Finding My Rhythm: Learning to Make Time for What I Love

It's funny how life can change, and how sometimes the thing you think you want most can take a little getting used to when it finally arrives.

For years, my life was full to the brim. I worked in a corporate role in the NHS, a job that often involved travelling and meant my days could be busy and demanding. Alongside that, I was a mum and a wife, looking after our animals, keeping up with everyday life, studying and completing a course, and trying to find time to paint whenever I could.

There was always something to do, somewhere to be, or something that needed my attention.

Looking back, I'm not quite sure how I fitted it all in. But somehow, I did.

Painting was something I loved and something that belonged to me. It was the creative part of my life that I wanted to nurture, even when time was limited. I'd squeeze it in around work and family commitments, making the most of the opportunities I had.

Back then, I often wished I had more time to paint. More time to practise, to experiment, to develop my skills and to explore the possibility of becoming a wildlife artist.

And now, here I am, with more time to give to that dream.

You'd think I'd be painting from morning until night, making the most of every available hour. But the reality has been a little different.

I've discovered that having more time doesn't automatically mean you become more productive. Sometimes, when the structure you've relied on for years disappears, you have to learn how to create a new one for yourself.

And that's where I find myself right now: learning to find my rhythm, creating a routine that works for me, and figuring out how to make the most of this new chapter without putting too much pressure on myself.

I want to build something meaningful from my art, and I believe I can. But I also want to enjoy the journey rather than spend all my time worrying about how far I still have to go.

So, for now, I'm learning to take things one day at a time.

To make space for painting, to keep learning, to embrace the mistakes and celebrate the little wins. To find a balance between being productive and allowing myself the freedom to explore.

After years of fitting my dreams around everything else, perhaps this is my opportunity to give them a little more room to grow