Articles about Lifestyle Design for freelancers

Someone asked me if I enjoy being a dad…
It’s one of those weird ones where all the individual parts are negative, but somehow they all add up to net positive.

-1 -1-1-1-1 = +1 🤔

Parenting can feel like holding a stress position for 4 hours at a time, whilst being kicked in the balls by a tiny bald man who screams in your ear all day.
You put up with the kind of physical torture that would make CIA blush.
Except now instead of doing it in private we do it in the public town square whilst everyone walking past tells you how much you should enjoy every minute of it,
how much better they are coping,
or how much harder it was in their day.

Aren’t kids so great?
👇

But then they smile and all is worth it.

Rules to live by:

1. I am building a business that puts my life first.
2. My business supports my life, not the other way around.
3. My business doesn’t have to be my sole source of purpose all the time.
4. I don’t have to be highly motivated for my main income business all the time.
5. If I allow it, my business will consume all of my time. So I set limits on the time I will give to it.
6. I’m willing to sacrifice money to buy time.
7. I spend a little more time now to save a lot of time later.
8. I focus on building systems so that I have more leverage.
9. Leverage means I can make more profit in less time.
10. Profit means I don’t have to feel guilty about spending my time on interests that don’t generate profit, leverage, success, or attention

My ideal day.

I wake up naturally when my body is ready, with no alarm.

Short work out straight away: 5 mins rowing for an instant win.

Morning chores: dishwasher, feed pets, get coffees.

15min walk the dog in the field while I mentally rehearse and prep for the day.

Coffee, and slowly walk to office.

Set up ritual: enter office, shoes off, lights on, pc on, some good music.

Focus ritual: jumping jacks, write down my intention, set a timer and get to work.
I feel free of distraction to do my most creative work.
Deep work session in full flow I stop after 2hrs.

Put on an audio, and take Fin for a jog around the loop in his stroller, give Immy some time to herself

For lunch make the same thing everyday, something light healthy and simple. Eggs. Or tuna. Sit on the deck and eat with immy.

Read for 15mins to let tummy settle.

Grab a coffee

Afternoon admin:
Take my laptop outside and work through emails,
But set a hard stop on how long I’m allowed to spend in them.
Clear clickup notifications.

Then I reward myself with 15mins of VG for fun.

5mins Unwind down routine: Review workday, check habits, plan tomorrow, leave the office, ring chimes.

Moving back into physical work with life admin and chores…

Make dinner, and catchup with Immy as we eat. No tv.

Bath and bed Fin

30mins Chores: Tidy house, dishwasher, washing

15 mins Immy joins me for evening walk at sunset, trailed by the dog and cats

20mins Leisure time: read in the egg chair

15mins Meditate in the hammock

Lock up routine

Stretch

Bed