Propaganda I’m Not Falling For: Motherhood, Creativity & Redefining Productivity

If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you might’ve seen my recent post about the “propaganda I’m not falling for” trend. The ones I saw made me laugh but I wanted to do my own Joy Edit spin on it. 

So today, I’m digging into the messaging I’ve consciously chosen to reject — the things I’ve unlearned (and am still unlearning) on my journey toward showing up authentically in motherhood, in creativity, and in life. Let’s dive in:

1. That creativity is only for people who have endless free time

We’ve been sold the idea that creativity is only for people with endless free time — but that’s just not true. As a busy working parent to a young child and a part-time content creator, I know how limited time can be. Creativity lives in the small pockets of time I do have: five quiet minutes before school pickup, trying a new recipe for guests, arranging backyard flowers. I almost never get a full day to myself — it’s about giving yourself permission to express who you are, however and whenever you can.

2. That creativity is a luxury, not a need

There’s a reason so many of us feel guilty making time to create — whether it’s writing, decorating, cooking, or crafting. I used to think creativity was a luxury. But after becoming a new mom, feeling stretched thin and a little lost, I realized I still needed something more. Creativity became my self-care — a way to process what I’m feeling and reconnect with the parts of me that can get buried under everyday life. It doesn’t have to be big or perfect — just mine. It gives me energy for the hard days, and when I feel good, my whole family feels it too.

3. That some people just aren’t creative

I thought creativity was reserved for the pros - artists or people with formal training. I had (and still have) major impostor syndrome and always feel a little awkward calling myself a creative. But creativity isn’t a personality type — it’s a muscle. We all have it. It just looks different for everyone: maybe you design mood boards, plan epic kid birthday parties, or dream up DIYs on a budget. That’s creativity. Claim it.

4. That creativity and motherhood can’t coexist.

Here’s what I’ve learned: motherhood didn’t kill my creativity — it amplified my need for it. I’ve never felt more resourceful, inspired, or motivated than I do now. Sure, time is tighter. But the ideas? They come from a deeper place. From the desire to create a home that feels good at the end of a long, chaotic day. From wanting to tell stories that help me connect to other moms and to help them also feel seen and understood. 

5. That motherhood means always putting yourself last 

Notice that I said always? In the early days, my child needed me for everything, and I gave her my all. But as she’s grown more independent, I’ve realized we can’t keep forgetting ourselves. We’re told that good mothers sacrifice endlessly, and it sounds noble — but constantly putting yourself last leads to burnout, resentment, and disconnection from your own needs. I know this,  because that was me. Now, I’m learning that making space for myself — through creativity, rest, or even just quiet — isn’t selfish. It’s essential.

6. That carving out space for yourself is selfish

No. Nope. Absolutely not. Wanting time to hear your own thoughts, to breathe, to exist outside of your roles doesn’t make you a bad mom — it makes you human. In fact, setting boundaries and showing yourself respect is one of the most loving things you can model for your kids. I love that my daughter sees me decorating and then emulates it in her pretend play. I love when she says, “Oh Mama, you’re going to yoga? Have fun!” I hope she remembers these moments — so that if and when she becomes a mom one day, she’ll know it’s okay to do things just for herself, too.

7. That motherhood wipes out the person you were before

I remember an acquaintance once asked me, “So, outside of mom stuff, what do you like to do?” I laughed it off but inside I was like, “But being a mom is my whole personality now.” It’s easy to feel like motherhood swallows up who you used to be — your hobbies, your interests, your identity. But I’ve learned that it doesn’t erase you. It reshapes you. If you let it, motherhood can grow you into a fuller, more layered version of yourself. For me, it unlocked a new wave of creativity. It pushed me to see the world differently, to express myself more honestly, and to reconnect with what truly lights me up — not in spite of being a mom, but because of it.

8. That rest is not productive

This one hits close to home. As someone who thrives on being productive, I used to feel guilty whenever I took time to rest. But rest isn’t laziness — it’s essential recovery. It’s in those quiet moments of rest that reflection, clarity, and creativity often spark. Some of my best ideas have come when I almost didn’t give myself permission to pause. So let me say it again: rest is productive. And you don’t need entire days of doing nothing to truly rest. I definitely do not have that luxury. Sometimes, rest looks like ignoring the laundry, unplugging from social media, or trading chores for sitting on the couch and binge-watching some (really) trashy TV. Rest isn’t one-size-fits-all — it comes in many forms, and all of them matter.

9. That your value is in how much you do — not how present you are

We live in a world that glorifies being busy. And as a recovering Type A, I still love that rush of getting stuff DONE. But here’s the truth about my version of mom life: you can’t be a productivity machine and fully present at the same time. There’s just way too much happening and way too much to do — allllll the time.

So yes, sometimes the house looks like a tornado hit it. Sometimes I wait wayyyyyy too long to do laundry. And sometimes I forget important stuff — like the time I almost forgot to sign our daughter up for TK. And you know what? That’s totally okay. I’m learning that if I want to really show up for my family (and myself), I can’t be a Type A overachiever all the time. Notice how I said all the time… lol.

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This list could go on. But these nine ideas are the ones I’m actively unlearning, the ones I come back to again and again when I feel myself spiraling into “not enoughness.”

If any of this resonates with you — if you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning under invisible expectations — I hope this post reminds you that you’re not alone. You’re allowed to define motherhood, creativity, and success on your own terms. You don’t have to subscribe to the noise.

P.S. If these reflections resonate with you, there’s more to come. You can also find me on Instagram @being_injeanuity, where I share bite-sized inspiration and everyday moments from this journey.

Until then, here’s your permission slip to rest, create, and be — without guilt.