Advice for Creatives with a 9-5

Here’s some full transparency: I would be lying if I said I would want to completely quit working a full-time career and run my business full-time.

Yes…👀 I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t the point of starting a business to eventually pursue it full-time?

Hear me out!

Nowadays there has been a looming pressure to follow your dreams and turn your creative craft into your full-time career. And although that is amazing, realistically, not everyone can do that, nor WANTS to do this! We fail to think about the realities of running a business full-time such as less structure in workdays, uncertainty in every aspect, managing every aspect

And If you’re anything like me, your creative craft is a creative outlet from your daily routine and something to look forward to after the workday.

Let’s normalize running a business while also working a regular career. You CAN run a business while also pursuing a 9-5 career. The key is to find the right techniques that work for you to help maintain balance.

Since working full-time, I’ve been able to find my footing in balancing both and wanted to share some advice for fellow creatives managing their careers or education with their creative craft!

Transparency is key

Transparency is critical for the success of your business and also for maintaining clients’ trust. Be transparent about your situation with your clients and set realistic expectations for project timelines based on your availability.

However, it is still important to emphasize that you will still give the same quality of care and attention!

Set clear boundaries

Make sure you have established boundaries! As a creative also working full-time, boundary lines can start to be blurred when juggling your career and your creative work.

You may feel like you need to spend extra hours just to catch up or allow certain things to happen because you have limited time during the day. But that is not the case! You actually want to have more boundaries set to have to prevent being overworked and help keep yourself organized. You want to have boundaries with a full-time job, your creative craft, and yourself!

Know your limits

Pursuing your passion is amazing, but remember to not take on more than you can handle! Evaluate the amount of free time you have with your full-time obligations and think about how much more work/creative projects you can take on.

By doing this you can avoid endless burnout and excess stress from overworking yourself. You do not have to be overbooked with work to be considered a good creative!

Know the power of “NO”

Realize that you are in a fortunate position to have you have a steady income alongside building your dreams. This takes the burden of stressing over money for the time being. With that being said, as exciting as it may be to get new clients, it's important to remember that you do not have to work with every client that drops an inquiry in your inbox. Take control of your options and be picky with deciding who you work with and what you actually have time for.

Prioritize “me time”

Realize that although your creative craft is your passion, it is also like having a second job. This means that you can easily fall into the trap of working non-stop. To avoid burnout and dreading your creative projects, it is crucial to know when to completely separate yourself from working not only in your career but also in your craft. Dedicate time to fully relax and unplug, whether that be a couple of hours a day or one full day out of the week.

Stop comparing

It is so easy to compare our success to that of others. As a creative also with a full-time career, it is important to not compare yourself to your creative peers, especially beware of comparing yourself to those who are full-time creatives and have the flexibility and time to grow faster.

You are doing amazing just as you are with what you can handle! The decision to keep your full-time job should not discourage you as a creative!