A Daily Schedule

I'm a planner, so schedules and dates run through my mind all the time.  I keep a calendar (yes, a real bound one with a green cover!) but sometimes I think it's more for back-up.  Dates and times just stick pretty well in my memory.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about my daily schedule though.  It's not the stuff you write in a calendar; it's those decisions like what time to wake up and go to bed, when to work out, when to eat lunch and dinner, the routine of life.

As a self-employed business owner, I have the freedom to decide what I want to do and when I want to do it.  But on the flip side, I have to be responsible and figure out what's best for me... not the easiest task.

During my business consultation with Jess, she encouraged me to "own my day," whatever that may be.  I should be proud of the lifestyle I have created for myself.  And I am.  I love that I can have a work/life balance... that I can run errands and exercise in the middle of the day, that I can sleep in or stay up late if I want.

I've only been done with nannying and grad school for about two months though, so I don't think I have my schedule completely figured out.  Plus, what works for now may change over time.

I saw this inspiring video from Marie Forleo last week, and I really want to try out her suggested schedule.  I think the part that most appeals to me is the waking-up-at-7-am part... because I am NOT a morning person but I wish I could be.

WAKE UP!  I brew my own Starbucks coffee at home now, but every once in awhile,
I stop into the nearest store for a treat.

Right now, I wake up at 9 am (don't hate me!).  I spend the morning checking email, reading blogs and news, catching up on social media, writing blog posts, and going to the gym or taking a walk.  The afternoon is when I hit my stride and really get work done.  I like being able to wind down once Scott gets home, eat dinner and hang out with him or meet up with friends or go to yoga.  Part of the reason I made the move to start my own business was to have that work/life balance, so I don't want to slave away all day and night on my work.  I'd burn out pretty quickly.

This schedule works for now, but I have a nagging feeling that I could do more with my day.  I could be making more connections, marketing more, writing more, working more. 

But in a creative field, it's tough to be doing creative work ALL the time.  I need down time to let my mind wander and let new ideas emerge (a time that is preferably not 3 am!).  After all, I know that even in the corporate world, no one works for the full time they are in the office.  There are slow days, long lunches, inefficient meetings, and lots of social time.  So I can't expect every minute of my "work day" to be spent at my laptop, writing the most perfect things and thinking of the best ideas ever.

I'm not sure what this all means for me and my daily schedule.  Perhaps I'll try some different approaches... or maybe I'll stick with this for now.  Whatever happens, I know I'm focused on doing my best work, meeting deadlines, making connections, and building my business.

How about you?  What's your schedule look like?  Do you want to make any changes in your day?