"Good morning — welcome to earth. It's a fresh new day — a new canvas is expecting you." That was the sun hitting my face this morning.
Welcome to a day in the life of Nelly: although no two days are the same, this will provide you with a sample of how I structure my day as a professional working in a creative field. I am writing this due to popular demand.
Morning
My favorite way to start the morning is with a workout. This is the easiest way to get the day started, plus it gets me in a good mood and relieves stress or anxiety from whatever emotions I am feeling. When I am in Houston I run at Memorial Park and when in New York City, around Central Park. The views are refreshing and beautiful — a nice reminder to live a little.
After my workout, it's time for black coffee and a light breakfast. My preferred breakfast usually combines: fried ripe plantains, Greek yogurt, egg, kale, and cheese. A routine allows me to focus on the bigger tasks of the day.
Later morning / lunchtime
My day starts to speed up — I am more awake and I feel more productive. I spend a lot of time by myself these days, so I try to get at least a little bit of sun before the end of lunchtime. By this time, you'll also find me at the studio making jewelry or designing. I hardly ever sit down for lunch. A coffee and a light snack will do. Time to talk to clients or order any materials to ensure prompt delivery.
Mid-afternoon
Then comes a reminder there are not enough hours in the day to do everything, as I see the sun quickly crossing the sky. Around this time, I take care of writing stories or brainstorming new ideas — I can do this anywhere, while out on a walk or by myself at my apartment. Time for even more coffee. I'll occasionally take photos of my most recent jewelry, plan out social posts, and handle any other business matters.
Afternoon
This is when I catch up with friends and family. I call my mom in Houston most afternoons — she is one of my biggest supporters. My days are long and tiresome. Some days it feels like I am going nowhere and some days like I am living on the moon, so I check in with people I love to keep me grounded.
Night
This is when things get interesting — I am a night owl by nature. Creativity thrives at night for me and my brain is running at maximum capacity. At times, I am unable to sleep because I am too busy thinking about projects and things to do. This is when I'll do a lot of my sketching and note-taking. I always keep a medium sized pink Leuchturm notebook close.
The world is sleeping, and the distractions are less — especially helpful when you have a hyperactive mind like mine. There is no set time as to when inspiration strikes. Not every day is as productive or goes as I wish, but that is okay. Some days are recovery days.
Finally — sleep and rest. Creating is exhausting in many more ways than just the physical. Rest is underrated.
Sunset at Central Park in Midtown Manhattan — Summer 2021 c/o Nelly