A Lesson From The Artist’s Side Hustle: Finding Your 5 Hours

One of the most common questions I hear from artists is, “How do you find the time?”

How do you balance work, family, and everything else while still growing a creative business that feels like you?

I get it, because I’ve been there.

When I first started Gingiber, I was a mom with tiny kids, working other jobs, and squeezing art into the cracks of my day. My “studio hours” weren’t picture-perfect. They were nap times, early mornings, and late-night bursts of creativity. But they were mine.

Those tiny, consistent windows of focus became the foundation for everything that came after.

That’s why I created the 5-Hour Framework in my new book, The Artist's Side Hustle.

What “Finding Your 5 Hours” Really Means

It’s not about adding more hours to your week, it’s about discovering where they already exist.

Maybe your five hours look like:

• 30 minutes before everyone else wakes up

• A lunch break in your car with your sketchbook

• A Sunday afternoon batch session

• A midweek evening where you turn on your favorite playlist and create

Those little moments matter. The magic happens when you claim them intentionally.

Your five hours don’t have to look like anyone else’s. They just have to work for you.

Why the 5-Hour Framework Works

When you commit to just five focused hours a week, you’ll:
✨ Build momentum instead of waiting for the perfect time
✨ Learn to protect your creative energy
✨ Watch small, steady progress turn into real transformation

You don’t need to quit your job, move to a new studio, or have a wide-open schedule to grow your art. You just need a system that helps you use the time you already have wisely, and that’s what this framework does.

Take the First Step

Your art deserves your time! And even five hours a week can change everything.

Start by finding your first hour this week. Then show up for it. And keep going.

Let’s build something beautiful, five hours at a time.

💛
Stacie

Frequently Asked Questions About Finding Time for Your Art

What does "finding your 5 hours" mean for artists?

It means identifying a small, protected block of time each week — roughly five hours — dedicated entirely to your creative work. Rather than waiting for a free weekend or a slow season, the 5-hour framework helps you build creative momentum now, using the margins of time you already have.

How do I find time to make art when I'm already stretched thin?

Start by auditing where your hours actually go for one week. Most artists discover pockets of time — early mornings, lunch breaks, or evenings — that are spent passively. Replacing even a portion of that time with intentional creative work can add up to your five hours without requiring major life restructuring.

What is the 5-hour framework in The Artist's Side Hustle?

The 5-hour framework from Stacie Bloomfield's book The Artist's Side Hustle is a practical approach to consistent creative output. It asks you to identify five protected hours per week for your art business — not for scrolling, not for researching, but for making and shipping. The constraint forces prioritization and builds the habit of showing up for your work.