How to Find Creative Time in a Hectic Schedule

If you’re having difficulty finding creative time because your life is hectic, that’s okay. You’re normal. After having kids, I grew really frustrated by how little I seemed to be able to write songs. Carving out time seemed impossible.

Before you give up, try this method. It’s comprised of two parts:

1. Labeling Existing Daily Habits
2. Asking the 4-Question Test

Part 1: Labeling Existing Daily Habits

First of all, why are we identifying your existing habits? Because we’re going to attach songwriting to one of them. In other words, we’re going to make your daily songwriting sessions happen without you having to reorganize your life. The point is to make songwriting as convenient as possible.

First, think of all the daily habits and routines you’re already doing: tucking the kids in at night, sitting down in your office chair, brushing your teeth—anything. Make a list and just brain dump.

Now, here’s the thing: This will sound obvious, but all of those habits are taking place in a location—a room or an area. So now mark that next to your list like this:

• waking up (bedroom)
• brushing teeth (bathroom)
• reading bedtime stories (kids’ rooms)
• walking the dog (outside)
• feeding the baby (rocking chair in the living room)
• driving to work (car)
• eating breakfast (kitchen)
• getting dressed (bedroom)
• starting work (office)
• ending work (office)

Part 2: Asking the 4-Question Test

Now I want you to think about each of those habits and ask yourself four questions:

1. Are you alone, or is it at least quiet when this habit occurs?
2. Before or after the habit, could you carve out at least 5 minutes and no more than 20 minutes for yourself?
3. Is there a place in that location where you could place (safely and indefinitely) a guitar or keyboard and a seat?
4. Would you be able to sing/play without disturbing anyone?

Go through each habit and location. You’re looking for locations with four yeses. Here’s an example from my own life:

• waking up (bedroom)
  • Are you alone, or is it at least quiet when this habit occurs?
    • Yes
  • Before or after the habit, could you carve out at least 5 minutes and no more than 20 minutes for yourself?
    • Yes
  • Is there a place in that location where you could place (safely and indefinitely) a guitar or keyboard and a seat?
    • Yes
  • Would you be able to sing/play without disturbing anyone?
    • No
• brushing teeth (bathroom)
  • Are you alone, or is it at least quiet when this habit occurs?
    • Sometimes
  • Before or after the habit, could you carve out at least 5 minutes and no more than 20 minutes for yourself?
    • Yes
  • Is there a place in that location where you could place (safely and indefinitely) a guitar or keyboard and a seat?
    • Difficult, probably no.
  • Would you be able to sing/play without disturbing anyone?
    • Yes
• reading bedtime stories (kids’ rooms)
  • Are you alone, or is it at least quiet when this habit occurs?
    • Yes
  • Before or after the habit, could you carve out at least 5 minutes and no more than 20 minutes for yourself?
    • Yes
  • Is there a place in that location where you could place (safely and indefinitely) a guitar or keyboard and a seat?
    • Yes
  • Would you be able to sing/play without disturbing anyone?
    • Yes, if I played and sang lightly

Case Study

For a while, my oldest son was having trouble sleeping. He wanted me to stay with him in his room until he went to sleep. So for a season of life, that became a habit. I walked into his room, sat down in his desk chair. We talked, or I read a book to calm him down. Sometimes I played my guitar and noodled around, fingerpicking until he dozed off. Then it occurred to me that I could work for a little bit each night after he went to sleep. It was:

1. quiet; everyone else had gone to bed or was in different rooms, and I
2. knew I could squeeze in a few minutes
3. there was a little space in his closet where I could lean my guitar up, and a place to sit (his desk chair)
4. He didn’t mind me playing/singing as long as I wasn’t belting!

Was it ideal? No. But it worked. Because my goal was to complete songs and ideas I’d had collecting dust in my phone. Each night I was able to make a little bit of progress.

Recap

1. Make a list of your current habits and the location in which they happen.
2. Ask the four questions for each habit.
3. Of the habits that get 4 yeses, choose the best one.

Love,
Aaron

P.S. This is part of my larger system of songwriting I developed for myself as a busy father of four. I call it The Songwriting Habit. Learn more here.>>

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