My personal experience is that my most creative periods are usually when I do have other imposed activities on my plate *in moderation* and *which I enjoy or am at ease with*.
When I'm having to force myself to focus on uninteresting or boring duties, I don't have the energy left to create. When I have nothing to do, I chronically overestimate how much time there is in the day and constantly meander into everything but creativity by thinking there will be time enough tomorrow or the day after.
In short, I must have enough free time and energy to create, but not so much that I stop valuing time and energy and squander them left and right.
Work is not the only way to get there, and it can definitely go too far, but idleness is definitely no better.