HISMD: Chief Legal Office
Partner. Two kids (12 & 10). WFH. Northern California.
This "How I Structure My Day" series started with an Instagram post I made about my own life, which prompted a woman to ask if it would be possible to see how women working a more traditional, full-time job did it. I asked women to share, and, man, have people responded. The goal is to show how women from different industries, with and without kids, with and without partners, with family living with/near them and not, wfh to 1+ hour commutes, etc. structure their day. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I do!
The Snapshot
Partner: Yes (owns a construction business, so he is hybrid but has a significant amount of flexibility)
Children: Yes - 12 & 10
WFH
Northern California
Typical Morning
4:50am: Almost every weekday I wake up with an alarm at 4:50 am, make a cup of coffee and begin working at my desk on either work-related things or personal things. For years I used to get up and work out at this time (when I had to go into the office), but I find now that it's a perfect time for deeper focus work (once my coffee kicks in) and allows me to allocate my time while my family is awake differently.
Currently, my 12-year-old is in her school's jazz band, which practices before school 4 days/week, so around 6:15 am I make sure she is awake and I make lunches/waters/snacks for both kids.
My husband usually takes her to school, and I will return to my desk to finish up whatever I'd been working on that morning.
Around 7:30 am, I wrap up my work and make sure my 10-year-old is awake and getting ready for school. I spend the next hour getting myself ready for the gym, unloading the dishwasher, feeding the dog, etc. I also do a mini de-clutter if I have time, as I find it distracting if the house is a mess while I'm trying to work.
I leave the house around 8:30 am to drop off my 10-year-old at school, then head to the gym for a class at 9:00 am.
My schedule after the gym will vary day-to-day, depending on my meeting schedule. If I have time I will run a small errand or two, or I'll just head home to get ready for any meetings.
Morning "Make Life Easier" Hacks
I keep most of my morning logistics items as recurring events in my calendar and make sure all the school drop-off logistics are included in both my calendar and my husband's, as he occasionally has an early morning start that could impact my normal routine.
For my block of working time from around 5:00 am to 7:00 am, I like to have something in my calendar already so that I'm not "deciding" what to do at 5:00 am. For example, one morning a week I may dedicate to tasks related to my role as a volunteer board member for my kids' football and cheer program. Another morning I may take a MCLE training, or listen to a podcast while sorting through emails. Another morning I may review and provide feedback on a legal memo prepared by my team. Having something planned helps me stay focused during that time, and if I don't have anything pressing to work on - I may even sleep in!
Transition into Work Mode
When I come home from the gym/errands, I try to focus solely on tasks needed for work. I'll shower/get dressed (if I'm on camera that day), grab my breakfast (which I do prep in advance), and then sit at my desk. One exception here might be laundry days, in which case I will use a break between meetings to rotate and/or fold the laundry.
Having a dedicated workspace in my home helps with this transition, and making sure that space is clean and pleasant to be in doesn't hurt either.
What my work day looks like
As an executive leader in my organization, no day looks the same for me. I do have some recurring check-in meetings with key team members and stakeholders and weekly executive team meetings.
I guess the one constant is meetings, which I try to keep primarily on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
I tentatively block my availability (with a note that says "Ask Before Scheduling") during the time I normally work out. I occasionally need to take meetings during that time, in which case I adjust my workout to another time that day.
I also tentatively block my availability after 4:00 pm Monday-Thursday, and after noon on Fridays, as I tend to have a hard time staying focused and engaged after that time of day, especially when the kids get home from school. Having those times blocked has empowered me to ensure I can be fully present during the times I am available for meetings. And since I've often done more of my deep work earlier that morning, I don't need to block much time during business hours to complete deep work.
Lunch/Snacks
I put a note on my calendar to grab my lunch sometime between 12:00 - 2:00 pm, depending on my meeting schedule. I usually eat at my desk, since that is still a time of day I like to take meetings.
Breaks
If I notice I have multiple meetings in a day, I'll try to build in some scheduled breaks. Otherwise, I just try to power through since I build in more personal time in the early mornings and afternoons.
Leaving work
If possible, I try to have all meetings end by 4:00 pm, and typically I'm able to "leave work" at that point, but I do continue to check email and Teams periodically throughout the later afternoon/early evening to see if anything urgent comes in.
Transition out of work mode
When I'm done working in my office for the day, I like to make sure my desk is tidy and the computer is turned off. I'll make sure that anything left unfinished gets time on my calendar for the next day, or if I need to come back to it later that evening, I'll set a reminder as well.
After work hours
This varies based on the season, as both kids are usually in at least one after-school sport/club.
My husband and I usually divide and conquer school pick-up (my mom helps out one or two days per week too), and the same goes for getting the kids to their sports practices or club meetings.
We lean towards having dinner on the earlier side rather than after practice, so I'll often begin preparing dinner right around 4:00/4:30, or give them a hearty snack and pack myself or my husband a dinner to-go, depending on the circumstances. We very rarely get to eat dinner as a family but try to do it at home (or at a restaurant) one day a week (usually on the weekend).
My kids are fairly self-sufficient with homework now, but I do add a reminder to my calendar twice a week to talk with them about any big projects or outstanding assignments, and I'll also review their school's online portal, which will show me if anything is missing and their current grades in each class.
After all the activities are done for the day, we all go about our bedtime routines, and my husband and I will usually watch a show or I'll read before bed.
Since I'm up early, I try to be in bed by 9:00pm.
I've tried to schedule myself to work on personal admin stuff or even come back to work this time of day, but I've not found it to be very effective. At that point, I'm better off working on it during my focus time the following morning, when my brain is fresh.
Nightime Non-Negotiables
All dinner/food items need to be cleaned up in the kitchen
I'll make sure that I have my breakfast prepped for the next day (I'm on an overnight oats kick lately).
If I have the time/energy to do any other tidying up I will, or have my husband or the kids help, but I at least have to have the kitchen clean.
Afternoon/evening “make life smoother” tips
I feel like my days often turn into a blur after 2:30/3:00 pm, so I try to have all of my logistical responsibilities and tasks in my calendar with reminders set so that I don't forget anything.
I will also make sure that any specific clothes or items needed for after-school sports/activities are clean and ready (in my car). I will often set a reminder to go off during my lunchtime to make sure I get those items together.
I also feel like my evenings go more smoothly when I have a plan in place for the next morning (like what I'll be working on during my focus time, or if the kids will want hot or cold lunch for school). That way I can relax and enjoy the short amount of free time we have in the evening, rather than worry about what is going on the next day.
Sharing load with your partner
My partner is not as tech-savvy as I am and does not like to live by his calendar, although he does to a certain extent for work. Everything I need for him to do, I put in his calendar. I find that while he is great about sharing the home/kid responsibilities with me, I do need to review the day's schedule verbally in the morning with him.
Outsourcing
We outsource most of our home maintenance activities. We have house and pool cleaners come weekly, and landscapers every other week.
My mom recently moved to the area, so she has also been helpful with picking up the kids from school or taking them to activities.
One thing that I've found to be incredibly helpful is having our house cleaners change out our bedding weekly (and the kids every other week). It was a small additional amount to our bill, but it's one of those chores I would just always put off. And getting into a completely fresh set of sheets that I didn't have to put on myself once a week is a special treat that I always look forward to!
Exercise
Working out daily is a non-negotiable for me. My partner and I often work out together, which allows us more quality time together during the day. I try to attend a class at our gym, but if my schedule does not allow that I will use my Peloton bike at home and sit in the sauna. I I will usually Peloton at least one day on the weekend too to give my body a rest day from the gym where we do more weight-training.
Anything extra the sharer wants to share
I feel like using the Bright Method has helped me feel more in control of my life! I'm not always perfect with the process, but that's okay, I know that this time in my life is a busy one and it will eventually slow down again. I guess that would be my primary piece of advice to share... be kind to yourself and know that our lives are in a constant state of change, and oftentimes you need to stop worrying about what's coming next and just enjoy the moment.
That’s a wrap for this one!
Thank you so much to this woman for generously sharing. These publish every Thursday!
A reminder of the ground rules to ensure women continue wanting to share about their days and feel safe doing so.
Encouraging comments always welcome!
If you have questions or even hang-ups about what someone shared, you are welcome to ask a question for the sharer in the same kind, genuinely curious way you would if you were looking at that woman in her eyes. She might respond through me.
If comments are judge-y or mean-spirited, I reserve the right to delete comments. I can handle being criticized about my own work here (and even still, to a degree – I’m also a person), but I go into full mama bear mode when people come after my people – including women who are being vulnerable and sharing in the first place.
Thanks to the vast majority of people who are so kind!
New here? Welcome!
I’m Kelly Nolan, an attorney-turned-time management strategist and mom of two. I teach the Bright Method, a realistic time management system designed for professional working women. In addition to this fun new series, I share bite-sized time management strategies on Instagram. Thanks for being here!
After experiencing overwhelm as a young patent litigator in Boston, I figured out a time management system to help me show up in the ways that I wanted to at work and at home – without requiring my brain to somehow magically remember it all. I now teach other professional working women how to manage their personal, family, and career roles with less stress and more calm clarity using realistic time management strategies. My system, the Bright Method, has been featured in Bloomberg Businessweek, and my work has been published in Forbes, Fast Company, Business Insider, and more. Learn more on my website, come learn bite-sized strategies with me on Instagram, or jump into my free 5-day program.
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