When Your Creative Work Keeps Getting Interrupted

Imagine this: You’re carrying a full cup of water, carefully walking toward your destination. But every few steps, someone taps your shoulder, and you spill a little. A phone call, a spill. An email, another spill.  An urgent work request. Another commitment you “just can’t” say no to, spill, spill, and spill! By the time you get to where you were going, your cup is empty.

That’s what it can feel like trying to make progress on your creative work while balancing a full-time job and life’s endless distractions. You start with the best intentions, This week I will finally finish my script, my portfolio, my passon project. Yet, something else comes up. And before you know it, another week (or month) has passed, and your creative work is still sitting there, waiting for you to have the time and energy.

Oh, that just me? (wink, wink)

As a 9-5 creative, I know this cycle all too well. I have struggled, and still do at times, to create time to invest in my creative work. Balancing a full-time role as a wellness counselor, directing an afterschool dance program, and juggling part-time work as a therapist and community event leader, my schedule is packed, leaving little room to fully immerse myself in my own creative passion projects. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy all  the “hats” that I am wearing,  yet there are moments where I have asked myself, “ are these hats (we still working with this metaphor) moving me closer to my desired outcome or distracting me?”

What has stood out for me was realizing how life keeps life-ing, pulling us in hundred directions before we get a chance to pour into it. How can we manage everything and remain consistent in our creative pursuits?

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How to Protect Your Creative Time. Treat It Like a Job

In working with my 9-5 creative coaching clients, I have shared with them a few strategies that have been a game-changer. We show up to our 9-5 every day because it’s non-negotiable. What if you treated your creative time the same way? Here’s how:

1. Time Blocking: The "Creative Office Hours" Method

Instead of working on your creative project when you have time, set non-negotiable hours in your week just like you would for an important meeting. Even if it’s just two solid hours on a Sunday or 30 minutes every morning, consistency compounds. Here is a tip, don’t overcommit and burn out. Just one dedicated time block a week can build momentum.

2. Tame the "Shiny Object Syndrome"

New ideas, side projects, and unexpected responsibilities will always pop up. Before jumping into something new, ask yourself:

• Is this actually urgent, or am I just avoiding my creative work?

• Does this align with my long-term creative goal?

• If I say yes to this, what am I saying no to?

A simple rule: If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no for now.

3. Create "Finish Lines" (Not Just To-Do Lists)

Instead of vague goals like "work on my art" or "write more," set clear, specific milestones:

* Complete one chapter of my book by Friday.

* Edit and upload one short film by the end of the month.

* Submit my design portfolio to three potential clients by next week.

A project without a deadline is just a dream. Give yours a finish line.

4. Outsource Your Willpower

Accountability makes all the difference. Find a creative accountability partner, hire a coach, or set up weekly check-ins with a friend to report your progress. When someone else is expecting you to follow through, you’re more likely to do it.

5. Make Your Creative Time Non-Negotiable

Just like you wouldn’t backout on an important work meeting, don’t backout on yourself. Treat your creative time as sacred. That might mean saying no to last-minute invites, stepping away from social media, or setting an autoresponder for non-urgent emails.

Your creative work deserves your attention. The more you commit to it, the more progress you’ll see. #youareworthit

Ready to take your creative goals seriously? Click the link to explore how we can work together!