Hobbies for Stay at Home Moms: How to Get Started on a Creative Project

How do you start a creative project as a stay-at-home mom when you’re pulled in a thousand different directions? A creative coach offers three tips for finally following your dreams and making progress on those at home hobbies.

In this intense season of family life, finding creative hobbies for stay at home moms can be uniquely energizing. It could be as simple as designing a reading nook at the top of the stairs, or as epic as starting a business. Big or small, private or public, it’s a confidence boost to have an idea and turn it into a real something.

Taking time to work on creative at home hobbies or personal projects may feel luxurious. And it is. But I would argue that it’s also a necessity. Maybe not as urgent as eating a salad or getting an extra hour of sleep, but zoom out, and it means taking your own ideas seriously, honoring your personal preferences, and letting your vision take shape. It is as essential as listening to your inner knowing and trusting yourself.

But how do you actually start a creative project as a stay-at-home mom when you’re surrounded by quiet (or kid-on-the playground-loud) chaos? As a writer, editor, and creative coach, I’ve started hundreds of projects, including many that felt very personal and special to me. Here are three easy ways to set yourself up for early wins, so you’ll want to keep going. 

Meet the Expert

• Heidi Fiedler: Writer, editor, and creative coach. She has worked on hundreds of titles for clients like Chronicle Books and Bravery Magazine. She helps writers find ease and joy in the creative process with writing classes, manuscript reviews, and coaching.

Hobbies for Stay at Home Moms: How to Make Creativity Happen in the Midst of Family Life

1. Connect to Your Creative Vision

After years in school and corporate life, your instinct might be to project manage your way through and jump to making a schedule or outline, maybe even opening up Asana. Maybe that works for some people or some projects, maybe even all projects once they’re under way. But I’m not sure it’s the best way to start a creative project. Starting something takes a special kind of energy.

Rather than adding a stream of intimidating to-dos to your list, it can help to see your project as a secret treat you can give yourself, something that’s all yours. No one can interfere. No one can tell you what to do. Your project is a way to connect to you. It’s a way to shape a tiny corner of the world to reflect your values and your vision. It’s a way to find meaning and peace in the chaos. 

It can help to see your project as a secret treat you can give yourself, something that’s all yours. No one can interfere. No one can tell you what to do.

If you broaden your definition of creativity, you might realize you’re already more capable and creative than you give yourself credit for. Do you bring an open, curious spirit to parenting, listening to music, or even setting the table? Do you visit museums in your free time? Do you love reading about new ideas? Trust you are interested in something for a reason. Believe in your own ideas. Ask yourself “What do I think?” Keep asking. At the same time, look for inspiration far and wide. Everything from the shape of an acorn hat to an Oscar acceptance speech can be swirled together and reimagined to inform your work and at home hobbies.

Baby Step

Even the most experienced creatives struggle with imposter syndrome. Introduce yourself to others as an artist, or a writer, or a founder, or whatever it is you’re doing. Make it part of who you are, and it will be easier to carve out space for it in your life—even if it’s been years since you actually felt creative.

2. Work on Your Creative Hobby Incrementally

It would be lovely to hide out in a hotel room and power through until you see some progress on your project. But that’s not always an option as a stay-at-home mom. So what can you accomplish in 15 minutes? Mini work sessions might not feel grand or exciting. But making even a tiny bit of progress can build confidence and momentum. So be ready! Make a plan. Set out your pencils. Schedule a consult. Decide where you will keep ideas. On your phone? In a new notebook? Do you need to sign up for a class or join an accountability group? Hire a coach? 

What can you accomplish in 15 minutes? Mini work sessions might not feel grand or exciting, but making even a tiny bit of progress can build confidence and momentum.

If it helps, you can choose a cue to help you focus on the task at hand. Light a candle. Spritz a favorite scent. Play the soundtrack for your project whenever it’s time to work. Just don’t let yourself get too precious about it. Those little cues can help you start working, if they feel like a natural fit, but you don’t need them to make progress! 

The real secret is to find a way to take baby steps toward a big dream. If you’re writing a book, make an outline. If you’re painting a mural, dedicate a notebook to doodling. If you’re dreaming of a summer garden, order seeds. If you want to start a magazine, reach out to another founder for a coffee date.

Forget about what will happen when you’re “done.” There might not be a finish line, or it may be many years in the future. It helps to trust that nothing is wasted, and even if it is, it’s worth doing for the process. Meaning if you don’t have fun working on your project at least some of the time, find a new one! 

Baby Step

Make a list of tiny ways you can work toward your goals. Keep it handy next to your tools, so the next time you have a little downtime you can jump right in. Find a way to visualize your progress as you go. Put a sticker on the calendar. Use a habit tracker. Keep a list of milestones on your phone. Whatever! You might be surprised how much you accomplish in the chaos. This is the key to success for any and all creative hobbies for stay at home moms, from painting to embroidery to woodworking and beyond.

Source: Alana Sousa

3. Build Creative Friendships

There can be pressure to create alone, as though somehow that means you’re more serious or talented. But collaboration and community can be really energizing and help you keep going, both emotionally and on a more practical level. Building a network of creative friends can show you that it’s possible to work on your own personal projects, give you people to turn to for introductions and problem solving, and make the whole experience of making progress on at home hobbies feel more fun.

Keep your eyes open for women who might share your values and vision. Instagram is still a good place to make connections, but don’t forget about IRL possibilities too. Is there someone at your kids’ school who always looks amazing and makes you want to throw on an extra necklace? Maybe she’s secretly an artist. Does your neighbor make beautiful welcome baskets? Maybe you can host a craft night together? Is there a mother in your writing class that always makes you laugh? Give her your number so you can text when the class is over. These small connections can sustain us if we notice and encourage them. Everyone is making it up as they go, just like you are. You can’t do it wrong! 

Baby Step

Reach out to someone who inspires you or feels aligned with your project in some way. Ask if you can check in with each other every week to share wins or just send an emoji to acknowledge you have both worked on your personal projects. Knowing you’re not alone and your work is visible to someone, somewhere can give you a real boost. 

I hope these tips for starting a creative project during your pause will help you move from idea to action. The world needs more mothers to share their wisdom and experience, whether that’s through art, business, teaching, or some other format. I can’t wait to see what you create!

Editor’s note: This article was first published in 2022. It has been updated for timeliness.