Ask Kat: About My Daily Routine

So….

the truth is… when I first retired to pursue this career in pattern publishing (in Dec 2005), the most difficult thing that I had to do was to develop a work routine, a plan that I could kinda live with, day after day, to accomplish my goals, to advance my products, yet still maintain healthy boundaries between work space & time and family space & time, which can be complicated when you work from home.

But here’s the problem… as a person who disdains structure and prefers to live “in the moment”, I strongly resisted the idea that having a daily schedule would help my business. I guess you would say that it evolved over time. Truth is… I can’t really say when I started living with this “daily routine”, but now that I think about it, it’s been the routine I’ve stuck by for a LONG time now and I like it this way!

7 am– my alarm goes off (please note I almost NEVER get up at this time)

730 am– I generally get up by this time, boil my eggs, and throw treats around for my cats to chase

815 am– go downstairs to my studio, post something on social media (a blogpost, a newsletter or an image), check email & do my 1st 10-minute walk session

915 am– eat breakfast, do today’s Wordle & a morning devotional, + do my 2nd 10-minute walk session

1015 am– Shower + fix up, do a 3rd 10-minute walk session, head to studio to begin WORK

1115 am– WORK + 4th 10-minute walk session

1215 pm– Break for lunch while watching “the Young & Restless”, (YEP… I’ve been a fan since I was 19…) + the 5th 10-minute walk session

130 pm- 530 pm– WORK plus a 6th, 7th + 8th 10-minute walk session

530 pm– Work day ends, Business phone is turned off (or ignored)

Transition to Family Time

• 530 pm– Cook dinner, Watch the news while we eat, and play a phone game or two to relax
• 800 pm -1000pm– Watch TV, often while working on blog photos or posts at the same time
• 1000 -1130pm– mail out orders for tomorrow, in bed by 1200a

Important Notables

• I ALWAYS get up and walk briskly around the studio during the entirety of any phone call I receive, whether the calls are from friends, family, or work contacts. These walking sessions can really add up and can substitute +/or replace many of the scheduled walking sessions mentioned above.
• I try to schedule outside appointments of any kind (doctor, dentist, haircuts etc) between the hours of 10 am-1230 pm, so that only my morning work schedule is sacrificed. (And just so you know… I am capable, begrudgingly, of getting up earlier & getting myself out the door for appts, in order to reserve the afternoon hours for work) 🙂
• Saturday hours – are flexible. Sometimes I work, sometimes I spend time with family or friends.
• Sunday morning & early afternoon hours – are spent at church, lunch with friends, and various other music rehearsals +/or performances.

And now it’s YOUR turn!

Even though this schedule has worked for me, I’d love to know how YOUR schedule works for YOU!

And remember, we love reading your comments and answering your questions too,
so please feel free to leave either or both in the space provided below.

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