A Day in My Life as a Designer & Illustrator – Behind-the-scenes look at balancing work, creativity, and motherhood.

Let's face it, aren't we all out here just trying our best to be the best version of ourselves for ourselves and our families? Every day is a new day to either stick with our usual routine or try something new. We try every day to better ourselves than the day before, but of course, there are days where we fail. Throw being a parent into the mix, and it's a fun combination of self-discovery, learning as we go, lots of letting go, and self-critiquing.

My line of work has changed a lot since becoming a mother. I have flowed with the different seasons as well as fought against them. I've spent many hours (if not days) caught up in my head about what I should be creating, what I want to achieve, and how I want to achieve it while raising a family. I have learned to lean into what I am most passionate about; this way, I am creating with purpose and intention in the hope that it sparks some inspiration in others.

If you were joining me for a day in my life 3+ years ago, you would have seen a completely different person putting most of their day into work and projects. These days, I spend my entire day with my two-year-old, so my work hours are within nap times, evenings, and a few hours here and there where we have family babysitting. I want to start off by saying that every family is unique. Some may not have any family around for an extra hand, others may prefer daycare options, or some people may be exactly like me—raising a family but trying to add a little creativity back into the routine as well as contributing a little to the family accounts.

Here is a breakdown of A Day in My Life as a Designer & Illustrator and how I am balancing work, creativity, and motherhood:

Letting go of expectations
Some days are just a plain shit show. Everything on my list to achieve that day may be cut in half completely. Learning to accept the fact that those days mean shifting a few items off my to-do list into the next day is okay, and these days aren't going to last forever. I wake up most mornings with an open mind for what the day might be.

Hydrating & prioritising nourishing meals
Every morning, as soon as I am out of bed, I start the day with 1-2 glasses of warm water to rehydrate. I aim to have a nourishing protein breakfast to start the day off on the right foot; anything with eggs or organic oats is generally my go-to.

Fresh air and getting out of the house
Ensuring we get out of the house in the morning is the key for both my own and my two-year-old's moods. We spend the morning either out for a walk, visiting family, or going to activities. I also try to sneak in some emailing or replying to clients somewhere around here too.

To-do lists and calendar updates
Most days, I aim to write my goals and to-do list down. Sometimes this may look like a once-a-week calendar update on a Sunday afternoon so it sets me up with a bit of a plan for the week ahead.

Leaning into creativity when the mood strikes
I've learned not to force creativity. When I am working on a project and hit a roadblock, I always step aside from it for a while to give my mind a break. On the other hand, whenever I have a design idea, I do my best to make sure I carve out even 15 minutes to work on it or sketch it out to come back to later. If you're a creative person and you sometimes visualize design ideas, always sketch them out—it doesn't matter how rough they are, but just enough so you can remember them and come back to refine later.

Scheduling in time for yourself
This one seems to be the most difficult. It can be so hard to just switch off from the growing list of things to be done, but whenever you get a moment, make sure you have some time for yourself doing something outside of work, children's activities, or household duties. Some of my favorite things to do are going thrift shopping, going for a chai and a walk, going for a hike in nature, catching up with a friend for lunch, or even just doing some gardening.

Learn, Learn, Learn
A dear friend once told me that the best way to get out of your own head when you feel 'stuck' is to learn. Find a new skill to learn; this can be done by taking a free course or a paid one, either online or in person. It doesn't have to be relevant to what you already currently do or know, but it can be something of interest. Who knows where you may use this skill down the line or where it may take you. One of my favorite online resources is Skillshare, where you can learn practically any skill from teachers all over the world.

I would love to know if my small list of balancing work, motherhood, and creativity has resonated with you in some way. I'd also love to know what tips you have, so feel free to write back to me!

With love, Teesh.