What I do all day (unsupervised)
A look at my daily rhythm outside the 9–5.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how time feels different when there’s space, actual space, to not only do the things you love, but also to take care of yourself. To rest. To reset. To show up better for the people around you because you’re no longer feeling like a star player in today’s proverbial “rat race”.
Anytime I’ve worked full-time (whether in New York or LA), I’ve always landed in the same place: completely burnt out. I’d spend Monday through Friday counting down to the weekend, and then spend the weekend catching up on errands or other obligations. There was never enough time to decompress. Just enough to survive and restart the cycle, every…single…week.
When I lived in New York, I was running social media for mindbodygreen and sharing widely on my own Instagram (this was peak IG food blogger era, circa 2016). I’d wake up early most weekdays, hit a workout class, prep my lunch, and pack my bag for the day. It was efficient. Too efficient. I was also barely sleeping.
I had horrible insomnia—sometimes I’d get barely 3-4 hours of sleep for four nights in a row, and by Thursday, I’d be dragging myself up the subway steps, hit with that body-sick exhaustion that shows up right before a cold.
I’d cancel whatever plans I had and go home to pass out by 8 p.m. That “reset” sleep would carry me through the weekend, and then the cycle would start all over again on Monday.
Eventually, I found acupuncture. My practitioner told me my blood type (O+) might benefit from more iron-rich foods and encouraged me to try meat and bone broth after 26 years (aka my entire life) of being vegetarian. Slowly, I began integrating new foods. I started sleeping again—deeper, more soundly. I felt stronger. But I still had to relearn the lesson of burnout several more times before it really stuck.
Now, for the first time in years, I have space. Real space. I work for myself. I don’t wake up to Slack notifications or back-to-back meetings. And with that freedom has come a whole new challenge:
How do you structure your days when there’s no one telling you what to do, especially when you’re trying to build something meaningful on your own terms?
What my days look like now:
It’s taken some fine-tuning.
In the beginning, I was so energized by the space that I overdid it—jumping into every idea, planning obsessively, creating elaborate Notion dashboards and detailed calendars for work that didn’t even exist yet (I am who I am, for better or worse!).
It was like I had all this creative momentum but no real container for it, and honestly? Some of that was just a more polished form of procrastination.
It felt productive. But it didn’t always move me forward.
I’m someone who thrives in organized chaos. I love a plan. I live in Notion, in my iPhone Notes app, in my calendar—but what I’ve been learning is how to build softness into the structure. I want to leave room for flow, for rest, for spontaneity. And I keep reminding myself: I get to make the rules now.
It’s still hard sometimes. Especially when friends or family ask that innocent question:
“So…what do you do all day?”
That question used to destroy me.
Now I say: “I’m pouring time into creative projects. I’m working with select clients. I’m learning to bet on myself, and this is the most energized I’ve felt in a while.”
A soft rhythm (not a strict routine):
Here’s how my days usually flow—maybe 60 to 75% of the time. The rest is more spontaneous. It all depends on my energy, what’s on my plate, and how I’m feeling.
Morning:
No alarm most days. I wake when my body’s ready (usually by 7 or 8 am).
I try to stay off my phone for the first hour.
I rotate between morning pages, oil pulling, and/or facial massage (I love her vids) before making breakfast, plus my summer favorite: an iced coconut matcha.
Late morning to early afternoon:
This is when I write, ideate, or work on client work and creative strategy.
I usually front-load meetings midweek to keep Monday and Friday more open.
I work from home most days but commit to 1–2 coffee shop days per week to get dressed, go out, and feel inspired by the world again (this is key!).
Mid-afternoon:
I squeeze in a walk, a Pilates class (I love MWH), or a strength session (via Form).
Then I’ll do the less fun, admin-y stuff: respond to emails, run errands, etc.
If I’m feeling flat, I’ll take a break and listen to a podcast or read someone else’s Substack as a creative reset. There are no real rules here! It’s a beautiful thing.
Evening:
I try to get off my phone by dinnertime, or at least leave it in the other room.
I go for a walk, cook, or just hang with my boyfriend if we’re both around.
I try to end the day feeling grounded. I always read before bed, too.
Some days, I completely rearrange this. If I’m feeling off or overstimulated, I give myself a “me day” midweek. If I get a burst of energy at 8 pm, I might write into the night. If a friend is in town, I work around their schedule.
What this season is teaching me:
I used to see my bursts of energy as a problem. I'd feel everything at once—ideas, clarity, inspiration—and then crash. I thought that made me inconsistent or unreliable. But lately, I’ve started to see it differently: as my special power.
If I’m making dinner and can barely focus because I’m overflowing with ideas, that’s something to celebrate. The key now is just having a notebook nearby, or giving myself permission to get to it later. I don’t need to act on every spark right away.
I’m also learning to listen to my energy instead of forcing it into a shape that makes other people more comfortable. Sometimes that means taking the afternoon off my phone. Sometimes it means rescheduling plans. Sometimes it means writing late because I want to. I no longer need to prove that I’ve “earned” the space I now have. I haven’t nailed the sentiment behind that yet, but I’m getting there. One day at a time.
There are days I still catch myself mentally rehearsing how I’ll explain my day to someone. “What did I do today?” And I start listing everything just to validate myself.
Lately, I’ve been reminding myself: I don’t owe anyone an explanation. You probably don’t either. Just saying “I had a lovely, creative day” can be more than enough.
And maybe the biggest shift is this:
What used to feel productive—overthinking, comparison, overplanning, and perfectionism—doesn’t anymore.
Now, I’m working on sharing things before they feel perfect. Also, to trust that confidence comes from movement, not from waiting.
My lists are simpler now. I usually pick 2-3 main things I want to get done each day. A few nice-to-haves if there’s time. The rest? It can wait.
I don’t want to just build a business or a brand—I want to build a rhythm. One I can actually live inside. One that leaves room for joy, creativity, and being human.
And maybe that’s the point: to build a rhythm that supports you through every season.
This rhythm has been my anchor for the past few months. Something I’ve built slowly, day by day, as I’ve re-entered the world of working for myself.
But I also know seasons shift. I’m heading to Europe next week, and for the first time in over five years, I’m giving myself real space to travel again. The last time I did this, I was burnt out and offline. This time, it’s all the more intentional.
I’m letting this summer be mine: no deadlines, no one to answer to, just a chance to follow my own rhythm. Some might call that selfish. I’m learning to call it vital.
I don’t know what my days will look like yet, but I know they’ll be full of beauty, curiosity, and a little more room to just be. I’m excited to share them with you!
If this piece resonated, or if you’re also figuring out your own rhythm, I’d love to hear from you—leave a comment below, or just reply to this email. I read every one.
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Ciao for now,
Jess
Unsupervised would be an amazing book name 😂
I had a lovely creative day :) Might say that to myself every day.