Hey there! My name is Kat Boogaard, and I’ve been a full-time freelance writer for nearly the past four years (don’t even ask me where that time went…).
Like any writer, I’m capable of researching and writing about nearly anything—seriously, I once wrote an entire article all about how fish finders work. But, for the past couple of years, I’ve really found my niche in career advice and other content related to productivity, entrepreneurship, and self-development. At this point, I focus on that almost exclusively.
I’m a Staff Writer and Editor for the popular career platform, The Muse, as well as a contributor all over the web. You may have seen me places like Trello, Toggl, Wrike, The Everygirl, and more. I’m fortunate that my work has also been picked up by a variety of respected publications, including Forbes, Fast Company, TIME, Inc., Business Insider, Mashable, and more.
Whew. How was that for a not-so-humble brag?
I love writing for a living. But, when I’m not cranking out content for my clients, my passion project is helping other freelancers launch and grow their own businesses—whether it’s a side hustle or something they’re planning to leap into full-time.
From how to pitch publications to how to tackle the groan-worthy task of tracking your income and expenses, I author blog posts and create resources on my website (which is, admittedly, currently undergoing a major overhaul). I also have a newsletter and a Facebook community where creative freelancers can get insider insights and connect with one another about the trials and tribulations of the freelance life (come join if you’re a creative freelancer yourself!).
Needless to say, I love to stay busy. Fortunately, over the years, I’ve managed to refine some routines and habits that work well for me—and somehow keep me from tearing my hair out. I’m super excited to share all of that with you today!
How I Work
I know the increased flexibility is one of the greatest perks involved with freelancing. That fact makes me almost embarrassed to admit this: I tend to stick with a pretty consistent schedule every day of the workweek.
Most of the time, you can find me parked at my desk in my home office (with one or both of my rescue pups parked at my feet). While I do tend to head out to coffee shops for some focused work every now and then, I usually prefer to be at my own desk. It means I can work on my larger desktop computer (as opposed to my laptop) while also staying home with my clingy puppers.
I aim to start my workday by 8AM, and I usually ease into things by checking and responding to emails and tying up any other random loose ends. Between 9 and 11AM are some of my “golden hours” (to use a productivity cliché), so that’s a time when I like to focus in on actual writing—as opposed to more administrative work.
When I’ve wrapped up what I’m working on, I’ll return a few more emails (sigh, gotta love it) and then break for lunch around 11:30AM. I’ll take my pups outside for a bit and then watch a show (it’s usually reruns of Gilmore Girls or Grey’s Anatomy) while I dig into my lunch.
After that, I’m back to work until about 3:30PM, at which point I’ll get changed into my workout attire and head to the gym to meet my friend (and workout buddy). I try to make it there about three or four times a week. Since that involves “borrowing” some time from my workday, I typically work from about 6:30PM to 8 or 9PM—a bad habit I’ve been trying to break for years.
In terms of what sort of things I do during a standard workday? You can find me doing any combination of the following:
- Checking and responding to emails (so. many. emails.)
- Doing research for articles that I’m writing
- Scheduling interviews with sources
- Pulling stock photos
- Attending meetings or instant messaging with editors and other team members
- Writing, writing, and more writing
When it comes to staying organized, I’m a traditional pen and paper kind of gal. I have a paper planner that I live and die by, as well as a notebook that I use to jot down my daily to-do lists. I’ll add things to that list throughout the day as they arrive in my inbox or pop into my brain. I’ve learned from experience that if something isn’t written down, it probably isn’t getting done.
I do have some clients who prefer that I work inside their own project management systems—like Wrike, Trello, or Asana—and, I do enjoy those (I even use Trello for some personal projects). But, when in doubt, you’ll probably find me with pen and paper in hand.
I’m fortunate that I also work as a part of some pretty great teams. So, I do spend some time each day connecting with various colleagues all over the globe. In most cases, we use Slack to do that.
Habits & Routines
Unfortunately, I’ve never been a morning person (I so, so wish I was!). I set my alarm for 6:45AM with the purest of intentions. But, after letting out a few choice words and then turning it off, I typically start my morning pretty slowly in bed. Despite the fact that I advise people not to do this very thing, I spend a half hour or so scrolling through social media and checking my emails before eventually rolling out from under the covers, grabbing some breakfast, and getting my day started.
One habit I’m desperately trying to implement is to get myself cleaned up and dressed each morning before sitting down at my desk. For years, I’ve headed straight into “work mode” while I’m still in my pajamas. However, I’ve noticed that when I take a little bit of time to get myself freshened up and changed, I’m far more productive.
I’d also love to train myself to take advantage of my level of flexibility a little more. I do that to a certain extent by heading to the gym in the afternoon and taking things a little easier on Thursdays and Fridays. But, I’m hoping to become even a little less rigid with my schedule and maybe even head out to the grocery store or Target on a random Tuesday morning—gasp! That’s just one less thing I’d have to do on the weekend.
As I mentioned, Thursdays and Fridays are a little lighter for me. I try to get the bulk of my really heavy work done Monday through Wednesday so I can coast a little more at the end of the week. Every Thursday, I head to my parents’ house (they live about 45 minutes from me). I love to grab lunch and dinner with them. And, when the weather is nice, my dad and I will even squeeze in a quick round of golf.
I tend to reserve Fridays for tying up loose ends from the workweek, doing some laundry (again, so I don’t have to do it over the weekend!), and working on any personal projects—such as blog posts, new digital downloads, etc.
Life Balance
About a year or so ago, I came to the realization that I was teetering on the edge of burnout. I was working late every single evening, as well as the entirety of my weekend—and, eventually, it got to the point where I resented what I was doing.
At that point, I knew I needed to make a change. So, I really prioritized my own work-life balance (hence why it’s now non-negotiable for me to head to the gym a few times each week).
When I get home from the gym, my husband, Ty, and I will usually take our dogs on a long walk and then cook and eat dinner together. I’ll head back to my office for an hour or two after we’ve done the dishes, but I try my best to be unplugged from work by 9PM at the latest each night.
We’ll usually unwind by watching an hour or so of t.v. (right now, we’re really into season two of The Handmaid’s Tale, Jessica Jones, and are planning on starting Evil Genius soon!) before heading to bed and then starting all over the next day.
I’ve made a switch to reserve the majority of my weekend as work-free time. So, we’ll fill that with fun things like dinner and drinks with friends, comedy shows, and hikes with the dogs—as well as plenty of DIY projects around the house.
I won’t even try to pretend that I’m the master of work-life balance. But, it’s an area where I’ve seen myself make some pretty major strides over the past year or so—and I’m proud of that. Progress over perfection.
I feel so fortunate to be one of the lucky few who genuinely loves my work. Being a freelancer certainly comes with its fair share of challenges, but it’s so rewarding and—at this point—I really can’t picture myself doing anything else.
Thanks so much for letting me give you a little glimpse into how I work. If you feel like getting in touch or keeping up with what I have going on? I’m most active on Instagram (prepare for an abundance of dog photos) and Twitter. I’d love to hang out with you there. Come say hello!
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