7 AM - The starting gun
The day's onset is crucial, a blank canvas awaiting its brush. The bed is made promptly—victory number one—followed by breakfast, consisting of three Weetabix if feeling wild (2 on a regular day), after which I'll take a morning stroll to the office.
8:30 AM - Getting stuck in
If not prepping for exams, I aim to arrive by 8:00 AM to get some early study in. If not, at 08:30 AM the day’s activities are laid out, gathering an overview of what will be relatively smooth and what work could hold a few hurdles. Emails are filed first thing, followed by working through tasks that can be completed promptly.
10:30 AM - Time for some caffeine
Once some good time is put down, it’s time for the first cup of Joe. Taking structured breaks is paramount for maintaining flow throughout the day. When suitably refreshed, I'll dive into the brunt of the day’s tasks.
12:30 PM - Lunch
A social lunch with colleagues, ideally on the terrace if the weather allows. Post-lunch, it’s not uncommon to indulge in a game or two of table tennis.
1:30 PM - The second '45 (/240)
This period is dedicated to completing the significant work job that's been on my mind. This piece could be a Performance Monitoring Report, a monthly spreadsheet, or another paper depending on the week's offerings. This portion of the day is usually when meetings take place too, ranging from client consultations and manager presentations to internal training sessions. I catch up with teams on expectations and deadlines for upcoming deliverables to ensure my timeline is structured appropriately.
5:30 PM - Closing out
I fill in my timesheet, check off my workflow spreadsheet, and save documents before closing out for the day. Living close to the office is definitely a plus too, allowing time post-work to wind down, whether through a gym session to take the edge off or some post-Friday pool.