I’m obsessed with reading anyone’s rituals, but I’m particularly intrigued by the routines and habits of freelancers. I’ve been working for myself for nearly a year, and with it has come so much more flexibility. I have time to run errands during the week, take care of a dog the way I always dreamed of (with time) and go out for breakfast if I feel like it. Yeah, it’s pretty great (sometimes).
So today I’m sharing the rituals of fellow freelancer Julia Wheeler, a digital media strategist and freelance stylist, who not only juggles multiple projects, but also owns a dog and is expecting her first baby! Today she talks 6am dog walks, Scrabble Mondays and breakfast burritos.
Name: Julia Wheeler
Age: 32
Hometown: Fair Oaks, CA
Current city: San Diego, CA
Professional title: Digital Media Strategist & Freelance Stylist
Mornings.
I wake up every morning around 6, check email and Instagram from my phone and then take my dog for a walk. This is the one time during the day that I don’t have my phone or any other electronic device nearby. It’s usually a quick 15-minute walk but it’s the perfect way to start the day without distraction, while getting some fresh air and hanging with my best bud. From there I usually whip up some concoction in my Vitamix (an acai bowl or a green smoothie) and typically have a cup or two of coffee… though I’m currently pregnant and really missing the coffee part of my routine!
Mondays.
My husband runs his own businesses – both as a contractor and a woodworker – and I’m constantly juggling multiple projects at a time in addition to lots of events and happy hour plans with girlfriends. Because of this, we set aside one night a week where we don’t make any other plans but to hang out together. We might grab fish tacos at The Fish Shop or dinner at Jayne’s Gastropub if we’re feeling fancy. Or we might just make dinner and play Scrabble. Whatever it is, we turn off the TV and just hang. I love starting out the week with some quality time with my dude. It sets the tone for a good week ahead.
Thrifting.
I’ve kind of been off my thrifting game for a couple of months with the babe on the way, but typically I like to wake up on Saturday mornings and hit the thrift circuit. If I can get out of the house early enough, I can find some pretty rad stuff that actually hasn’t been totally picked over. I know I’d be better off if I had weekdays to thrift but working Monday through Friday kind of puts a damper on that. I’m just happy to wake up on Saturdays wondering what random exciting objects are awaiting to be discovered.
Travel.
We try to do one big trip a year and always have a trip to my parents’ vacation house in New Mexico on the books. With a little one on the way, we’re not sure if we’ll be able to keep up the our international travel, but watching my friend Tori travel the world with her little 1 ½ year old babe gives me hope! If we can’t do big trips for a few years, there are always the easy weekend getaways to Joshua Tree, the Central Coast or Palm Springs. Just another reason we’re lucky to live here in SoCal!
Beach Days.
Some weekend mornings we’ll head down to the beach to split a breakfast burrito and if we’re there early enough, our dog can run around in the sand. When the weather is warm, we’ll make an afternoon trek with snacks and a stack of magazines in hand. While it’s not necessarily a ritual that fits into a specific time of day/week, it’s definitely one of my favorites. There is nothing on earth more calming to me that spending time with the ocean.
Thanks, Julia! You can also find her on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and on her blog San Diego Songbird.
