My main work day runs from about 9am to 3pm, though it varies. I've learned that I'm freshest in the mornings, so that's when I focus on core work. I'm big on content batching - it's just so much more efficient than trying to create things on the fly.

One thing that really helps is having specific days for calls and meetings. The mastermind group I'm part of has been incredibly valuable, so that gets protected time in the schedule.

Core Work Hours

This is where my schedule gets more flexible, which I love. During school terms, there's the afternoon pickup and family time. I've made it a priority to watch our daughter's matches on Wednesday afternoons - something I wouldn't trade for anything. During holidays, I tend to step back from work completely in the afternoons.

I usually do a social media check and some planning for the next day, but try to keep work pretty minimal at this point.

Late Afternoons

Following family supper/dinner, I really try to switch off from work completely. I've found this has quite a big impact on of course being present with family, but also it has massively helped me to get far better rest (I've found that it takes two hours to really switch off from work, to make sure I get a food night's sleep).

Evenings

What's Working Well

I used to do morning cardio and/or weights sessions and I miss them. Getting back to a proper exercise routine is high on my list - I know how much better everything feels after I've exercised.

Changes I'm Planning

Morning Routine Refresh

I'm adding something new to evenings - some light-hearted learning that has nothing to do with work. Learning Greek is on the cards! It's about keeping the brain engaged in a fun (or at least different!) way rather than always focusing on business.

Evening Learning

This is interesting - I used to be pretty strict about limiting email time, but I'm actually planning to open this up a bit. I've realised I want more direct connections with people on our email list, so I'm creating specific time during my week for dedicated time to properly read and reply to all the emails I receive in response to our weekly newsletters (and if this becomes unmanageable, I'll find solutions to manage it effectively at that stage).

Communication Shifts

I'm looking to create even clearer boundaries around deep work time. The mastermind group has been so valuable that I'm planning to increase my involvement there too - it's just been such a positive influence on both business and mindset.

Deep Work and Collaboration

One big shift I'm excited about is expanding my learning beyond just industry specialists. I'm looking into areas that might seem unrelated to creative business development, but could bring fresh perspectives to what we're doing. This includes more research and reading into global finances, economic trends, and how larger market shifts influence small businesses. While it might seem somewhat far removed from creative business development, understanding these broader patterns is helping me think differently about future opportunities and how we might need to adapt in the coming years.

Broader Learning

Writing this out has made me realise how much thought we put into our daily routines without always noticing it. While my current schedule works well in many ways, these planned changes feel like natural changes rather than dramatic overhauls.

"A good routine provides structure while keeping what matters in focus. But it needs to flex with life and occasionally change to stay fresh. Some weeks flow perfectly, others don't - what matters is knowing when to hold firm and when to adapt."

Final Thoughts