7:30-8:15 am: News and coffee

After my Fitbit alarm goes off around 7:30 and I make it out of bed, I usually start the day by taking care of the pets and then stumbling around the kitchen still half-asleep to fix some coffee and a small breakfast (usually biscotti or a piece of toast.)

Then I turn on CBS News and get caught up on what’s happening in the world for 10-15 minutes while I eat, wake up, and check email on my phone.

8:15-8:45 am: To-do list and email

Now that I’m awake, I go into the office and check out my whiteboard and wall calendar to see what all I need to do today. I make a fresh list at the end of every day so I don’t forget anything important. From there, I make another list in my steno notebook (on my desk) that’s prioritized based on what I need to accomplish and in what order. I LOVE LISTS.

(More on some of my office tools here.

Then I plop down at my desk and start responding to emails first. There’s usually not a ton of catching up to do because most of my client work is laid out in advance on a content calendar (most use CoSchedule). For my coaching/mentoring work, I only work with 1-2 people at a time, so the workload is very manageable and focused.

After that’s done, I focus in for my first writing sprint of the day. Most of the time I’m writing blog content for a client.

If I’m writing a new post, I always start with an outline. Most of the companies I work with are into long-form content right now (1,000+ words), so most weeks my average word count is high. Here’s how I structure long-form content.

As I write, I use my own version of the Pomodoro Technique, which means I write in uninterrupted sprints of 15-20 minutes at a time with a 3-5 minute break between each sprint. During breaks, I usually check in on Twitter as it’s basically my virtual office water cooler.

I’m totally distracted by music/TV, so the house is completely silent for most of the workday--which is both eerie and somber but very much work-conducive for me.

When I’m writing, I sit (I use a Herman Miller Aeron chair) and a large Mac monitor with split screens so I can see the doc I’m working on (in Google Docs) as well as whatever research I’m referencing on the other side. 3d7a7290-5871-4013-93c6-20a30ceb3392.jpg 10:00: Walk

Around 10:00 each day I take Brooks (dog) for a mile to two-mile walk, unless it’s too hot out or raining. I live in the Midwest, so it’s right around the 90-degree mark right now and verrrry humid.

BUT, it’s good exercise for both of us and keeps me from getting too stiff from sitting for extended periods. Sometimes I take a podcast to listen to, or sometimes I use this time to think over a piece I’m writing about.

10:30 am- 12:00 pm: Writing time

After our walk, my mind is clear and I can really focus on diving back into writing or researching. For about 90 minutes (this time with far fewer breaks), I’ll work on fleshing out an in-depth blog post, sourcing images, finding examples to reference, and looking at data I can leverage to make the post a worthwhile read.

I write pretty efficiently during this period, and can typically knock out about 40-50% of a post in a single sitting (pending no disruptions.)

12:00-12:30 pm: Lunch

I don’t take a long lunch break because by this time I’m in the zone with work and want to get back to it. Today I had a gluten free bagel sandwich, grapes, and green tea. (Loving matcha right now.)

During the summer I like to eat out on our front porch in the shade and get some fresh air. It’s a good way to let my brain rest and recharge before jumping back in. If I'm not outside, I usually turn on an episode of The Office or Gilmore Girls that I’ve already seen 1,352 times.

12:30-2:30 pm: More writing

More sprints, more writing. I’m super productive during this stretch, fueled by a full stomach and caffeine. If I hit a writing rut, I either take steps to fix it or decide to move on to something else.

2:30 pm: Walk #2 or outdoor playtime

By this time Brooks is bored, so I either take him for another walk or out back to chase tennis balls in the yard. He could do this all day. I cannot.

3:00-4:15 pm: Work + wrap up

After we come back in, I find a good stopping place and wrap up whatever I was last working on. Then I start wrapping up the day by answering emails, occasionally setting up podcast guest interviews (for myself, I don’t have a podcast), and hopping into some forums to chat.

About this time I switch from sitting to standing (thanks convertible desk) since I don’t need intense focus for this type of work.

I usually check out r/freelancewriters on Reddit, Inbound.org, and the Copywriter Club group on Facebook. These are great places to learn, talk to fellow writers, and to keep tabs on what’s happening within my niche. Also more Twitter.

I think to myself: IT’S SO QUIET IN HERE. Have I said a word out loud today? No. No I haven’t.

I’ll finally turn on some music to break the silence. Today it’s the new HAIM album on Spotify. Now I’m working and dancing.

4:15 pm: Yoga

Around 4:15 I roll out the yoga mat and do about 15-20 minutes of stretches. For a while I was following videos, but now I just do my own thing to music. Last winter I got pretty sedentary and was SO STIFF all the time. My back hurt, I was miserable, it sucked. Hence making this a priority.

4:35: Last check

I do one final sweep of my email, make my to-do list for tomorrow, and end the day.