“What does your day actually look like?” I get this question a lot, usually from people who see the travel and the content and wonder when I work.
So here it is: a normal weekday in my life, with a full-time corporate job in tech sales, a side business, and a lot of small habits that keep me sane. It’s not perfect, and some days look very different. But this is my routine, and it’s built around one idea: freedom inside a structure I choose.
6:15 – Wake up (no phone first)
My alarm goes at 6:15. The first thing I do is not my phone. I drink water and do a light stretch. Starting the day without notifications makes such a difference to my mood.
I’m in bed around 22:00 the night before, so waking up early feels okay, most days.
7:30 – Dance (my favourite habit)
On most days, I dance in the living room at 7:30. Just 15 minutes, with music I love. It wakes me up, lifts my mood and counts as exercise. I shared my routine in my 15-minute dance workout.
On Wednesdays I skip it, because that’s my office day.
Wednesday: office day
Every Wednesday, I leave home at 7:30 and drive to the office in Amsterdam. Being there in person helps me connect with my team and leaders. I wrote about why I started doing this in how to be more visible at work.
On other days, I work from my home office upstairs.
8:30 – Breakfast
Breakfast at 8:30, then a small second breakfast around 10:00. I’ve learned that I work much better when I’m not hungry.
9:00 – Work starts
My workday starts at 9:00. Customer calls, internal meetings, planning, presentations. During work hours, I don’t open my personal laptop. Work is work.
I try to do my most important, focused work in the morning when my energy is highest. Admin and smaller tasks go into the afternoon.
12:00 – Lunch
Lunch around 12:00. After lunch, I “close the kitchen”, a small habit I’m building to stop mindless snacking when I’m tired.
14:00 – Coffee break
Instead of reaching for snacks in the afternoon dip, I take a proper coffee break at 14:00. A small reset.
15:30 – Healthy snack
A planned light snack, like some nuts. Planning it means I don’t randomly eat whatever is in the cupboard.
16:30 – Closing the workday
From 16:30 I start wrapping up: replying to the last emails, planning tomorrow, closing open loops. My hard boundary is that work ends by 18:00, and the work phone goes away.
17:00 – Walk
At 17:00, I go for a walk while my husband goes to the gym. Fresh air after a day of screens is the best reset.
17:30 – Cooking or side business
This slot alternates. Some days I prep meals (I cook once every two days, because daily cooking isn’t for me). Other days I work on my side business: content, my blog, or my digital product. I explained how I fit it in in how I build a side business next to my full-time job.
18:00 – Dinner
Dinner at 18:00. An early dinner helps me sleep better and leaves the evening free.
20:00 to 21:00 – Guilt-free time
This hour is mine. No work, no “should”. TV, a book, time with my husband, calling friends, scrolling if I want to. Having guilt-free time on purpose means I don’t feel guilty about resting.
Evening – Top 3 for tomorrow
Before bed, I say my top three priorities for tomorrow out loud as a voice note. AI sorts them into my personal dashboard. When I wake up, I already know what matters.
22:00 – Bed
Lights out around 22:00, ready to do it all again.
What keeps this routine working
- Small habits, not big changes. 15 minutes of dance, a 17:00 walk, a fixed office day.
- Clear boundaries. Work ends by 18:00. Personal laptop stays closed during work.
- Planning the night before. Top 3 for tomorrow.
- Rest on purpose. One guilt-free hour every evening.
- People first. A weekly date with my husband, regular calls with family and time with friends.
And of course, some weeks look completely different, especially when I’m travelling. If you want to know how I fit trips around work, read how to travel a lot with a full-time job.
Frequently asked questions
What time do you wake up?
At 6:15 on weekdays, and I go to bed around 22:00.
How do you balance a full-time job and a side business?
I work on my side business in fixed small blocks after work and on weekends, and I keep work and personal laptops separate.
How do you stay active with a desk job?
A 15-minute dance in the morning and a walk at 17:00. Small, but every day.
Do you work from home or the office?
Mostly from home, with a fixed office day every Wednesday in Amsterdam.
What does your typical workday look like? Tell me in the comments 👇
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