, in the exploration and creation. There's no need to rush. Consistently taking small, purposeful steps towards your goals, while savoring the process, is a powerful insight and, in my experience, a key to both enjoyment and long-term success.
The Takeaway: Embrace the marathon, not the sprint. Even 15-30 minutes of focused effort on your hobby each day or a few times a week will accumulate significant progress over time. Consistency truly is the cornerstone.
INSIGHT 2: The Essential Art of Saying "No"
This can be a challenging but absolutely necessary skill for busy professionals and creatives. Many of us have a natural inclination to be helpful and accommodating, often wanting to please others and be the "go-to" person. While these are admirable qualities and likely part of who you are, it's crucial to recognize when external requests begin to encroach upon the time you've allocated for your own goals, including your creative hobby.
The Takeaway: It's perfectly okay to say "no" to requests that consistently overlap with or interfere with your dedicated hobby time. Protecting this time is an investment in your well-being and your creative aspirations.
INSIGHT 3: Setting Realistic Expectations for Yourself
We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but our commitments vary greatly. If you have demanding work responsibilities, family obligations, and a genuine desire to support others, it's essential to take a realistic inventory of your available time. This might involve honestly reviewing your schedule and consciously allocating specific slots for "you time" and your hobby.
The Takeaway: Remember the power of small and consistent effort. It's far better to commit to a manageable amount of time regularly than to set unrealistic expectations that lead to frustration and burnout. Adjust your schedule and your ambitions for your hobby to align with the reality of your current commitments.
Shifting Perspectives: Putting on Your "Business Hat"
Now, let's briefly consider how adopting a "business hat" mindset can offer a fresh perspective on finding time for your hobby, especially if you envision it potentially becoming a side hustle.
In the business world, efficiency and effectiveness are paramount. The goal is to achieve purposeful, planned, and impactful actions that yield maximum output with minimal wasted effort. Think of an Olympic swimmer gliding effortlessly through the water – that's the kind of streamlined approach we're aiming for, not struggling against the current.
Why a Business Mindset Helps
Time management skills are foundational for building a successful creative business. Even if your hobby remains purely for personal enjoyment, adopting a business-oriented approach to your time can help you be more intentional and productive with your creative pursuits. From a business perspective, consider these key principles:
ROTI (Return on Time Investment): Revisited.
As discussed earlier, critically evaluate where your time yields the greatest satisfaction, skill development, or potential for business growth. Is that endless social media scrolling truly serving your creative goals?
Batching Similar Tasks:
Look for opportunities to group similar activities related to your hobby or potential side hustle. Can you dedicate a specific block of time to sourcing materials, another to creating, and another to online research or marketing?
Efficiency and Integration:
How can you integrate your hobby into your existing routines? Can you listen to relevant podcasts during your commute, brainstorm ideas during a lunch break, or dedicate a specific evening each week to your creative work?
ACTION STEP - Self-Reflection
When you dedicate time to your hobby, are you consistent, even if it's in small increments?
Are you comfortable saying "no" to requests that consistently encroach on your dedicated creative time?
Have you realistically assessed the amount of time you can genuinely commit to your hobby given your other responsibilities?
My Secret Weapon: The Navy SEAL Time Management Method (Your Free Handout Inside!)
To bring everything together, I want to share my absolute all-time favorite time management method – a surprisingly simple yet incredibly powerful system I learned about, inspired by the focused efficiency of Navy SEALs (a course I took by Mark Devine).
And because I believe in empowering you to take action immediately, I've created my own business centric version in a handy PDF version using the base method, complete with my branding, that you can download and start using today. You'll find the download link just below.
This method is structured around three key sections: Daily Priorities, Weekly Focus, and Project Horizon. Its effectiveness lies in its simplicity and the way it encourages consistent, focused action. The real magic, however, comes from making this system one of your "tiny habits." Integrate it seamlessly into your morning routine – perhaps while enjoying your coffee or during your dedicated planning time block. I personally make it a non-negotiable to spend at least five distraction-free minutes each morning filling out these three sections.
Here's why this method is so transformative. Click on the + icon to open and read about each of the 4 sections below ⬇️ for the ‘how to’ plus you can download the PDF I’ve prepared for you and start using it straight away !
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One of the most impactful elements of this method is the strict focus on just three essential tasks for the day. This isn't about underestimating what you can do; it's about forcing yourself to ruthlessly prioritize what truly needs to get done today.
Why is this so effective?
It Fights Overwhelm: Limiting your list prevents that sinking feeling of looking at a never-ending stream of to-dos. It makes the day's work feel manageable.
It Tackles Procrastination: By highlighting only the top priorities, it's harder to avoid starting the most important things. You know exactly where to focus your energy.
It Frees Your Mind: Once tasks are noted down for future days or weeks in your planner, they stop occupying valuable mental bandwidth. You can concentrate fully on the three items you've committed to for the current day.
When setting your three daily priorities, aim to identify your single most important task for the day and two other significant tasks.
NOW, HERE’S THE CRUCIAL RULE
If you don't complete all three tasks by the end of the day, simply carry the unfinished ones over to the next day.
The key is to not add three new tasks on top of the carried-over ones. Your daily limit is still three. By doing this, you prevent tasks from piling up uncontrollably and becoming overwhelming.
Unfinished tasks get moved forward until they become a priority again within your daily limit of three.
This simple constraint brings incredible clarity and helps ensure that your most important work gets done consistently, without leading to burnout.
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Once your side hustle (or even your creative network) starts to grow, the "1 Contact Person" section becomes incredibly powerful.
Making Your "1 Contact Person" Count:
This dedicated slot for contacting one key person each day is incredibly powerful, especially as your creative hobby potentially evolves into a side hustle. These are the proactive connections – reaching out to potential clients, nurturing relationships with suppliers, following up with networking contacts, or simply checking in with someone valuable to your journey.
Why is this so important? Because these are often the tasks that fall to the bottom of the list when things get busy, and consistent connection is vital for growth. The goal here is to make it a personal contact, something that goes beyond a generic mass email.
Consider these options for making that valuable connection:
An old-fashioned phone call or a quick meeting (even virtual!).
A personal voice message via platforms like WhatsApp or Messenger – this adds a human touch that an email often lacks (though email certainly still counts as a contact!).
Even a thoughtful, personalized email that shows you've put specific thought into reaching out.
The key is to be intentional and make it feel personal – like you've deliberately carved out time from your day just to connect with them. This focused attention makes a significant impact.
Need a conversation starter, especially with someone you don't know well? A simple and effective question is: "What are you working on at the moment?" This open-ended question invites them to share, shows genuine interest, and provides a natural topic for future follow-ups ("How was [that project] you were working on going?"). Prioritizing these personal touches builds stronger relationships crucial for any creative venture.
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While your daily priorities keep you focused on immediate tasks, the weekly plan is where you tackle those larger projects that require more than a single day's effort. This section provides the space to break down bigger creative goals or side hustle milestones into specific, actionable steps you can focus on over the next seven days.
This process is essential because it prevents those exciting but large aspirations – like developing a new product line, setting up an online store, or planning a marketing push – from feeling abstract and overwhelming. By defining concrete actions for the week, you create a clear path forward and make tangible progress.
Think of it as setting your mini-goals for the week that contribute to a bigger picture. A practical approach I find effective is to focus on one primary weekly project and identify typically 1 to 3 specific actions related to that project to complete within the week.
Let's use an example relevant to product creation: Imagine your larger goal is to source and prepare packaging materials for your new product.
Week 1 Focus: Researching. Your weekly actions might be: 1) Identify 3 potential suppliers online. 2) Request samples from Supplier A. 3) Research average costs per unit.
Week 2 Focus: Purchasing. Your actions could be: 1) Compare sample quality and pricing. 2) Place an order with your chosen supplier. 3) Confirm shipping details.
Week 3 Focus: Trial Packaging. Actions might include: 1) Practice assembling the packaging. 2) Package up 5 trial products. 3) Take photos of the packaged product.
As you can see, the weekly actions directly contribute to the larger goal week after week. These actions might be stand-alone tasks, or they might be continuing steps that build on the previous week's work. The key is to define them clearly at the start of your week.
This weekly blueprint ensures that those larger projects don't just sit on a someday-maybe list but are actively progressed through consistent, manageable steps.
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Beyond your daily tasks and weekly actions, the Project Horizon section is where you keep your biggest, longest-term goals visible and on track. This is for the truly significant milestones you're working towards, which might take several months or even a year to achieve.
The most critical rule here is to consciously limit yourself to actively working on only one or two of these longer-term projects at any given time. This isn't about restricting your ambition; it's about setting realistic expectations and applying laser focus. This dedicated attention is invaluable for sticking to your major goals and achieving those significant milestones, which is particularly important when you're developing or growing a side hustle alongside other commitments.
Think of these projects as your major destinations – your yearly goals, perhaps. To make them less daunting and more manageable, it's incredibly helpful to break them down into smaller phases or chunks, often aligned with quarters (three-month periods).
Consider the analogy of a cruise ship with a clear destination set by the captain. The ship doesn't reach its destination in a single bound. It follows a deliberate, planned path. There might be "days at sea" where progress seems subtle, but the captain's clear course ensures the most direct and efficient journey from point A to point B, avoiding aimless drifting. Your projects are like that cruise ship – they require a planned course broken into stages.
Let's use the example of wanting to host a local event to showcase and sell your products as a major yearly objective:
Quarter 1 (Months 1-3): Foundation. Your focus might be on sourcing and securing potential venues, researching permits, and defining the event's core concept.
Quarter 2 (Months 4-6): Planning & Creation. This could involve detailed planning, developing a unique collection of new products specifically for the event, and outlining the event flow.
Quarter 3 (Months 7-9): Promotion & Communications. Your efforts here would likely focus on developing all the marketing materials, launching social media campaigns, securing advertising, and creating an invitation strategy.
Quarter 4 (Months 10-12): Execution & Logistics. This quarter is dedicated to staging, props, confirming catering, sending invitations, arranging mobile payment solutions, and all the final details leading up to the event.
By breaking down a large goal into these quarterly focus areas within your Project Horizon, you ensure consistent progress towards your major objectives without getting overwhelmed by trying to do everything at once.
Ready to take control of your time and finally make space for your creative passion (and maybe a side hustle)?
Your Free Navy SEAL Inspired Time Management PDF Handout
Make this method a tiny habit, integrate it into your daily routine, and watch how consistently focusing on what truly matters can unlock the time you thought you never had.
Key Takeaways
Time is a Choice: Carving out time for your creative hobby and potential side hustle requires a conscious decision and proactive scheduling.
Small Steps, Big Impact: Embrace the "tiny habits" concept. Consistent, small efforts are more sustainable and effective than sporadic bursts of activity.
Prioritize Ruthlessly: Utilize methods like the ABC method and Pareto analysis to focus on high-impact activities that align with your creative goals.
Master Your Mental Space: Employ the GTD method to capture and organize tasks, freeing your mind to focus on creation.
Evaluate Your ROTI: Be mindful of where you invest your time and prioritize activities that yield the greatest return in terms of joy, skill development, or business growth.
The Power of "No": Protect your dedicated creative time by learning to politely decline requests that consistently encroach upon it.
Set Realistic Expectations: Be honest about your current commitments and allocate time for your hobby accordingly. Consistency over intensity is key.
Adopt a "Business Hat": Even for personal hobbies, thinking with efficiency and effectiveness in mind can help you maximize your creative time.
Leverage Proven Strategies: Experiment with task lists, time blocking, and time management apps to find a system that works for you.
Consistency is King: Whether it's a few minutes daily or a longer block weekly, consistent engagement with your hobby will lead to progress and fulfillment.
The Navy SEAL Method: Prioritize daily, plan weekly, and focus your project horizon for a simple yet powerful time management approach.
Your Next Creative Chapter Awaits
Finding time for your creative passions in a busy world isn't about discovering hidden hours; it's about making conscious choices, adopting effective strategies, and embracing the power of consistent, small steps. You deserve the joy and fulfillment that comes from exploring your creativity, and perhaps even the excitement of building a unique side hustle.
Take the insights and tools shared in this post, especially the Navy SEAL Time Management Method (don't forget to download your free copy!), and start experimenting. Be patient with yourself, celebrate small wins, and remember that every moment you dedicate to your creative pursuit is an investment in your well-being and your unique potential.
It's time to make that appointment with yourself, to carve out that space for your passion.
Your creative niche is waiting to be explored. Go forth and create!
Ready to Turn Your Passion into Profit?
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Explore Our Full Creative Business Roadmap:
Unsure of your next step? Our interactive roadmap provides a clear path through every stage of building a successful creative business, linking you to the exact resources you need. See The Creative Business Roadmap.
Continue Your Creative Journey:
📖Related Reads
Explore more insights tailored to your specific stage and interests:
Juggling it All: Managing Your Creative Business Alongside a Day Job
Setting Goals for Your Creative Side Hustle (That You Can Actually Hit!)
Is Your Hobby a Hidden Business Opportunity
3 Things to Consider Now: A ‘Quick Start Checklist’
📚Books with Valuable Takeaways: I can highly recommend these books for their wealth of practical knowledge. “Way of the Seal” by Mark Devine + “Atomic Habits” by James Clear
Ready for the Full Framework? Introducing SmartSTARTERZ!
If you're serious about transforming your ideas into a thriving online business with a comprehensive, step-by-step framework, then SmartSTARTERZ is for you. Get expert guidance and all the tools you need to launch and grow with confidence.
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