How I Manage My Time as a GIRLBOSS on the Go with HBO

This is a sponsored post in partnership with HBO and Her Campus Media. All words and opinions are my own.

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Is it just me or does it seem like every month time is flying by faster and faster? As a small business owner with a growing business, time seems to be in limited supply. I’ve had to learn to really maximize my days and find balance between work, play, and self-care.

While my days generally vary in what I need to focus on, I’d like to share how I balance my time throughout the day.

8 am —11 am: Wake Up, Have Breakfast, Check Email and Social Media

I love quiet mornings, but in all honesty, I’m much more of a night owl. I’d prefer to work late than to get up early.

The firs thing I do is get up, stretch, and make coffee. Then I have breakfast while going over emails. I reply to anything that needs an immediate response and then prioritize the rest of my inbox and make today’s to do list.

When that’s done, I go check our social media accounts, share new blog posts, reply to comments, share new content, and interact with the community. I’ll also tackle anything that needs to be finished ASAP.

Also, if I have meetings for that day, I try to schedule them in this time so I can still workout and have uninterrupted work time later in the day.

11 — 1 pm: Workout, Shower, Eat Lunch

By now my breakfast has digested and I’m ready to get my workout in. I’ve learned that I like to workout in the middle of the day because it gets me pumped up for the rest of the day. Plus I feel better knowing that I’ve gotten a workout in.

I have learned that I perform best when I’ve eaten before my workout so after breakfast is a good time for me to do that. As someone who works from home, I invested in a treadmill to make staying fit easier. I love watching my HBO shows during my workout (I’m recently finished a True Blood rewatch!).

The HBO Now app makes it so simple to stream HBO original series and documentaries. They also have new release and Hollywood hit movies available before anyone else. I get so sucked into the stories I hardly notice how much time has gone by. It makes it easier to get a good workout in when you have a good show to watch!

If you’re a college student, you can check HBOGo.com to see if you have access to free HBO GO on campus.  Just click “sign in” and then select your school. If not, you there is an exclusive offer available at HBONow.com/Student.

After my workout, I’ll take a quick shower, have a light lunch, and go on a quick coffee fun to get out of the house before diving into my main tasks for the day.

1 – 5:30 pm Core Work Time

This is when I get the bulk of my work done for the day. What I actually end up doing could be any combination of things. It could be writing new blog posts, editing content, following up on leads, writing and submitting contracts, taking calls, shooting photos, updating our social strategy, or brainstorming for new projects.

These are just a few of the core aspects of my business. I might also be doing client work or consulting depending on the time of year and the projects I’m working on.

When I’m home, I like to have something on in the background, otherwise it gets really quiet around here! I’ll work on my laptop and have an HBO show playing on my computer or my husband’s iPad depending on where I’m working.

5:30 – 8pm Time to Relax

This is the time when my husband comes home and we make dinner together. We talk about our days and plans, take care of any home responsibilities, and then watch an episode or two of our current show.

8 pm – 11:30 pm Additional Work Time

This is my secondary work time of the day. During these hours, I’ll finish up anything I didn’t finish in the afternoon, get started on things for the future, take a course to learn something new or do some personal writing.

I also often take this time to work on personal projects or home projects.

11:30 pm — 1 am Self-Care Time and Sleep

I usually finish up working around 11 or 11:30 and then take a bubble bath and do some reading to get ready for bed.

Even though it seems like my day starts later than most, I often end up working 9 — 11 hours per day. Breaking it up and having things that bring me joy sprinkled throughout my day (like my favorite HBO shows) makes it a lot easier to stay on track and be focused. I’m able to follow my energy levels and work when I’m most productive and still carve out time for myself. 

About the Author

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