Hustle VS Homework: Balancing School And Creativity

Gabriela Enamorado/Staff Writer

School is back in full swing, once again making our schedules jam-packed with course work, internships and other academic commitments. 

For many of us, that means our creative and artistic pursuits will have to take a back seat. There’s just no way you’ll be able to fit writing, drawing or whatever else you do into a busy schedule, and even if you do find the time, you’ll be too burnt out from school to even give your creativity your all—right? 

Wrong. This doesn’t have to be the case. Just because school started back up again doesn’t mean your creativity has to be on pause. Creativity is essential to our lives. It enhances our life and helps us think differently. 

Maybe you’re a writer, maybe you draw, or maybe you make jewelry. Whatever it is, you should not abandon it in favor of academics. Creativity makes life more bearable. It’s safe to say that we all need our creative outlets during this time.  If you are able to, you gotta continue letting your art bloom.

Focusing on academics alone will probably wear you down easily. I burn out quickly when all I do is wake up, go to school, do assignments and then go work at my part-time job. Working on creative projects can help relieve stress by refocusing your mind on something you enjoy. Humans need to be able to take a step down and rejuvenate our brains. We have a lot on our plates and should be able to do things that make us happy. 

Your creativity can even help you with your career. I’m a writer and I view writing as a form of art. I am also going into the journalism field, so having writing skills is obviously beneficial. But, I also like to write non-journalistic writings like short stories, poems or personal blog posts. Honing the skills you gain from your pastimes is a great benefit.  

Time management is key here. I’m not telling you to put off school.  Setting up a schedule that works for you will be beneficial in the long run. Even if you work on your creative hobby for just a little bit, it’ll still progress. It’s still something that brings you joy. 

Don’t overexert yourself, either. It’s okay to say “no” to other tasks and take time to work on your projects. If you want to cancel some plans to work on your sewing that’s okay. Don’t take on too many things at the same time, or you could burn out. 

When the time comes for you to practice your art, don’t put yourself down if you can’t get into the groove immediately.  Something a lot of us struggle with is feeling motivated to work on our craft. We may suffer from self-doubt or a creative block.

As a writer, I often get writer’s block. The stress of school doesn’t help and often halts any innovative ideas I may have. If you’re having these issues, don’t force it. Write your ideas down when they come to you. Look at this as a chance to grow your artistry. Challenge yourself with new ideas and push yourself to finish what you’ve started. 

Creativity is one of the best things this world has to offer. Letting your creative side get squashed out because school has started will not help you in the long run. I don’t want anyone to completely get rid of the things you most enjoy. So pick up your pen or brush, and get those juices flowing.

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The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

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Featured image by FIU Flickr.