Hello everyone! If you haven’t already, check out my two recent posts on Diversified Finances about self-employment: Finding A Job That Suits The Lifestyle You Want and Four Months Of Being Self-Employed. Those posts go into more detail about why I chose this path and what the transition has been like.
In January, Cat published A Day In The Life: Self Employment Version, and that post inspired me to share my own typical day as a self-employed freelancer.
Now that I work for myself, people often ask, “What do you do all day?” The answer varies—my days are rarely the same. Some are long (12+ hours), others are short (sometimes under two or three hours). Usually my weekends are mostly free, and Mondays tend to be my busiest days.
Working from home is wonderful. I love the flexibility—being able to sleep in when I need it, attend appointments without juggling time off, and rearrange my day around personal commitments. I’m online throughout the day—Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Gchat—but I don’t count casual social media use as work. I do a lot of blog management, which means I often check websites and email multiple times a day.
I’ve never really sat down and worked a straight eight to ten hours for freelancing; instead, I work in bursts throughout the day. Is that normal? For many freelancers it is—work tends to ebb and flow based on deadlines and client needs.
Here’s a typical day for me:
6:30 A.M.
Because I enjoy what I do, I often wake up early now—something I never expected to say. When I had a day job I needed multiple alarms to get me out of bed, but since freelancing I usually wake up ready to start the day.
I begin working from bed while the house is still quiet. My dogs usually sleep through this time, so I don’t need to let them out right away. There are noisy squirrels living above us that I can hear chewing on the ceiling—sometimes I bang on the ceiling to scare them off, but lately I try to ignore the racket and focus on work.
Early morning tasks usually include answering emails that arrived overnight and responding to anything urgent. I check that my latest blog post published correctly and approve or reply to new comments. If I’m alert, I’ll browse my Bloglovin feed and read posts—this is one of my favorite quiet parts of the morning.
8:30 A.M.
About this time I usually go back to sleep for another one to two-hour nap. I don’t always understand why I nap, but it’s usually a glorious recharge and helps me stay productive later.
10 A.M.
I wake again, brush my teeth, put on light makeup (BB cream, eyeliner, mascara, and blush), and do my hair. If I’m energetic I’ll curl it; otherwise it goes up in a ponytail. The dogs want to go outside—one tolerates the outdoors briefly, the other sticks out there as long as she can handle the cold. They go out many times throughout the day.
Breakfast is typically oatmeal with fruit or an egg-based meal. I also feed the dogs, open the curtains, and take care of basic household tasks before digging back into work.
11 A.M.
By late morning, more emails have arrived—questions from potential clients, replies to my earlier messages, and other business. I reply to comments on my blog and other blogs I follow. Responding to readers is important to me; I like to revisit posts where I’ve commented to see if the author replied.
I usually don’t write in the early morning because I’m not at my creative best then. I tend to write in the afternoon, evening, or late at night when my focus and flow are stronger.
1 P.M.
Lunch time. Lately that’s been sandwiches made from deli meats we keep on hand—roast beef, buffalo chicken, honey ham, turkey—or simple tuna and chicken salad sandwiches. Guilty pleasure: I broke my self-imposed bread ban because I love fresh bread too much.
After lunch I do more freelance and blog tasks, and I try to fit in a workout. My workouts are usually about an hour and often include a high-intensity program (like T25), some strength training, and a short run.
3 P.M.
Afternoons vary. Sometimes I hang out with my partner, Wes, or meet friends. If I leave the house I get dressed and do my makeup; going out without makeup makes people mistake me for a teenager, so it’s a small but important ritual.
We might run errands, take the bigger dog to the park, or handle wedding tasks—recently I had my first wedding dress alteration appointment and was relieved everything fit. If I stay home, I’ll work on articles, answer emails, approve comments, manage freelancing projects, and communicate with affiliate managers and other bloggers. I often prepare a small snack or light meal during this time.
7 P.M.
Dinner time. Wes isn’t a great cook, so I usually make dinner. We eat, relax, and sometimes watch movies. I’ll also continue working on posts, reply to emails, and catch up on comments.
12 A.M.
Before bed I check email one more time and approve any remaining comments on my blog or the blogs I help manage. I often get lost browsing Pinterest, especially wedding ideas, before finally turning in for the night.
That’s a typical day in my life as a self-employed freelancer. What surprised you about my routine? How many hours do you work each day, and what does a typical day look like for you? Share your story—I love hearing how others structure their time.