I’ve been making lots of changes lately for the better, both in my business + personal life. And one thing that I’ve realized is that the routines and patterns I set for myself now are likely to shape my future in a big way. So, I’ve made a promise to myself to live with intention in everything I do to help give clarity and allow myself to enjoy each and every day like we all should. It may sound cliché, but I’m not worried about that. This lifestyle is easier said than done and I applaud those of you who have a natural knack for going with the flow and living easy. Seriously!

Although there are several things I’ve started doing in order to shift perspective, I’m going to discuss a simple idea that deals with the work side of things. This is the Be Free, Lance column after all … I’ll dive more into the personal end of things later on! Promise.

So my question for you is when do you work best during the day?? I learned early on that I do not function as well late in the afternoon and tend to get unfocused + antsy. But despite discovering this, I never changed anything for two whole years. And honestly, I think the sole reason was because I got stuck into a routine. I would wake up sometime in the 9 o’clock hour and work between 10-6 every single day. I rarely got dressed and didn’t leave my desk for hours on end. Not very fun.

With all that said, my lazy-work-fest days are done and I’ve turned a new page. First things first : I set an alarm now. I wake up everyday at 7 in the morning, make our bed, get ready ( this is embarrassingly such a milestone ), eat breakfast, and am working by 8. What I’ve discovered is that I design best in the morning. They tend to be much quieter and allow me to focus. It’s crazy how much you can get done before lunch!! Hello. Plus, an earlier start time means I’ve successfully avoided the afternoon slump. Instead, I run errands, go for a run, sit outside, or do a little house work.

This brings us back to the question of when do YOU work best. Although I’ve outlined my own schedule, I know that every freelancer works differently and has their own quirks. Maybe you work best late at night or unlike me, late in the afternoon. The point is : find your sweet spot. And once you have it, run with it. I promise you will be more efficient and find ease within your personal life. Working during your BEST hours helps decrease stress, which is always a good thing.

I needed a little bit of a pick me up yesterday ( monday blues!! ) after such a good weekend, so I created this mix to get me through the long work day. I thought I would share it with you all today! It’s generally upbeat, a tad bit slower, and reminds me of a HOT American summer. That’s just me, though … what does it remind you of?? Give it a listen below + enjoy :

♫ spotify | 8tracks

01. “Trials Of The Past” — Sbtrkt
02. “Better Times” — Beach House
03. “Julius” — STRFKR
04. “Helplessness Blues” — Fleet Foxes
05. “Open Road” — Roo Panes
06. “American Daydream” — Electric Guest
07. “Bel Air” — Lana Del Rey
08. “When I Grow Up” — First Aid Kit
09. “First Love Never Die” — Soko
10. “Harvest Moon” — Poolside
11. “Tumbling Backwards” — Young Wonder

I was so happy to come back home, but as I sit here typing this … I miss Paris. There’s just something about that city that will forever have my heart. I’m not sure when we’ll get to go back, but it sure is nice going through these photos again and sharing them with you all. It’s neat how cameras can capture things that you barely noticed at the time. From the stylish people around you to colorful chairs and patterned napkins. Sensory overload!

The above photos of Michael and I were taken at the Louvre. I remember this particular day started off pretty chilly, but consistently warmed up throughout the afternoon, finally. Right after, we took our jackets off and relaxed ( Michael made me, I wanted to keep going!! ) at a nearby garden in green lounging chairs, which ended up being really nice. But due to time constraints, we didn’t go inside the Louvre this time around. I loved, however, seeing the architecture in the courtyard paired with the juxtaposition of the old museum + modern entrance. Next time, we’ll go inside. Promise!

The last two images are from one of our favorite lunch spots of the trip, Joli Deli. I had heard about this little cafe from Jenn Elliott Blake, so we knew we needed to give it a try! She actually just blogged about this spot a couple days ago with more information, so definitely check that out if interested. Lots of the details here were simple, pink, and absolutely adorable. Please check it out if you’re ever in Paris. Michael claims he had “the best tomatoes of his life” ( on his sandwich ) and being that he doesn’t really like tomatoes, that must mean something!! We each got delicious baguette sandwiches and cleaned our plates in literally five minutes. I’m sure they thought we looked crazy. Actually, come to think of it, I’m pretty sure we looked crazy any time we ate delicous food. Paris knows how to dine.

I woke up this morning not quite ready to work … I wanted to soak in some inspiration instead. While away in France, I didn’t keep up with pinterest or read my favorite daily blogs, simply because I wanted to “unplug” as much as possible and enjoy the scenery. That’s what travel is all about. So this morning, I took some time to catch up and get inspired. I browsed pinterest and other pretty things for a couple hours or so, which is how this little color study ended up coming into play. As designers, we immerse ourselves with client projects and our daily to-do list so much, that it’s always nice to stop and do something else. In my case, it was a little color study exercise, just for fun. In unrelated news, I got bangs again this week … so I’m lovin’ that top lady! Inspiration galore.

Yesterday morning as I was settling into work, the most perfect song came on at just the right time. Don’t you love it when that happens?? The lyrics may not mean anything to you, but the idea within really stuck with me, personally. And that is what inspired this week’s wallpaper for you all! I discovered this neat website called unsplash where you can use NICE stock photography for free. Although their library isn’t very big right now, what they DO have is lovely and I’m sure it’ll grow into a nice archive of images. So … I thought I’d pick out a photograph this week, since most of the wallpaper I release is generally typography based. Download + enjoy below!