Let me start by telling you something: balancing creativity with stay at home mom life is not always the easiest task to accomplish, but it is doable.
For me, that means creating while raising two kids, managing a home, and running a digital art business from my iPad.
Some days are productive.
Some days are loud.
Some days literally nothing creative happens at all.
And learning how to balance creativity with the craziness of stay at home mom life hasn’t been about finding more time, it’s been about changing how I relate to creativity altogether.
This post isn’t for you if you want to find the perfect routine or productivity hacks. It’s about the REAL sh*t and how I keep creativity alive inside a full, unpredictable life.
There was a time when I believed creativity required long, uninterrupted hours and a quiet, dedicated space. That would 1000% be super nice at least every now and then…BUUUUUTTTT…Motherhood quickly proved that unrealistic.
My studio is wherever my iPad fits into the day — the kitchen, the couch, the car, or after bedtime routines. Creativity happens in short bursts, not marathon sessions. Once I stopped waiting for ideal conditions, I stopped feeling blocked.
This shift is what allowed me to build a sustainable digital art practice that works with my life instead of constantly fighting it.
I Treat Creativity Like a Relationship, Not a Task
Some days I show up fully.
Some days I’m there as best I can.
And that doesn’t mean I’ve failed nor does it mean I am giving up.
Being a stay at home mom and trying to be creative has shown me that creativity blooms when you’re gentle with it, not pushy. If I force it, I just get burned out and lose steam. But if I treat my creativity like a friendship, something I know I can always come back to, it sticks around.
This mindset ties closely into how I view art as self-expression, something I explore more in Art as a Form of Self-Expression. Creativity doesn’t disappear just because life is busy. It waits.
I Build My Business Around My Energy, Not My Schedule
Because I am constantly busy with the kids and their routines, I try not to create rigid routines for myself. Instead, I work in seasons and energy levels.
That’s why my business is built on:
- Digital products
- Print-on-demand platforms like Etsy, Spoonflower, Threadless, and Redbubble
- Reusable art that evolves into multiple formats
I create once, then let that work live in many places turning each artwork into multiple streams of income. This allows me to continue building momentum even when my availability changes.
Balancing creativity isn’t about doing more — it’s about designing smarter.
I Let Guilt Go (This Took Time)
A tough lesson I’ve learned is letting go of the guilt when I can’t create something every single day.
I’ve learned that creativity doesn’t require constant output to stay alive. In fact, forcing productivity during seasons that demand more emotionally usually leads to burnout, not better work.
Now, I allow creativity to ebb and flow. That permission alone has made my art stronger and my relationship with it healthier.
I Design With Longevity in Mind
Because my time is limited, I think long term thoughts.
Patterns and illustrations allow my work to move beyond the screen into:
- Fabric and wallpaper
- Home decor and art prints
- Digital downloads and creative assets
This is how creativity becomes sustainable instead of fleeting. I explore the practical side of this in How to Build a Pattern Collection That Feels Cohesive and 10 Ways to Use Seamless Patterns in Your Home Decor, because reusing art and all the components isn’t laziness, it’s the perfect strategy to a sustainable business.
What Balance Actually Looks Like for Me
Balancing creativity and stay at home mom life looks like:
- Creating in short windows without guilt
- Writing ideas down in my notes app until I can get to it
- No hard or rigid timelines
- Building a business that supports my life instead of consuming it
There is no perfect rhythm. There is only one that fits right now.
Final Thoughts
Creativity adapts when real life sh*t gets busy.
Being a stay at home mom and trying to be creative has shown me that making art that lasts means being flexible, trusting yourself, and setting up routines that work with real life. My business is here because it works with where I am in my life right now, not because I pushed myself to meet some crazy idea of what I should be doing.
If you’re a stay at home mom trying to stay creative, know this:
You don’t need more time. You need permission to create differently.
And that is more than enough.
As Always…THANKS FOR READING!!
Alicia
Join The Color Lover's Club!
Get first dibs on new patterns, sneak peeks, and fun, colorful artsy goodness—plus exclusive freebies and subscriber-only shop discounts—delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, just vibes.
