Few people have the freedom to choose how they spend every minute of their days. We all have commitments and obligations, often relating to household chores or the need to earn a living. Free time is a very limited commodity, and it’s interesting to explore how different people deal with their free time – and how creatives feel about spending most of their time on work which doesn’t spark their creativity. If you’re someone who loves to build, invent, and experiment, it can be difficult to find a balance between work and your passion.
1) Work = Hobby And Hobby = Work?
“Do what you love” is a wonderful idea, and many people thrive because they do exactly this – they make work from the thing they love doing. That’s a great way to live your life, and gives you the opportunity to focus and really hone your skills. Your work will feed into improving your hobby, and your hobby will increase your work skills. However, there’s a problem – your hobby can’t offer you a break from work if the two overlap too closely. You may end up bored, frustrated, stressed, and de-motivated because you are only ever doing one “thing” (even if it takes many different forms).
2) Being Money-Savvy Is Crucial
No matter how creative you are, you also need to understand money. It’s important to make sure that your finances are in good order, and that they stay in good order no matter what you’re doing. If you walk away from “normal” employment and a 9-5 job to pursue a more creative path, it’s crucial to think about your finances and understand how they work. “You can’t afford – literally can’t afford – to be all passion. Your art should never be about money, but it has to involve money if you’re going to survive. If it can’t or doesn’t yet, take a day job that will support you in the meantime,” says Bill Adams, a finance writer at Write My X and Britstudent.
3) Don’t Be Afraid To Diversify
If you’re someone who discovered your passion early in life, you’re lucky in some ways; many people struggle to work out what they want to do and how they want to do it. However, it is a mixed blessing in some ways, because it may leave you unsure of what else to do. It can be hard to pick up other hobbies or let yourself experiment with new things if you’ve always been focused in one direction. Remember to spread out and try different angles, especially if you get an opportunity to collaborate with other creatives.
4) Be Proud Of Your Journey
Being proud of your creativity is crucial, even if it isn’t something which is granting you financial independence yet. If you’re relying on others for financial support, you might sometimes doubt your art or feel like you’re being a drain. Try to put this narrative aside by focusing on what you’re contributing to the world, and the potential you have. If you’re really struggling, consider giving yourself some realistic goals which will help you see the value in your art, such as: I would like to sell 3 pieces this year.
5) Assess Your Day Job
If you are using a day job to sustain yourself, don’t take just any job. Think about what will make you feel good and what might feed into your creativity. We’ve already discussed how work and hobbies can overlap. Remember that they don’t have to, but if they do, you may find that you’re happier for it, and that your creativity blossoms as a result. “Talk to creative friends who may have insight on how to make your day job work for your creativity, and discuss the challenges they’ve faced; this might make you feel better and more confident about your own journey,” suggests Tim Atkins, a blogger at PhDKingdom and 1day2write.
Creativity and financial independence have an uneasy relationship, and if you’re someone who would like to make a living from your art, you’re bound to grapple with this problem at least occasionally. Don’t let it get you down; remember that it’s one of the challenges of being an artist, and look for solutions, take help from others, and find ways to keep your passion alive even if it’s not financing your life at the moment.
George J. Newton is a business development manager at Write My Research Proposal and Case Study Help. He has been married for fifteen years, perfecting the art of the apology throughout. He also writes for Do My Coursework.