Hustle 2.0 - My Fall Schedule
by E. Christopher Clark | Tuesday, September 2, 2008
My fall schedule was already crazy when, a couple of weeks ago, I first watched Gary Vaynerchuk’s video on keeping a day job while starting a new career online. I was already signed up to teach two English Composition classes at a local university, in addition to continuing work at my full-time gig with a small non-profit. But watching Gary’s video made me realize that there was still time in the day to do more, that I didn’t necessarily have to give up on my writing or on this Website for the entire autumn season.
In his video, Gary makes the point that it’s all about cutting out the wasted time, that it’s all about “hustle 2.0”. Agreeing with basically everything he had to say, I cooked up this schedule, which I’m curious to get your feedback on. Certain bits of it are flexible, but most bits are not. Keep in mind that I’m writing a blog about things that I geek out about, which involves a certain amount of “research” that others might consider “goofing off”.
Oh, and this is my Monday-Wednesday schedule. A few things change from Thursday through Sunday. More on that after.
- 04:15 a.m. - Wake up, make breakfast
- 04:30 a.m. - Watch Early Today and/or quick podcasts (Geek Brief, The Feed) while eating
- 04:45 a.m. - Shower, check e-mail, drive to bus station
- 05:45 a.m. - While riding the bus to Boston, watch previous evening’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann, providing NBC remembered to upload the podcast version of it (I don’t get MSNBC at home, so this is my only way to watch it)
- 07:00 a.m. - Take the Red Line from South Station to Harvard Square, walk from Harvard Square to the campus where I teach, and prep for class
- 08:00 a.m. - Teach class
- 09:15 a.m. - Meet with students as necessary; otherwise, grade papers and/or prep next class
- 09:45 a.m. - Walk 3.2 miles from campus where I teach to Kenmore Square, where I work full-time
- 11:00 a.m. - Work full-time gig, with half-hour break for lunch and walk around square (and/or reading during inclement weather)
- 06:30 p.m. - Walk 2.3 miles from office in Kenmore Square to South Station
- 07:15 p.m. - While riding bus home, work on Website and/or on class prep/grading
- 08:30 p.m. - Arrive home, eat dinner, help put Kaylee to bed
- 09:00 p.m. - Read, wind down
- 09:30 p.m. - Go to sleep
Now, as I said, that’s the Monday-Wednesday schedule. Thursday’s schedule is pretty much the same but, instead of winding down between nine and nine-thirty, I plan to start the first of four days in a row of writing (some late-night, some not). I don’t have a class to teach on Friday morning, and I can sleep on the bus if I need the extra rest before working my one long day at the full-time gig, so I’ll plan on writing from nine until midnight on Thursday night.
I’ll do the same on Friday night. Then, on Saturday, aside from recuperating and spending time with my family, I’ll find three hours to write again. I’ll do my fourth day of writing early on Sunday morning, and then spend the rest of the morning on Sunday (before football) prepping for the next week’s classes.
It’s a busy schedule, but it fits in nearly everything that’s important to me right now: writing, teaching, reading, exercise, this Website, and, most of all, time with my family.
How are you fitting everything into your own busy schedule? What improvements do you think I could make in mine? Let me know!
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Comments
Beth the Bassist says:
Hmmm…Not much room for me to tag along some day with you, although I’d be up for a walk from Harvard to Kenmore some day. Ben and I love walking from our house to Fenway when we go to games…I love walking over the Mass Ave bridge, but I would think you do the BU Bridge or a sketchy Allston-area bridge. I’ve been working in 4.5 mile walks lately…Today I walked from Harvard Square along the Charles and then to Central Square and then home, and it was round-about enough to be 4+ miles. We also walk to the North End/Gov’t Center a lot.
I wish I could have a set schedule, although that’s a bit intense for me.
I’m also thinking I need to get into teaching, but I don’t want to become my mom, having taught the same two courses for 30 years with no retirement and getting paid less than a barista at Starbucks (ahhh, the college adjunct). I have little desire for a PhD, though. I’ve been thinking about high school but I wouldn’t be a good English teacher (I, uh, didn’t take any literature clases in college), and no one wants an art history high school teacher. I could probably teach European or world history—not U.S. though. The End.
Oh, half of my co-workers are students at the school you teach at. I find this odd, but not, given location.
ChrisClark says:
@Andy - Your schedule sounds as crazy as mine (at least this week). Good luck!
@Beth - I walk straight down Mass Ave and over the Mass Ave bridge. That’s my route. We should totally walk some day. Which Starbucks are you at? If you can’t say in public, shoot me an e-mail.
:-)
ChrisClark says:
Cool! Maybe I’ll stop by and say hi one of these mornings.
Interesting that lots of students at my school are working at that one when there’s another one that’s closer. Guess they don’t want to wait on their friends or their professors.
ChrisClark says:
Hey, Brad. Thanks for stopping by. Your link’s not working at the moment, but I’ll try to check it out later on.
Jeremy Couturier says:
This is interesting. I’m really scattershot with my efforts,it’s either all out or nothing at all. Does this list of sorts help you stay on track and be productive? I’ve seen a few of Gary’s vids I should probably watch more.
E. Christopher Clark says:
Gary’s vids are exceptionally motivational. You should definitely watch each one that you can.
As for this list/schedule… well, it worked for a little while. But I was just trying to cram too much into my day. I’ve since simplified it a little bit. I should really do a follow-up.
Andy978 says:
Yowza!
That’s all I have to say about that. Although, to be fair, this particular week my schedule goes something like this:
7:30 am - wake up, shower, etc.
8:00 am - get in car, drive to work
9:00 am - arrive at work (this week, it’s reception.)
9:00 am - log on to “work at home job.” (this month, it’s “update a travel website”)
9:00 am - 5:00 pm - essentially, work two jobs at once.
5:00 pm - leave
6:00 pm - arrive back home, change, eat power bar, get on bus to rehearsal.
7:00 pm - rehearse
10:00 pm - return home, finish whatever hours of work-at-home job I didn’t finish during day.
12:00 pm - sleep.