Multitasking on Crack: How I'm Putting Together a Cabaret Show on a Busy Working Mom's Time Budget

As a busy working mom, there are countless demands on my time. From school runs to work commitments, the day can often feel like a marathon of to-dos. But amid the chaos, I've found a way to channel my creativity and produce a cabaret show—something that not only brings me joy but also allows me to connect with others. It may seem daunting, but with disciplined multitasking and a few key strategies, I manage to write, plan, market, and practice for my show without losing my mind. Here’s how I do it.

Tip #1: Like Mozart said, 'It’s all right in here'

One of my best strategies for staying productive, as weird and trivial as it sounds, is to always be writing in my mind. Inspiration can strike at any moment—like when I’m driving my daughter to school, commuting to a doctor's appointment, cooking dinner, or even vacuuming the house. I often have a mental notebook swirling with ideas for songs, monologues, or themes for my cabaret. One of my favorite movies is Amadeus (and it was what inspired me at six years old to learn the piano). Mozart's brain never stopped writing, and he would often come up with entire operas in his head before he even had time to finally put them down on paper with his quill. I'll talk about quieting the mind and meditation later down below, but outside of doing that, when I am gearing up for something new, I am always using my mental capacity to come up with ideas.

From the movie Amadeus

To capture these fleeting thoughts, I use my phone's Notes app. The minute I come up with a great idea, I quickly jot it down so I don’t forget. This practice allows me to keep a backlog of creative material without needing to set aside big chunks of time to write everything down. I can take advantage of every moment, transforming mundane tasks into opportunities for artistic brainstorming.

Capturing inspiration on the go

Tip #2: Draw from Life

So where do I come up with these ideas, you ask? I let life around me inform my ideas. Life is crazy, beautiful, fun, sad, agonizing, exciting, and scary. It's all of it. So I observe what life brings me, and it informs my ideas.

I firmly believe that when people gain more life experience, it only strengthens them as an artist and a creator. Each moment, whether joyful or painful, adds depth to our understanding and perspective. This richness of experience makes our work more interesting and relatable, allowing us to connect with others on a deeper level. By drawing from life, we can create authentic narratives that resonate with our audience. Here are a few ways to incorporate this practice into your creative process:

• Keep a Journal: Document your daily experiences, thoughts, and feelings. This can serve as a wellspring of inspiration.

• Observe Your Surroundings: Pay attention to the people, places, and events around you. Take note of the emotions they evoke and how they can translate into your work.

• Engage with Different Perspectives: Talk to people from various backgrounds and experiences. Their stories can spark new ideas and broaden your creative horizons.

• Embrace Challenges: Use difficult experiences as fuel for your creativity. Often, the most profound art comes from navigating life's complexities.

  
  

In essence, let life be your canvas. The more you observe and experience, the richer your creative output will become.

Tip #3: If You've Got Five Minutes, Dude—That's FIVE Whole Minutes

Time is precious, especially for us busy moms. One of the best pieces of advice I can give is to seize small windows of time—like five minutes here and there—and turn them into productive moments. It can happen when noodles are boiling, or when I'm waiting for my daughter to finally come down so we can leave for school.

Whenever there's a spare moment, I sit down at my piano and play or sing. Not only does this help me practice, but it also serves as a way to recharge creatively. Those five minutes may seem insignificant, but they build up over time, allowing me to make tangible progress on my musical pieces.

By finding tiny snippets of time, I open up the creative floodgates and integrate my passion seamlessly into my busy routine. So, I repeat: Do not take even five minutes for granted. That time is gold. I mean, what else are you gonna do with that time? Scroll through your reels on your phone? Nah, do something for yourself!

Right here is where I live these days whenever I have a spare moment.

Tip #4: Quiet Your Mind

Ok, now let's slow down. In between all these activities, I find it essential to take a step back and quiet my mind. Amid the noise of daily life, it’s vital to carve out time for mindfulness. I do this by meditating, taking deep breaths, and becoming aware of the present moment. Sometimes I simply sit outside and listen to the birds (who have finally come out for Spring, yay!)—this acts as a reset button for my brain.

I know what you might be thinking; I don't have time to meditate. Well guess what? You don't need to do long meditation sessions! I used to do 30, sometimes 60 minute sessions back in the day when I was kidless. These days?? Yeah right! A meditation can be one minute long. That's sixty seconds of being quiet, breathing, and resetting. Even doing this one or two times a day goes a long way. (And if you want some humorous meditations, scroll to the bottom of my Sounds page!)

My relaxing, peaceful space where I can quiet my mind. Yes, that is Nacho Libre.

Stretching also helps me reconnect with my body. It's easy to spend too much time living in our heads, especially as we juggle various responsibilities. Taking brief moments to meditate or stretch allows me to clear away distractions and return to my creative work with renewed energy and focus.

Tip #5: No matter how late it is -- DO YOGA before you go to sleep

No matter how late it is or how much 'less' sleep I'll get, I always do at least—you guessed it—five minutes of yoga before turning in for the night. This practice puts you in a better mode for sleep and sets you up for success the next day. It is much better to get a tiny bit less sleep but go to bed relaxed than to go to bed tense, in pain, or stressed.

Yoga allows you to go back into your body, as it is so easy to escape into the mind space all day long when you're super busy and juggling a million things. When we leave our body, we don't listen to our body. When we don't listen to our body, we don't care for it as much; and this can lead to chronic pain and make you susceptible to getting sick. I love the Yoga with Adriene YouTube channel. She does so many different kind of yoga practices from 5, to 60 minutes long. Take that time for yourself to take in deep breaths and then take long breaths out while imagining yourself expelling any stress from that day. It seriously works.

Embrace New Challenges

When it comes to my cabaret show, embracing new challenges is crucial. Learning to improvise on the piano instead of relying on sheet music has been one of my most significant hurdles. I typically play while reading notes, so memorizing music and playing by chords is a massive stretch for me. At times, it feels overwhelming, and I literally think about giving up.

Despite these feelings, I know that pushing through is essential for my growth. By setting small, achievable goals each week, I focus on one piece at a time. This method allows me to build confidence with every performance. Plus, I’ve discovered that improvising lets me express myself more freely, giving this new show a unique flair.

Creativity Amid Chaos

Being a mom is not easy, and neither is producing a cabaret show. There are days when I feel exhausted, questioning whether I can continue managing both. However, my fierce dedication and discipline keeps me going. The feeling of performing—even amidst my busy schedule—makes every effort worthwhile.

I remind myself that creativity flourishes in chaos. I once read an article about how many artists find inspiration in their everyday lives. From these moments, I create something beautiful and meaningful.

So, to anyone juggling responsibilities and creative pursuits, remember: You can indeed carve out space for your passion, even on a tight time budget.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Every time I practice, market, and work on my cabaret show, I keep my ultimate goal in mind: sharing my art with others. The anticipation of standing on stage and performing for an audience fuels my passion even during the busiest days.

By harnessing the power of multitasking, embracing mindfulness, and staying determined, it's become feasible for me to manage my show, even as a busy working mom. I hope my journey inspires you to pursue your creative passions, regardless of life's demands. Together, we can all create beautiful art amidst the chaos!

Interested in coming to see the show? You can find more details and subscribe for updates on my process here. Your support means the world to me, and having an audience is a huge motivator to keep pushing through those tough moments.

Thanks for reading!