How to make time for ukulele in a busy life
This post is all about finding time to practice the ukulele—even when life gets busy.
To practice regularly, you’ll need to build a new habit. Sounds simple, right? For some people, it is. But for many of us, the week can fly by… and suddenly, we realize we haven’t touched our ukulele, even though we meant to.
That’s definitely me sometimes—so if that’s you too, you’re not alone.
Forming New Habits (and Why It’s Not Just About Willpower)
I highly recommend Gretchen Rubin’s book Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives. It’s a fascinating and practical guide to forming habits that actually stick—and it really helped me think differently about how to make time for things I care about, like music.
One of her big insights? Different strategies work for different people. So here are a few that have worked for me:
Simple Habit-Forming Tricks for Ukulele Practice
- Keep your ukulele visible
Don’t stash it in a cupboard or case where you’ll forget it. Leave it out somewhere you’ll see it every day—on a stand, by your couch, or even next to your kettle! - Get a practice buddy
Find a friend to play with, or ask someone to check in on how your practice is going. A little accountability—especially in the first couple of weeks—can make a big difference. - Sign up for a class
Having a weekly class gives you a reason to pick up your uke in between sessions. It’s also fun and motivating to learn alongside others. - Play songs you love
As soon as you’ve got the basics down, start learning a song that lights you up—even if it’s a bit of a stretch. Having something to aim for can turbocharge your motivation.
I’ve seen people make amazing progress just because they were determined to learn “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. That emotional connection to a song? It’s powerful.
Want more on that? Here’s my post about the joy of playing music that makes your heart sing.
If You Fall Off the Wagon…
Maybe a week or two has gone by and you haven’t practiced. You might be tempted to feel bad about it. Don’t. Seriously—don’t beat yourself up.
It’s not about willpower. Life happens. The important thing is to get curious instead of guilty.
Ask yourself:
- What got in the way?
- What might help me get back into it?
- What small tweak could make it easier next time?
It Might Be a Mindset Thing
Sometimes, the real issue isn’t time—it’s how we feel about playing. You might be:
- Nervous about singing
- Frustrated with a tricky strum
- Worried you’re falling behind others
- Uncomfortable without a private place to practice
These are real and valid feelings—but they’re also things you can work through. Start by just noticing what’s going on.
Journaling Can Help (Yes, Really)
It might sound odd in a post about ukulele, but journaling can give you big insights.
Here’s how:
- Grab a pen and paper
- Set a timer for 20 minutes
- Write everything you can about why you’re not practicing—what’s in the way, how it feels, what might help
You’ll probably surprise yourself. Even just naming the problem can make it smaller. And you might discover a simple fix—like asking your teacher for extra help with a tricky part, or moving your uke to a more visible spot.
Be Kind to Yourself
Whatever helps you do more of the good stuff—go with that. Make it easy. Make it fun. And remember: this is about something you want to do.
So go easy on yourself, and pick up your uke when you can. Even a little bit of regular playing goes a long way.
Keep strumming—you’ve got this.
More ukulele practice tips
Here’s my post on How to Practice a Song. And here’s my post on Practice Tips for Beginners.
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