How Much Is My Time Worth?

There comes a point in every creative’s career when you realise — your time isn’t free.

It’s a confronting moment because most of us didn’t get into design or architecture to count minutes and invoices. We got into it because we love what we do. But that love, combined with wanting to help everyone, often turns into a slow leak of unpaid time and energy — and before you know it, your week’s gone to “just a quick favour.”

The “five-minute” phone calls that turn into 30.The “quick check” emails that require actual thought, sourcing, or drawings. The endless “could you just…” messages.

Those aren’t small moments. They’re hidden hours.

And here’s the truth: when you keep saying yes to everyone else’s “just one thing,” you end up taxing yourself — mentally, emotionally, and financially.

The F*** Around Tax

There’s a term floating around creative industries (and it hits a bit too close to home): the f*** around tax.

It’s the invisible cost we pay for the clients, collaborators, or situations that drain time and energy — chasing quotes, redrawing plans for the fourth time, fielding indecisive questions that could have been answered in a brief. The f*** around tax isn’t on your invoice, but you feel it in your week.

And sometimes, you have to start adding it to your invoice — literally or figuratively — to protect your sanity. Whether it’s building in contingencies for drawn-out communication or charging appropriately for consults and changes, you’re not being difficult. You’re being professional.

Waste of Space

Another harsh but real truth: not every interaction deserves your energy. Some people will never value what you do, no matter how much you give. That’s not your fault — but it is your responsibility to recognise it.

When we keep pouring energy into people or projects that don’t respect our boundaries, we create a waste of space — the physical, mental, and emotional space that could’ve been filled with better clients, sharper work, and more inspired ideas. Every “yes” to something draining is a “no” to something meaningful.

Valuing What We Know

As creatives, we often forget that what comes easily to us is valuable precisely because it’s hard for everyone else. That instinct — knowing what works, seeing problems before they happen, making decisions with confidence — is built from years of experience.That’s what people are paying for.

The moment we start charging properly for our time — even those “quick” consults — we’re not just setting a boundary. We’re setting a standard.

At AD Library, we’re all about raising that standard together. Because when we all start valuing our time, energy, and expertise, we strengthen the creative industry as a whole.

So next time someone asks for “just five minutes,” ask yourself: Is this part of the work I’m being paid for — or is this another round of the f*** around tax?

Your time is worth more than you think. Start charging like it.