Day in the Life of a Freelancer: Girlboss on the Go with HBO

This is a sponsored post in partnership with HBO. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’ve been working for myself for almost a year now, and honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I recently began a part-time internship, and while I like the excuse to get out of the house a few times a week, I still am in love with the freelancer lifestyle. I’m thrilled to partner with my favorite networks HBO to share how HBO helps me be a girlboss on the go! This post will take you through a day in the life of a freelancer!

Since graduating college in May, I’ve been building my freelance writing and blogging career, and I’ve gotten a lot of questions about it. I think freelancing a great way to build your portfolio, get your foot in the proverbial door, and actually make a living while remaining in control of your own time. I’ve known for a while now that the corporate world didn’t feel like a good fit for me. First of all, I hate doing anything before 9 am, and the idea of sitting in a cubicle for 8 hours makes me want to bang my head on the wall. In case you were wondering what exactly it’s like to freelance, this post will take you through a day in the life of a freelancer!

Before Noon

I’m not going to lie, I hate getting up early. If left alone, I can easily sleep over 10 hours. The best part of freelancing is I’m able to set my own work hours. Some days, I have a lot of work to do, and I might work 12+ hours at a time. Other days, I only have to put in an hour or two of work. This variety is what gets me excited each day.

My dog starts bothering me at around 9 am to take her out, so I start the day with a walk. Once she’s taken care of, I fix myself breakfast and if I’m feeling particularly motivated I might even go for a run. The key word here is “might” because I am the worst at working out regularly. Before I sit at my desk, I make myself a sugary cup of coffee. The sugar helps the caffeine work better, right?

Afternoons

Afternoons are my most productive work times. It took a few weeks to figure out what times worked best for me as a freelancer. At first, I assumed the best time to work would be during the mornings, but I quickly learned I struggle to focus before 11 am. If you want to start freelancing yourself, I’d recommend trying out different “office hours” when you’re getting started so you can find your natural rhythm.

I like the answer emails first, though I usually answer directly from my phone at all hours of the day. From there, I either work on something blog related or a writing project. I do a lot of ghostwriting about random topics, usually specializing in SEO link building or SEO keyword utilization. These articles can vary in length from 400 – 100 words, but I’m a pretty fast writer and researcher.

The best part of working digitally is being able to take my work with me. Libraries and coffee shops make the perfect productivity field trips. I’ve got favorite spots all over Orlando by now. Since I’m interning part-time now, I’ve taken to packing my iPad with me so I can catch up on work on my breaks.

Girlboss on the Go with HBO

When I write, whether for my blog or my freelance gigs, I like to play my favorite TV shows. I have a weird habit where I re-watch my favorite episodes over and over. Like, let’s not even talk about the amount of time’s I’ve seen Insecure. The HBO GO app makes it easy to take my favorite HBO shows with me on the Go whether I’m writing in the library or working in a park. With HBO GO or HBO NOW, I get access to all of HBO’s series and featured movies!

After powering through 3-4 hours of writing in the afternoon, I take dinnertime to unwind. I walk my dog again, get dinner (usually Chipotle, no shame), and settle in front of my latest TV obsession. I’m able to stream HBO on my Amazon Fire Stick, so I’m basically watching it 24/7. Recently, I just finished Big Little Lies and it was a wild ride I would recommend to anyone who wants to be glued to the screen for a whole day.

HBO is different than other TV networks because they push the boundaries of storytelling. I can trust to see a wide representation of characters, experiences, and backgrounds. Plus, I think I’ve made it clear by now how much I love strong female characters (see my recs for female-driven podcasts and girl-power TV shows). Shows like Big Little Lies, Girls, and Insecure inspire me to be the best version of myself.

Did you know you might even be able to get HBO GO for free through your college? Visit HBOGo.com to see if your school has access to free HBO GO on campus. Click on sign in and look for your school in the drop-down menu. If your school isn’t included, you can still get an exclusive student offer here! 

Late Night

After I’ve taken a much needed 2-3 hour break, I usually jump back into work around 7 pm. I’ve been known to work late into the night, but it doesn’t feel like work to me. I always end the day with a fun project. Right now, all my attention is on finalizing the print proofs for the first edition of my lit magazine Capulet Mag which will be published digitally this December.

Day in the Life of a Freelancer

Freelancing is really what you make it. It definitely isn’t for everybody, but it works great for me. Freelancing is a great way for college students and recent grads to learn more about different career paths and gain experience, whether they want to pursue working for themselves or not. If you have any questions about the day in the life of a freelancer or how to get started freelance writing, let me know!

As a freelancer, it’s more important than ever to stay inspired! HBO always empowers and inspires me to keep going for my goals! Click here to learn more about HBO.