Thanks for bearing with me through the absence of a blog post yesterday—I’ve been too busy with work to catch up on my post queue since my vacation in July and I had a last-minute (but very fun!) family gathering to attend yesterday. This is why I freelance. I love being able to take the day off unexpectedly to spend time with family!

But today, it’s back to my normal routine. It kinda seems like an oxymoron. Isn’t the point of freelancing…freedom? Why have a routine, then?

This was my mindset when I first became a freelancer. I picked up my work whenever, worked for however long I felt like, took frequent breaks, and didn’t set goals for myself. Things got done when they got done.

As I’m sure you can already see, this was extremely problematic. I wasn’t getting nearly as much done as I could have and I found myself scrambling to meet deadlines. It took a while for me to realise that a routine is important, even as a freelancer.

Most important is a morning routine, because how you start your day is likely how you’ll finish it, too.

For my mornings, I prize peace, relaxation, and quiet. This helps me to stay calm, focus, and trust God throughout my entire day. Here’s what that looks like for me:

7:00 A.M. Wake up, get out of bed, and make the bed, too (with help from my husband).

7:00-7:45 Reading time (almost always fiction).

7:45-8:00 Devotionals with my husband.

8:00-8:15 Breakfast (often something quick or prepared the night before).

8:15-8:45 Personal Bible study.

8:45-9:00 Get dressed, brush teeth, and stretch.

9:00 Time to work!

This routine is simple, but effective. Most important to me is that it’s not rushed—if I need to spend a little extra time on something, it’s okay. Once again, this is why I freelance!

This routine has also taken me a long time to perfect, as basic as it seems. Creating your optimal routine doesn’t happen in a day; you have to figure out what you like and what you don’t, which means some trial and error.

I challenge you, no matter what kind of job you have, to start out your morning right with a routine that sets you up for success. Figure out what’s important to you and centre your mornings around that. You’ll be amazed at how much of a difference it makes in your day.

Happy writing!

-E.J.

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Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash