Quite awhile ago, I discovered this fun article with the daily routines of some well-known women artists, and thought it would be interesting to share my own average day.

I am lucky to have an art related day job teaching at local nonprofits where I am able to inspire people of all ages and abilities to create, especially those who don’t know they’re artists yet.

My basic routine on days I work right away in the morning is, to be honest, getting up roughly 20-30 minutes before I have to be out the door. I value sleep, mainly because I seem to just need my exact recommended 8-9 hours or else I am either a werewolf (in temperament, not amount of hair luckily) or a zombie … either way something monstrous and not ideal.

At work, my job often involves hopping from one focus to another all under the larger umbrella of art making, but this works for me. At home I find I’m always more productive and efficient when I have several project stations going that I rotate between. Typically I’ll travel to 2-3 different cities within a 20-30 minute radius within the day, completing chunks of classes at different centers with maybe a private lesson in between. I used to hate driving, but most of that is rooted in not liking the unfamiliarity of a route and a fear of getting lost (hello Developmental Topographical Disorientation). I have some favorite youtube podcasts I listen to about psychology and sociology (Psychology In Seattle, Bryony Claire, Meg) and nostalgic 90s toys (I most recently discovered the self proclaimed Mr. American Girl) and actually enjoy this little break to have some alone time and recharge.

I currently work with 6 different programs at 5 locations that include adults with disabilities, children with disabilities, alternative high school, traditional elementary school, and beginning and intermediate adult artists. I am also currently working on a series of murals for a pediatric physician’s office, commissions, and handmade wares for my online shop.

Why freelance? Having an uncontrollable and unpredictable schedule was a huge anxiety trigger for me, one that I’d tried very hard to overcome but in the end I figured out it’s just how I’m wired. I have no problem working evenings and weekends or long days – when I consciously schedule them ahead of time for myself and know what to expect. My longest stint in the arts being a Program Coordinator (before that, a bunch of short term disaster things if you know what I mean), I also found that while I love working with my students, I did not enjoy managing other employees. I am most content being responsible only for myself, and while some people really enjoy telling others what to do, I found it incredibly taxing and uncomfortable. I also just have too many options that I am excited to be involved in! I love having my hands in so many different things, because there is equal value in each and every pursuit, and I don’t know how I could limit myself to just one. I’ve been able to say “yes!” to so many more opportunities since I transitioned into independent/contracted work. As I mentioned earlier as well, I like the variety. If I start experiencing burnout or job dissatisfaction, it is more accessible to make some tweaks since I have the opportunity to “reset” basically every quarter and make positive changes based on what I observed in previous quarters. Margin is also something I’ve really struggled with as someone whose job and hobby/passion/therapeutic activity is one and the same. Some days, I am able to build in ‘breaks’ between programs if I see that is needed.

As with any choice, there are benefits and drawbacks. Struggles have been with all the traveling, I do lose paid time. When I first started and didn’t know what to consider when scheduling everything, I was basically out of the house ‘at work’ for 12 hours but only getting paid for 6. That was NOT going to work and I had to re-evaluate when and where I was placing certain things so that I wasn’t doing as much jumping around and backtracking. You have to be ok, especially in the current US economy, with not being rich. I experience a lot of job satisfaction and this year have actually looked forward to going to work each day, which I know is rare in our society. However, there are no job provided insurance benefits, no PTO, no 401K. Doing taxes each February is super complicated. There is a lot to remember with so many different plates spinning. There will be great months and disappointing months. Also, things aren’t going to just ‘work’ instantly – I went through a period of close to 3 years where it was very hard to discern why the heck I was doing what I was doing. Each individual person is going to have to decide whether it’s worth it or not based on their own personality traits, needs, and goals.

Do I do anything at all with my time that isn’t art related is a common question … Well, when I’m not engaging creatively I enjoy puzzles, watching movies (I watch close to a movie per night … not kidding), hiking, reading, and playing Sims. I love quiet evenings at home or with one or two friends.

I always wondered if ‘little me’ would be happy if they’d have been able to look into a crystal ball and see what life looks like 30+ years in the future. I finally think the answer would be mostly YES!