Reclaiming creativity: life after university and the power of passion projects

In a world that often values productivity over passion, carving out time for creativity can feel like a luxury or even an afterthought. But as I’ve watched fellow graduates dive into corporate jobs, I’ve also seen a quiet rise in side hustles and passion projects, as people begin to rediscover what energises them beyond the 9–5.

I wanted to explore how creativity re-emerges after the intensity of university, and how it can evolve to fit into life after graduation, which can feel even busier. So, I sat down with my friend and Beyond the Word co-founder, Francesca, to talk about making space for inspiration, what fuels her creativity, and how she balances it all.

“If I had to pick one thing that sparks my creativity the most, it would be reading”, Cheska tells me. “Both fiction and non-fiction fuel my imagination and constantly reshape the way I see the world, and that inspiration naturally leads me to write.”

Writing, she explains, is her space to process, reflect, and lead to the exploration of new ideas. This ultimately led to the creation of Beyond the Word, a free online platform she co-founded to write about whatever piques her interest. “It’s a passion project that blends creativity, community, and meaning – and that’s what makes it so energising.”

Looking back, Francesca reflects on how her creative experience shifted throughout education. Creativity for her felt limited at school, always giving the exam board exactly what they wanted, and there was never room to explore beyond that. University gave slightly more freedom, and that encouragement to explore ideas and perspectives made a huge difference but with such a busy schedule, creativity still didn't thrive.

“I was in survival mode most of the time, just trying to stay on top of everything”, without the time to breathe at university, creativity didn’t have the chance to prosper.

For Francesca, however, the working world has driven her much more. She has more freedom and control over her time without the cycle of deadlines and essays that dictated three years at university. Now, with an income, Francesca has gained the freedom to explore more. “There’s so much inspiration in everyday life if you are open to it”, and that sparks creativity more than anything.

When asked whether boredom fuels creativity, Cheska didn’t hesitate. “Not for me. Boredom breeds more boredom. Creativity comes from movement and breaking out of routine with changes in the pace of life, whether reconnecting with someone I haven’t seen in a while, reading a new book, or learning a new fact I hadn’t come across.” These fresh perspectives allow creativity to grow by living curiously rather than waiting for inspiration to strike.

It's also having time to think more deeply and explore ideas that carry passion to help build something meaningful. For Cheska, “that kind of headspace didn’t exist for me during my time at university.”

Work and creativity, however, do not always coexist neatly. Whilst creativity is recognised as a powerful asset in the working world, job-dependent, the energy put into a 9-5 can have you prioritising sleep or relaxation over a creative passion project. Balance, therefore, is extremely important for sustainable creativity. Rather than seeing this balance as a chore, Cheska’s perspective is a refreshing reminder of the beauty of sharing experiences with those around you. Telling friends and family what you’ve been working on reminds her that everything in life is a shared process.

However, it can’t always be plain sailing. Sometimes, Cheska has to step away and clear her head, whether it’s just walking a new route home or listening to a new podcast, it can be enough to shift your mindset and reignite that creative spark.

With Beyond the Word, she feels very lucky with the support of the people around her. “It becomes less about juggling everything, and more about weaving it all together in a way that feels aligned.”

Hobbies and projects give Cheska a sense of purpose that isn’t tied to productivity or performance. The outlets she has created allow her to express herself freely and explore ideas that don’t have a place in her day job. “They give me something to look forward to, something that’s mine, and that sense of ownership and self-expression spills over into how I show up at work. I feel more energised, more focused, and more myself.”

Looking forward, Francesca isn’t putting pressure on anything she is doing; if she can continue spending time doing something she genuinely cares about, she’ll be happy. “Whether my side passions eventually evolve into a full-time career or continue to support me in more indirect ways, I know they’ll remain an important part of my growth.”

If you need the inspiration and motivation to start a passion project of your own, then take Cheska’s word to “just do it. Sometimes, just doing something because you love it is more than enough. Start the thing and you never know where it could take you.”