Making Time For Creativity & Slow Living When Working Full-Time

Many of us pursue creative projects and slow living on the side of a full-time job. It can feel challenging and like time is always sparse, but I have done it for many years now and it's absolutely possible. In this video I share what I think is the biggest struggle, yet something we rarely talk about - and give you my tips for doing creative work and living slowly alongside a day job.
Making time for creativity and slow living activities isn't about fitting in as much in your life as possible, it's about living with intention.
Enjoy & thank you for watching! xx
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[@Ali-in-Alignment]

Overthinking is something I'm REAL good at haha. I definitely Feel this...I always get so inspired but also have a hard time taking action!

[@elinloow]

Oh yes it can be a real struggle, especially when the space to take action is very limited. But you can do it! Just take one step at a time and you'll get there ✨

[@RebeccaBancarz]

I think for me I’m just completely in the wrong job. My job is very administrative repetitive work, even though I consider myself a creative person, so I’m definitely not aligned right now. I still dedicate a couple hours after work to my side creative business but sometimes it is a struggle because I feel drained after work. I can’t afford to quit my job right now but I think I’m going to at least find a job that is somewhat more creative so maybe the huge contrast doesn’t affect me as much. The more I strive to work on my creative business the less I want to show up to my day job.

[@shonagibson4396]

Hi Rebecca, I agree with you 100%. This is totally how I feel. Well done for cracking on and putting in a couple of hours after work. I was putting my lack of creativity and motivation in the evenings down to sheer laziness, but I hadn’t really considered that it’s due to depleted energy from working during the day, like you, in an admin job. If I’m not too busy, I make myself a cup of tea and allow myself 10 minutes to search the internet for beautiful fabrics. It helps in a small way to relieve the monotony until I can get home and fall asleep in front of the television!

[@mrsb7060]

This video is so refreshing to watch, I too work 4 days a week in paid employment and try to squeeze in my creative practice around it, which is a fine juggling act, but I love my creative practice! Great to hear your tips for managing it - thanks.

[@hollystevenson7470]

I've just found your channel and I love your videos so much! I'm burnt out today so I'm going to binge watch them with big mugs of tea. Keep going your doing so well.

[@elinloow]

Aww Holly so glad you enjoy them and happy to have you along here. Big mugs of tea sounds perfect. Hope that burnt out feeling passes soon 🤗

[@jackiesun2412]

Thank you so much for this calming video! I've been struggling with balancing my day job, my business, and living a more creative slow life, so this video came at the perfect time. ^.^ (P.S. Your kitty is sooo cute!!)

[@elinloow]

Thank you for watching! Oh yes it's a tricky balance to nail, but so very possible too! Good luck with everything. ☺ Alice cat sends her thanks - currently purring on my lap 😊

[@TeaTimeWithMay]

Omg thank you for sharing! I love your video and your cat is super adorable

[@elinloow]

Thank you yourself! 🤗 And I can only agree - Alice cat is the cutest!

[@acupofwords8419]

You're doing very beautifully. It's so inspiring. I love it. 🌟

[@elinloow]

So glad to hear that! 🤗✨

[@lapatira]

I returned to calming video this weekend. Glad I did. Feeling really exhausted but my creative "to-do" list is soo long. It feels disappointing to let some of my plans and ideas go, but, like you said, time and energy are limited...

[@elinloow]

It is disappointing to have to let go of ideas and plans you feel excited about, but don't have enough time and energy for! Just remember that everything can still happen, maybe just not at the time frame you had in mind. A calm pace is always so much more sustainable. 💛

[@cindysmith2430]

Amazing, what a wonderful video. It just hit the spot for me!🙏🏻

[@elinloow]

So glad it resonated! 💛

[@CherylMuir]

Thank you for talking about this. It's such an important conversation ❤

[@elinloow]

It really is. Thank you for watching! 💛

[@Reree-gz5bg]

I don't work a full time job but I am a university student, graduate. I find it equating to a full time job :P

[@Imtheenergy]

Love love love your channel

[@kendracapalbo]

When you’re currently at work working full time / making a graphic art project/ listening to a KZbin video asking for advice and cannot multitask LMAO 😅

[@marijanluvlee]

Hi Elin, I do have the struggle of balancing day job and creative work. This may be basic for most but I tend to get distracted at work with the creative work stuff taking over by thoughts. I don't want to sabotage my job but at the same time I don't want to miss out on those aha! moments as they come. How did you manage to capture those moments when technically, you aren't supposed to be working on or even thinking about your creative work and instead working on the day job?

[@elinloow]

Hi Mari! Oh haha, I've had the same happen to me many times. What I used to do was to scribble down my thoughts when they came, so I knew I could return to those ideas and that inspiration later. Didn't always work, but more often than not. So carry a notebook that you can jot down things in as they come to you, or take some notes on your phone. It doesn't take long from your work, and can help you leave those thoughts for a while and shift your mind back to your job. And hey... most people take some minutes here and there for checking social media and such. Most jobs won't notice if you spend a couple of minutes on something creative. 😉

[@marijanluvlee]

@@elinloow haha! I love that comparison with social media. Maybe it's just me overthinking about messing with job when creative thoughts consume me while working. My notes are all over the place and so are my thoughts. So maybe, I'll put a brain dump space in my notebook which I just recently dedicated for creative stuff only. That way, I hope it won't be so much chaos and I know where to turn to when I start with my creative projects. I'm so glad I bumped into your channel. For so long, it felt like there's no one who can relate with me on challenges in balancing work and creative stuff on the side. All the others I've read or seen so far seemed to have their lives built perfect. Your vulnerability and honesty on your journey helped me face my challenges with hope that I can make it too. 😄

[@elinloow]

A brain dump space sounds perfect! The creative process involves a bit of chaos and mess, don't worry about things not making sense right away. Oh, I'm so glad you appreciate me showing the challenges and the journey. That's always been important to me. Everyone goes on a journey and experiences challenges along the way, even if they don't show it. I wish more people would peel back the curtain a bit. Yes to hope! 💛

[@marijanluvlee]

@@elinloow ahh I love the 💛 I've always been a yellow person. And yes, I do hope too. Keeping it real gets to the heart more than any perfectly crafted story. Aaaand, I did started on my brain dump. I'm excited to get these ideas to shape. 🤭

[@elinloow]

Indeed! And even so - a good story is never one where things go perfectly. Glad you're excited and have started your brain dump! :)

[@thatsimplelifeweneed8708]

Very insightful video..

[@elinloow]

Glad you liked it :)

[@marir1508]

You have moomi mug 💕💕

[@elinloow]

And I love it! ❤️