November 22, 2023
Ever wonder how some freelancers seem to get a whole lot more done in the morning than you do? (Or, at the very least, they post on social media that they did and you start off your day feel guilty about what you didn’t accomplish yet.) Some of them have iron-clad successful freelancer morning routines, God bless them!
When I went full-time freelance in 2013, one of the first things to go out the window was a steady morning routine. Isn’t that the point of freelancing and working from home? I thought.
I can sleep until 11 a.m. and work until 11 p.m. at night and no one is expecting me to sit at my desk with the computer on while I scroll through news headlines and email.
Eventually, I realized that not having a schedule wasn’t good for me, my business or my health. Between 2013 and 2017 I took some in-house part-time jobs that helped me stick to a freelance routine.
Besides having a steady paycheck direct deposited into my bank account every two weeks with these in-house editing jobs, part of the reason I appreciated these roles was that they added structure to my week.
I tended to be very productive on the days I wasn’t in the office because I had to be in order to tackle freelance assignments. I had to go to bed at a certain time so I would be able to wake up early and accomplish tasks for my small business. (How many hours do freelancers work each week?)
Now that I’ve been full-time freelance writing from home for several years, my weekday freelance morning routine is better than it was when I first started freelancing, but it could still use improvement.
(This freelancer FAQ will answer all of your burning questions about this career.)
Morning is a time when many freelancers say they’re most productive, some even waking up before the rest of their household rises and “eating the frog” or writing the assignment they need to get out of the way so they can be more productive with the rest of their time during the day. I think that’s because morning is one of the few times of the day that you can somewhat “control,” especially if you get up early enough and don’t allow external factors (traffic, children, spouses, TV) to derail you.I get “writing” done that isn’t emailing in the morning, I always feel more energized and productive the rest of the day because it isn’t hanging over my head.
Since a morning routine is an area that I can always improve upon, I asked freelance writer friends to share their optimal morning routine is when they want to have a productive day. (You’ll want to steal these pro tips on how to write a pitch for an article, too.)
Learn more about why this is the best time to write for certain freelancers and how to build a successful. morning routine.
” I’m a morning person by nature, so that’s when I get the bulk of my work done, and then I spend the rest of the day as a stay-at-home mom to my 3-year-old (the 5- and 7-year-old are in school). I follow a pretty detailed morning routine most mornings, though I’ve fallen out of the routine the last few weeks due to a cold. Maybe emailing it to you will get me back in the swing!” – Steph Mickelson, founder of The Practical Pen
“On my best days, I wake up around 6 and am at my desk by 6:30 a.m. I fight the urge to check emails and instead dive straight into writing something, whether it’s an article for a client that requires fresh brainpower or a creative nonfiction essay of my own. If I can write for two hours straight, or even one, before checking my emails, chances are I’ll have what I consider a successful day. This is definitely a ‘best case’ scenario! My worst days are when I’m reactive to my inbox, as opposed to doing the actual work I love.
One of the reasons I wanted to work for myself was to be able to reclaim commute time and turn it into something productive. It’s a lot of time when you think about it! This is an upgrade that benefits my clients (because I can now capitalize on the time of day when I’m most creative) and keeps me more in the balance as an individual. I think a lot of freelancers can probably relate to this.” – Laura Vrcek, Freelance Brand Journalist. (Here’s how to find freelance money in your inbox.)
“On my best days, I go on a morning walk first thing. It used to be to the coffee shop to pick up a hot cuppa for the energy jolt, but it’s become a longer, non-caffeinated more peaceful walk through a local park along the waterfront. I find as a writer it is key to allow yourself time to daydream, soak in life experience, see, feel and think. I watch furry tails at the dog park, cooing (or crying!) babies with their nannies, sunbathers, execs on frantic calls, speedwalkers, and most importantly, breathe in nature’s unfathomable beauty. It’s a lot of positive stimulation and think time with which to jumpstart the day. When I want to get serious work done and have a productive day, I always make a healthy but fast breakfast (oatmeal, yogurt and fruit, maybe a few scrambled eggs), put on music, light a candle and sit at my desk. I’m very big into rituals and mindfulness and find making my breakfast is a peaceful time of using my hands and senses and preparation. Our brains need fuel! (Especially if you’re devising article pitches that worked.)
I spend a half hour responding to any new emails, check in on the news of the day, then feel ready to dive in and do a good three- to four-hour session attacking the assignments in the cue. I try hard not to answer emails or calls or check social media when working—this can drive my mother and husband crazy, but my work is best without distraction. I’m one of those people who can disconnect for a whole day and feel blissfully tranquil.” – Julie D. Andrews, copywriter, creative strategist at JulesInk.com
“I am very routined and always do the same thing every morning: I wake up at 7, work out at home, and then meditate for 20 minutes. The first thing I do is check email. I know you’re not supposed to, but I have to see who has replied, as far as editors and sources, so I can make any adjustments to my schedule if necessary. I work out in the morning because otherwise it often doesn’t happen (I get too tunnel-visioned on work), and it really sets my day off right. The meditation then gives me a bit more ‘me’ time to find some quiet before the chaos of the day starts.” – Brittany Risher Englert, Digital Strategist, Editor, Writer at BrittanyRisher.com
What’s your freelance morning routine? How have you improved it to become more productive? Feel free to share in the comments below and I’ll include some in a future blog post!
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Tags: article writing advice, content marketing, content strategy, freelance, freelance pitches that worked, freelance writer, freelance writing, freelance writing tips, making six figures freelancing, morning, morning routines, productivity, time management
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