Lee’s Day in the Life of a Virtual Assistant
Posted 02-03-2009 at 11:58 AM by leedrozak
Do you really have days to read what a day in the Life of a Virtual Assistant is like? Why so you may ask? Well everyday is quite different and quite unique. You may have the same clients and the same type of work but if you are like the average VA, you have added outside interests to your schedule.
So what is my day like, I can sum it up in a nutshell. Wake up the family and send them on their way. Pour my first of many cups of coffee and enjoy while I read and respond to all my friends at VAF. Then I move on to Twitter and Face Book to see if there is anything pressing in the virtual world. Next, I look at my calendar (and yes this included my clients calendars as well) and my to-do list. I also check out the house to see what exactly needs done there as well. Then I stop to look outside for all my four legged friends, since I saw a herd of deer the other day I am more diligent in sitting by one particular window and gawking outside awaiting their return. It is then on to email and then let the day begin!
I usually follow my schedule and to-do list pretty well since I am anal at organization. I stop around 10 am to take my first break, throw in a load of laundry and make a short personal phone call or two. Sometimes though I take the time to run errands if needed since I like to get in and out before my son returns from school. I am usually back on the job within fifteen minutes chipping away at that to-do list. I keep going until my belly tells me to stop which is typically around 1:00 p.m. when I stop for lunch. And yes I do treat myself to a whole hour! At which time I usually enter the virtual world while I enjoy a hot lunch. Back to work for an hour or so because I have a strict rule, nothing from 3:15 until 4:30 when my son gets home since that is homework time. Boy amazing that I still remember Algebra and Spanish after all these years. Keep in mind I deviate from this schedule when I truly must treat myself to a leisurely lunch at my networking events.
Dinner gets started after homework time and while that is going I usually organize my to-do list for tomorrow. After dinner and some QT with the hubs I finish up anything that needs completed. I am quite the night owl so sometimes I don’t go back “to work” until 9 or 10 p.m. Spread throughout the evening is a check of social networking, emails and news.
Then it is off to bed to start a new day again tomorrow. But see that is the beauty of being a Virtual Assistant, everyone’s schedule is different based on their wants and needs. Some work randomly throughout the day and others are on a regimented schedule. There are many of us who have children and work around those schedules, and no it does not get easier when they get older! There are even a few who work while traveling. But we have a great community and many opportunities if you take the time to make the most of our little virtual world.
You are always more than welcome to come spend a day in my virtual world, and you may even see my herd of deer as they cross behind the pond.
So what is my day like, I can sum it up in a nutshell. Wake up the family and send them on their way. Pour my first of many cups of coffee and enjoy while I read and respond to all my friends at VAF. Then I move on to Twitter and Face Book to see if there is anything pressing in the virtual world. Next, I look at my calendar (and yes this included my clients calendars as well) and my to-do list. I also check out the house to see what exactly needs done there as well. Then I stop to look outside for all my four legged friends, since I saw a herd of deer the other day I am more diligent in sitting by one particular window and gawking outside awaiting their return. It is then on to email and then let the day begin!
I usually follow my schedule and to-do list pretty well since I am anal at organization. I stop around 10 am to take my first break, throw in a load of laundry and make a short personal phone call or two. Sometimes though I take the time to run errands if needed since I like to get in and out before my son returns from school. I am usually back on the job within fifteen minutes chipping away at that to-do list. I keep going until my belly tells me to stop which is typically around 1:00 p.m. when I stop for lunch. And yes I do treat myself to a whole hour! At which time I usually enter the virtual world while I enjoy a hot lunch. Back to work for an hour or so because I have a strict rule, nothing from 3:15 until 4:30 when my son gets home since that is homework time. Boy amazing that I still remember Algebra and Spanish after all these years. Keep in mind I deviate from this schedule when I truly must treat myself to a leisurely lunch at my networking events.
Dinner gets started after homework time and while that is going I usually organize my to-do list for tomorrow. After dinner and some QT with the hubs I finish up anything that needs completed. I am quite the night owl so sometimes I don’t go back “to work” until 9 or 10 p.m. Spread throughout the evening is a check of social networking, emails and news.
Then it is off to bed to start a new day again tomorrow. But see that is the beauty of being a Virtual Assistant, everyone’s schedule is different based on their wants and needs. Some work randomly throughout the day and others are on a regimented schedule. There are many of us who have children and work around those schedules, and no it does not get easier when they get older! There are even a few who work while traveling. But we have a great community and many opportunities if you take the time to make the most of our little virtual world.
You are always more than welcome to come spend a day in my virtual world, and you may even see my herd of deer as they cross behind the pond.
Total Comments 6
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What a neat way to start your day - with a herd of deer! I also think it's great that you've set aside specific hours through the day for yourself and your family.
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You're very smart to treat yourself to lunch. Sometimes the day gets so busy, it can be easy to forget to eat something...you're wise to set some time for nourishment.
After a full day of being a VA, adding up all the hours you put in (morning and evening) plus all the extra work you do that isn't considered VA work, in the bricks-n-mortar world, you'd be pulling in major overtime! The real benefit is that you are simply 'there' for those who really need you. Nice blog...thanks for sharing. Jan |
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I love this piece. It's inspiring me! Seeing deer would be beautiful! I am lucky though; I see the occasional kangaroo, which is also very special.
Great entry Lee. I'm off to start on mine now! |
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Sounds like you start your day much like mine. Every so often we will see deer roaming around, but groundhogs, chipmunks, squirrels and birds make up the wildlife in my backyard. Before we got our fence, we did have the occasional bear pass through!
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Awe, I miss nature's four legged friends out my window in the mornings. That is such a special way to begin a day. Your posts goes to show that it is difficult to keep an exact schedule when you are a VA. There are so many unexpected events that occur. Nothing like the "corporate office" environment. I am sure you too, would not trade that for anything. Thank you for sharing Lee.
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Lee, I just read your post and I enjoyed it. Thanks so much in sharing that. My routine is a lot like yours, with the exception of family though. Lately I have been shutting down the computer by 10 or 11 pm so I can get to bed earlier and get up earlier. But I love the VA life so much, since I now work as much as I want or as little too and I am in charge of my own schedule 100% of the time. I also feel that as hard as I worked when I had a J.o.b. I work 10x harder now at my own business. I am always planning on what I will be learning next, what new software is out there and what is the newest technology equipment everyone is talking about. I don't blog but that is on my next list of To-do's.
 Jo-Carole |
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