No Rest for the Wicked
- JP de la Rama
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Why Time Blocking Saved My Art, My Family, and My Sanity
“Discipline didn’t take my freedom—it gave me my life back. When you decide where your time goes, creativity finally has room to breathe.”
Setting the Stage
The holidays are officially over.
And just like that, real life came crashing back in—hard.
Backlogs are piling up.
Client messages waiting.
Deadlines are breathing down my neck.
Part of me still wants to boot up my retro console, tinker with old cartridges, or sneak in a quick game session.
My five-year-old certainly wants me to—every day she asks if we can play a two-player game together.
But reality doesn’t care.
Work has to move forward. Her classes are coming up.
Responsibilities don’t pause just because we’re tired.
There’s truly no rest for the wicked, especially when you’re an artist, a freelancer, and a parent trying to hold everything together at once.
And at this stage of life, I’ve learned something the hard way:
Freedom without structure is chaos.
The Real Problem Artists Don’t Want to Admit
When I was younger, time felt infinite.
In my 20s, I could work late, sleep less, chase ideas, and deal with the consequences later.
There was no calendar discipline.
No scheduling.
No systems.
Life just… happened.
That doesn’t work anymore.
Now, if I don’t manage my time, everything collapses:
Client work slips
Personal projects never move
Family time gets pushed aside
Burnout creeps in quietly
The real issue isn’t that we don’t have time.
It’s that we try to live an unscheduled life while carrying adult-level responsibilities.
Artists often romanticize chaos—waiting for inspiration, “going with the flow,” working only when motivation strikes.
But when you’re committed to your craft, your family, and your future, chaos becomes expensive.
Very expensive.
Time Blocking Isn’t Restriction, It’s Freedom
Here’s what finally worked for me: Time blocking.
Not hustle culture.
Not toxic productivity.
Just intentional scheduling.
I now block my time into clear lanes:
Client work (non-negotiable income hours)
Personal creative work (even if it’s just one focused hour)
Family time (protected, guilt-free)
Rest and hobbies (yes, they count)
This doesn’t make life rigid—it makes it sustainable.
Time blocking lets me:
Work without constant distraction
Be present with my daughter when it’s family time
Enjoy hobbies without guilt
Reduce stress because I already know what the day expects of me
The biggest mindset shift?
You don’t “find” time anymore—you decide where it goes.
Practical Tips for Artists Who Feel Overwhelmed
If you’re feeling slammed right now, try this:
Plan your week ahead, not day by day
Sunday planning saves Monday panic.
Block time, not tasks
Focus on chunks (e.g., “Client Work 9–12”) instead of endless to-do lists.
Protect at least one creative hour a day
Even slow progress beats none.
Schedule rest like it matters—because it does
Burnout kills creativity faster than laziness ever could.
Accept that discipline creates freedom
The more intentional your time, the more life you actually get to enjoy.
Final Thoughts
I may miss the chaos of my younger days—but I don’t miss the anxiety.
Today, balance isn’t about doing everything.
It’s about doing the right things at the right time.
There may be no rest for the wicked—but with proper time management, there is peace for the committed.
And honestly?
That’s a level-up I’ll take any day.
Subscribe to our newsletter:
Product Links:
#thescribblemedia #indiebasedstudio #animation #comics #webtoon #webcomics #services #platform #illustrationservices #computer #freelance #comicsandmanga #filipino #bisaya #bisdak #clipstudiopaint #clipstudio #clip #studio #ipadpro #tutorial #beginner #tips #videotips #newsletter #inspiration #art #creativedad #struggleofacreativedad #artistdad #
Comments