Before I began my career in graphic design, I assumed I would be a salaried employee. Once my job hunting began, I quickly realized that freelancing is an industry norm I didn’t know much about. I became freelance when the company I worked for merged with another, so instead of dipping my toe in, I had to dive in head-first.

I’ve been freelance for about a year now and know it can be overwhelming to find relatable resources, so I hope showing you what a work day could look like might help you! Freelancing looks different for everyone, but this is what a typical day looks like for me.

One perk of being freelance is that I get to set my own schedule. Despite how wonderful it sounds, it comes with some challenges. My workload is different every day, so making sure I designate enough time to my projects is crucial. I like to wake up around the same time every day, but it’s never exact. I’m usually up and at ’em by 8:30. Although I’m freelance, I have an office based out of a print shop in my city. I get most of my clients through them, so it makes sense for me to be there. I prefer getting up and going to work, but many freelancers work from home.

I get ready, make my coffee, and pack my lunch within an hour of waking up. I usually arrive to the office around 9:30 or 10am. I’ve never been super punctual, so not having to clock in at a certain time is one of my favorite parts about being freelance.

I start my day by checking emails and touching base with the sales representatives I work with to have an idea of what I need to work on for the day. Sometimes I know exactly what I need to work on, but other times I need to decide which project has priority. I keep a notebook on my desk to jot down a daily list of work I need to check in on. This notebook is also where I take notes, so nothing is super precise.

After I have a plan in place, I try to knock out anything that can be done relatively quickly. If I need to start a new project, I like to wait until I’ve finished up more minor work so I can dedicate my full attention to the ideation process. Once I send over revisions to my clients, I then tackle the heavier work.

If I have any meetings, they’re typically over lunch. I work closely with a few local organizations, so me and their sales representative will go off-site and attend meetings together. Other times, I’ll have Zoom meetings with clients who aren’t local. I like to schedule meetings in the afternoon to give me time in the morning to tie up any loose ends and prepare for the meeting.

Clients frequently request meetings. Even though emails are usually preferred, you will likely end up talking to your clients at least occasionally over Zoom. Any meetings I have usually last about an hour.

I always eat my lunch while working. By the time lunch rolls around, I’m in the zone and don’t want to break focus. Although this is my personal preference, lunch breaks can be taken at any time when you’re freelance!

The hours between 1:30 and 5:30pm are usually when I get most of my work done. I put my headphones in and fall into a flow state. Salaried workers are usually starting to wind down at this time, but for me, I can have a productive block of work with little to no distractions.

This block is when I can fully focus on new or more involved projects. I also check my invoicing platform to add projects and update my design time. I like to use Clockify to keep track of my billing time.

Most of the time, I try to wrap up my work day around 6pm. The time I leave also depends on my work load, but on lighter days I like to stay and work on personal projects or professional development. Once I reach a good stopping point, I check my list to see if I missed anything and make notes for the next day.

My evenings are pretty simple. I’ll get home and make dinner, then watch a show or two. I go to the gym after work a few nights a week, so sometimes dinner is postponed.

I usually start winding down around 10:30, but the night owl in me sometimes pushes it to 11 or 11:30pm. Again, not having to clock in at a specific time allows my schedule to be flexible!

Although my days look similar to someone with a typical 9 to 5, there are a few aspects that set us apart. Some of the times I’m “working” is not time I can bill my clients for. Off-site meetings and professional development are parts of my day that I do not earn money for. Because I can set my own rates, I try to factor in un-billable time to my overall earnings. Because I’m essentially a one-woman show, I have to play several different roles throughout the day. I’m equally a designer, customer service representative, and personal financial advisor. It can be tricky to switch tasks, but finding a routine that works for you will help aid your workflow.

So, what do you think about being freelance? If you do freelance work, what does a typical day for you look like? Let me know in the comments below!