Have you ever wondered what your friends actually do for work? We’re not talking about the description in their LinkedIn bio, but what they actually do in their 9-5? As part of our mission to bring you more girl boss content, we’re investigating job titles to get the low-down on exactly what they really entail. Curious to know what an account executive even means? Wondering what a VP in finance does in the afternoon? We’re creating more transparency around different jobs, along with the salaries and duties that come with them, to help you figure out what you’re interested in. Below, read about a freelance illustrator’s incredible L.A. workday.
Age: 27
City: Los Angeles
Industry: Art/Fashion
Job Title: Freelance Illustrator
Years of Experience: 2
Salary: $40k
What does your job title mean? What does your job entail?
I am a self-employed illustrator. I make stylized drawings (some digital, some watercolor) for clients in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle realms.
When do you wake up?
I’ve tried so hard to be a morning person, but I’ve found I function best if I sleep in. Being self-employed, every day is different. If I feel like I need some extra sleep I will wake up around 9 A.M. If I am feeling well rested, I will wake up around 7 A.M. I try my best to listen to what my body needs. My morning routine is pretty simple. I wake up, brush my teeth, do my morning skincare routine (all natural and organic cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen), and grab my favorite green tea from CAP Beauty. I light a candle and try, keyword TRY, to meditate for 5-10 minutes. I then write a page in my journal using free association writing, jotting down whatever pops into my mind. Sometimes I’ll hit the gym in the A.M., though like I said every day is different. Finally, I’ll sit down to start my day of work.
At 9am I am…
Some days I’m just waking up, other days I’ve completed my morning routine and I’m just sitting down to start work for the day, or sometimes I am at the gym at a spin class.
At 11am I am…
Focused and in my work zone. Even though I’m not necessarily a morning person, I do the best at completing tasks in the morning. I try to focus on client work during this productive period. I’ll save my dreamy, creative work for the nighttime when I inevitably get a second wind and crave some art time.
What does lunch normally look like for you?
I try to have a healthy salad with lots of greens and avocado at lunch. I read somewhere that you have no excuse not to have a salad at lunch time- which is funny and kind of true as I usually save my heartier meals for dinner. I’ll either whip something up with ingredients from Trader Joe’s or go to the self-serve salad bar at Whole Foods. I try to consciously take time to break for lunch, sit down, and savor my meal. If I feel rushed and unfocused I’ll often not be satisfied and have a mid-day craving.
At 1pm I am…
Finishing lunch and getting some sun. Especially in the warmer months, living in Los Angeles it’s so nice–and important–to soak up Vitamin D. I’ve actually seen improvement in my physical and mental health. I just feel better spending even 15 minutes outside a day. I also don’t mind the glow! It’s nice to slow down and spend some time outside.
At 3pm I am… 
Working away at my desk. I’ll sometimes have calls or meetings throughout the day. Sometimes my meetings are on the Westside (I’m on the Eastside) so some driving is often involved around this time.
At 5pm I am…
Ideally wrapping up for the day. Being self-employed is hard because there is not a lot of work/life separation. If I’m not conscious about ending my day, I’ll be half working and half web surfing until 7pm. This is not productive and eventually leads to burnout. I try to work smarter, not harder, and condense my working hours.
How does a workday end for you? What time do you normally leave work?
I try to save my email answering for 2 times in the day–when I sit down to work and around 5pm when I’m concluding my day. Otherwise I’m being reactive instead of proactive and feel like I accomplish nothing but answering emails all day. So I’ll wrap up my projects for the day, answer emails, then officially end my work day.
What do you do after work? An event? Dinner? More work?
After work I’ll sometimes go to a spin class. I’ll occasionally have events to attend. Sometimes I’ll have a dinner with friends on Thursday or Friday nights, and other nights I cook for myself. I really love cooking, so this is probably my evening of choice. I’ll watch some Netflix or surf the web after dinner for a while.
What time do you go to bed? 
I try to go to bed around 10pm if I plan to wake up at 7am. I need a lot of sleep! Ideally I try to turn off all electronics by 9pm, or an hour before I plan to go to bed. Otherwise I can easily get sucked into an internet wormhole and be up way later than I should. The blue light also really affects my sleep. I try to put my phone in the other room so that I’m not tempted to be on it after 9pm. I do my nighttime skincare routine which is essentially the same as my morning skincare routine, minus sunscreen. Sometimes I’ll take an epsom salt bath to relax and detox from the day. Next I’ll read a book until I get sleepy with some essential oils in my Vitruvi diffuser. When I’m ready for bed I’ll put on white noise and my silk eye mask and get some ZZZs.
Is there anything about your job you’d like people to know?
Something I like best about being a self-employed freelancer is the flexibility in my days and routines. I try to always listen to myself and my personal needs when planning my day. A lot of this flexibility is possible because of the fact that I work smart, not hard, and intensely for the time that I’ve dedicated to work. Being a creative, I’ve found that it’s important for me to prioritize regeneration in order to avoid burn out. That’s why I’ve incorporated things that may seem a bit self-indulgent, like my midday outside time, but I’ve come to realize that setting these boundaries leads to me getting more work done in the long run.