Embracing Creativity Amid Daily Demands
It’s quite challenging to be creative all the time, yet tapping into my creativity every day brings a new energy to my routine. When I make the most of my creative side, even the routine tasks that feel repetitive and uninspiring are more manageable. This creative engagement keeps me motivated and gives me a sense of fulfillment amid the demands of daily life—a realization that has shaped my perspective recently.
I’ve come to see my day as divided into three main sections: child-rearing, self-improvement, and work. The child-rearing part includes spending time with family, managing household chores, and running errands. I group all these responsibilities under "child-rearing" because they flow into one another without distinct boundaries, all happening around my role as a parent. This time is fulfilling but also unpredictable and intense. The evenings, especially, become a whirlwind of activity—organizing cluttered spaces and keeping a watchful eye on the children, often leaving little time to focus on anything else. Although this part of my day feels chaotic, I understand its importance and do my best to manage it as smoothly as possible.
In contrast, my work hours offer the only chance I have to engage deeply with my creative side. Once I’ve completed my immediate tasks or am waiting for responses from coworkers or clients, I find valuable, uninterrupted moments that I use for journaling. This “idle” time is, ironically, some of the most meaningful for me, providing space to explore my thoughts, reflect, and create. Of course, I still have to respond to calls or handle urgent requests, but the ability to sit quietly at my laptop without being pulled in different directions is invaluable. Journaling has become a cherished activity, allowing me to nurture my inner creativity while fulfilling my work obligations.
Interestingly, this appreciation for creative downtime has also influenced my attitude toward commuting. Before, I wasn’t eager to return to the office post-pandemic, where daily commutes left me feeling drained and exhausted. But after realizing that my workday downtime could be used for creative activities, I began to view the office commute in a different light. For many, the idea of being physically present in the office is still an unquestioned standard. However, if I can do my job just as effectively at home and find little appeal in the office environment itself, it’s hard to justify the three-hour round-trip commute in packed trains every day. As a millennial, I wasn’t born a digital native, but I’m part of a generation that adapts quickly to change and embraces new ways of working. Making this shift to remote work and flexible schedules has felt natural and empowering.
So, what ultimately drives me to keep commuting is my passion for journaling. It may seem like an odd motivation, but having a clear purpose, even one that’s personal, helps me tolerate the parts of my routine I might otherwise dislike. I rarely talk about work-related tasks simply because they don’t hold the same personal meaning for me. While I appreciate the security and structure my job provides, finding a way to weave my interests into my day has been crucial for my well-being.
Learning to balance the various parts of my life—child-rearing, self-improvement, and work—has allowed me to create a fulfilling and sustainable daily routine. Embracing creativity has become a core part of my day, helping me navigate and even find joy in tasks that might otherwise feel draining.
My journey has taught me that balance doesn’t have to be perfect; it just needs to be "good enough" for me. With this perspective in mind,I feel more connected to my goals, more grounded in my responsibilities, and more at peace with the demands of my daily life.