A Day in the Life of a Crochet and Knit Pattern Designer | Podcast Episode #135

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A (flexible) routine keeps me focused, productive, and happy.

Honestly, I don’t know what I would do without my daily and weekly routines. You can say I’m a creature of habit – for good reason. Habits just work for me.

I’m often asked how I juggle a full-time podcast and YouTube channel and still manage to create so many designs. There’s no way I could get it all done without a solid plan. In this episode, I’ll share my updated routine, schedule, and habits with you. I hope sharing what works for me will give you some ideas to explore that will catapult you to where you want to go in life – whether crochet is your hobby, your business, or your life.

Episode Transcript

Brittany:
Hello and welcome! Normally, we chat all things crochet and knitting — yarny goodness and related topics — but every now and then, I like to do something a little different.

Way back in episode 50, I shared a “day in the life” of me — my daily routine and a peek into areas of life I’m passionate about beyond yarn. I love productivity, planning, health, cooking, and all that good stuff. To my surprise, that episode remains one of the most listened-to, so I figured, two years later, it’s time for an update.

A lot is similar — my day as a yarn business owner still follows a routine — but there have definitely been some changes I want to share with you.

Usually, I have these episodes outlined, but today I’m going completely off the cuff. No script, no outline. I want to share organically what a typical day looks like for me — my thoughts as they happen.

Not because I think I’m particularly interesting, but because I know many of you are makers and yarn business owners too. Even if your business looks different from mine, maybe some of the ways I make my life easier or more efficient can help you. That’s the goal.

So, let’s start at the very beginning — the morning.

One change is how early I wake up. First — I am not a morning person. I don’t enjoy getting up before the sun, and honestly, I don’t think that will ever change. But here’s the thing: when I do get up early, I’m way more productive, energetic, and just feel better about my day.

A big realization over the last two years? My best creative work happens before noon. That’s not true for everyone — my husband, for example, does his most focused work after lunch. Not me. Once I eat, I want to nap! So after lunch, I save my time for less demanding tasks — things that don’t require as much creativity or focus.

I’m usually up by 6 a.m. at the latest. And of course, I have a morning routine because I believe starting your day right really matters.

When I had a full-time job, I dreaded going to bed because I knew I’d have to get up on someone else’s schedule and work toward someone else’s dream — something I wasn’t passionate about.

Then I read The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod, and it shifted my perspective. I learned I don’t have to be a morning person to make mornings work. The key is to wake up on your terms and start with things that are for you — whatever time that is.

For me, I’m up early. I take care of my fur babies and my husband, get him off to work, and then sit down for breakfast.

Breakfast has been a bit of an experiment for me because I never really knew what to eat in the morning. But I’ve learned that when I eat a good breakfast, I feel better, more productive, and have more stamina — enough to squeeze in some morning exercise, too.

While I eat, I watch YouTube videos — not yarn-related usually, but from other creators. I like seeing how they structure their content and the production quality. It inspires me to improve my own videos and serve you better.

You’ve probably heard the advice: Create before you consume. I have to challenge that a bit because when I consume right — meaning I’m learning — it fuels my creativity. But I don’t roll over and scroll emails or social media first thing because those stress me out. They remind me of how many people need help, and I can’t possibly reach everyone right away. That’s not a great way to start the day.

Instead, I start by literally fueling myself — food first — and consuming something educational or inspiring.

I also hydrate in the morning, which might sound silly to remind people to drink water, but I’m not a water lover. I add lemon juice, and suddenly it’s a craving! Lemon water bright and early makes me feel better and energized.

So yeah, waking early, eating breakfast, and drinking lemon water might sound basic, but when I miss these, I really feel it. These self-care habits are key to how my day flows.

You don’t have to wake at 5 a.m. or do exactly what I do — just find your own self-care routines that help you feel better and more productive. Treat them like appointments you keep with yourself, just like you would with someone else.

A lot has changed in my morning routine since the last time I shared. I like routine, but I also like it to evolve.

One new thing I started was meditating with a device called the Muse Headband. I heard great things about meditation and wanted to try it. I still love the device and use it, but I’m less consistent now. Meditation is a slow process to show results, and if I don’t see quick changes, it’s harder to stay committed.

Time is my most valuable asset, and I want to spend it improving myself and being present for my family — being a better wife, daughter, sister. Meditation helps with that, giving me a chance to calm my busy mind.

Meditation is either something you love or hate, from what I’ve learned. If you want to try, there’s an app called Headspace with guided meditations that are really helpful. The Muse is pricier — a headband that tracks your brainwaves — but I got it as a gift and enjoy it.

All this happens outside my office because I keep spaces separate — when I’m in my office, I’m in work mode. When I’m out, I’m wife mode, or just me mode. These morning routines are for me to help me have a productive, better day.

Another habit I try to do almost daily — though I’m not perfectly consistent — is stretching.

As a crocheter and knitter, posture issues and repetitive use affect my shoulders, elbows, wrists — I’m sure you know the feeling. Stretching my shoulders, chest, forearms, hips, and legs makes a huge difference.

I’ve also switched to a standing desk to help with posture, moving from a more active job to sitting a lot more now. Sitting for long periods was taking a toll, so standing helps.

By about 7:30 a.m. — sometimes later if I stretch more — I’m usually ready to dive into work.

And then it’s off to the office. Since I work from home, my office is just a few steps away. I head upstairs, get set up, and get right to work.

The reason I can dive in so quickly is that I’ve already planned my day — usually several days in advance. You might have heard me mention calendar blocking before. I’ve tried different methods over time, but I think I’ve finally found a system that really works for me.

Here’s what I do: every Monday, I calendar block my entire week. I’ve tried planning out a whole month ahead, but things change — projects take longer, unexpected tasks come up — and that made me feel like a failure when I had to shuffle my schedule. Calendar blocking is supposed to help me be productive, not stress me out.

So Monday is my planning day.

Let’s zoom out for a minute. When I walk into my office, I already know what I’m going to do because I’ve planned it ahead. This part might help you too.

In that first episode I mentioned themed days, and while those themes have changed a lot, the idea of themed days still works.

Mondays are my household and planning days. That means laundry, meal planning, grocery shopping, cleaning — all the stuff that needs to get done but I don’t want to spread out over the whole week. I’d rather knock it all out at once and then not think about it again for several days.

After the household tasks, I sit down with my bullet journal — a new addition since that first episode. Writing things down helps me see the bigger picture.

Right now, I’m filming season two of BHooked TV, which drops every Monday. I considered pre-recording all episodes, but I wanted it to feel real and flexible — to pivot if there are topics that might better serve my viewers. So I film one episode per week.

On top of that, there’s a weekly podcast episode, plus a Saturday tutorial. Three main content goals every week.

Luckily, the tasks to prepare each of those overlap, so I’ve got a good rhythm down. I also use an app called CoSchedule to manage my task list.

So after bullet journaling the week’s must-dos, I put everything into Google Calendar. That’s my tool of choice — it syncs across my phone, iPad, and computer, and sends me reminders so I stay on track.

For example, for this podcast episode — a solo show — I block an hour to record, even though the episode is usually 30–45 minutes. That gives me a buffer for breaks or retakes.

Then I block two hours for editing — again, more time than I usually need, but it’s nice to have that cushion.

Next, I block about 30 minutes to create images for social media to promote the episode.

Finally, I budget about 45 minutes to create the show notes page on my website, where I include links and resources. For this episode, you can find the show notes at bhooked.com/135.

Tomorrow, I’ll block time to schedule all the social posts and publish the show notes.

Now, I won’t get too deep into calendar blocking here because I know it’s not for everyone. If you work a traditional nine-to-five away from home, calendar blocking might not be as useful since your schedule is already structured.

The biggest takeaway I want you to get is this: figure out how long things really take you. Whether it’s in your business or your hobby, knowing the time investment helps you plan better.

If you have a project due next Wednesday, think about how much time you need between now and then, and break it up into manageable chunks.

For me, seeing it in real time — on a calendar — helps because I tend to overestimate what I can do and underestimate how long things take.

I work between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Outside those hours, it’s family and hobbies. When I calendar block, there’s no squeezing in extra time that isn’t really there.

Even if you prefer pen and paper over apps, having a planner to map this out can be super helpful, whether you’re running a business or just crafting for fun.

If this sounds interesting and you want to learn more about how I use calendar blocking personally and professionally, head to the show notes and leave a comment. I’d love to put together some resources for you.

Back to themed days — Mondays are household and planning days.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are my content creation days — when I film BHooked TV, record tutorials, and sometimes podcasts if I’m on a roll.

I’m pretty flexible but try to get those done early in the week because life can throw curveballs. If I have to take a Friday off unexpectedly, I don’t want to fall behind.

The key isn’t necessarily themed days — if that doesn’t work for you, don’t force it — but to notice the natural patterns in your week and fit your priorities into those stable spots.

For me, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are always work days. No random trips or plans. I get focused and productive so I don’t fall behind.

Then Thursdays and Fridays are my production days — mostly editing and wrapping things up. I’ve loosened these days up since last time I talked about them. Before, I had super specific roles for each day — filming day, podcast day, admin day, etc. — but that felt too rigid.

Now, Thursdays and Fridays are flexible editing and production days. I can wear yoga pants, not be on camera, and work through distractions, which I don’t like when filming.

So that’s a bird’s-eye view of how my week flows.

When I’m in my office on a Tuesday, I’m doing the full routine — hair, makeup, clothes, setting up cameras and lighting — and filming as much as I can while I’m fresh.

On Wednesdays, it might be more relaxed — filming tutorials where only my hands are shown, or crocheting through a segment.

Honestly, Thursdays and Fridays are my favorite days. I love editing and production just as much as creating projects.

Thursdays and Fridays are super fun for me because I get to express my creativity in a totally different way. No matter which day I walk into my office, I always aim to wrap up around 11:30 a.m. Then, I get up and move — usually a walk or jog on the treadmill.

I have a love-hate relationship with exercise. Not because I don’t like moving, but because I’m so addicted to my work that leaving the room to exercise feels selfish — even though I know it’s not.

Here’s what I’ve realized: when I exercise regularly (and no, I’m not running marathons — just a brisk 40-minute walk or light jog), I actually have more energy afterward. It helps fight off that afternoon slump, and I usually eat less for lunch, too.

By this point in the day, I’ve taken care of a lot. I got up on my own terms, took care of myself in ways that boost my productivity and happiness, and I had my day planned out already. That means no wasted time or second-guessing what I should do next. I get about four solid hours of really focused, creative work in the morning — and man, I can get a lot done in that time.

When I take a break to exercise and eat lunch, I feel great about it because I’ve already been super productive. I even let myself relax a little if I want — no guilt.

Around 1:30 p.m., I head back to my office for less focused work. I calendar block this time for tasks that don’t require as much deep concentration.

What I do depends on the day. Today, for example, is a content creation day, so after lunch and exercise, I’ll film. Tomorrow is the same — more filming to finish what’s left over.

On Thursdays, after lunch, I focus on post-production. That means editing, answering emails, engaging with the community, and handling social media — like planning posts and scheduling them.

Friday afternoons, I keep open for flexibility. While I love routine and structure, I also need a bit of wiggle room. If a project has sparked some inspiration during the week, Friday afternoon is my “rebel time” to work on it. That way, I have something fun to crochet or knit over the weekend.

One big rule I have is to keep boundaries around my workday. My office is my work zone — that’s where I’m in work mode. Sure, I might crochet on the couch or even on the treadmill sometimes, but for the most part, I like to keep my work and personal spaces separate.

When you work where you live, that separation is key. Otherwise, you either feel like you’re always working or never working. Having a dedicated office has been a game changer for my happiness and productivity.

So there you have it — my long-winded, conversational version of a day (or week) in my life right now, circa 2019. I’m sure this will change over time, and if you’re interested, I’d love to share that journey with you later.

But really, this episode isn’t about copying my routine or judging how cool or boring it is. What I want you to take away are these golden nuggets from my experience:

1. Start your day on your own terms — do something for yourself right when you wake up.
2. Figure out when you do your best, most focused work. For me, it’s always been mornings before noon. Think back to your most productive days — when did that happen?
3. Notice the patterns and themes in your weekly commitments. Can you group similar tasks together to reduce switching gears?
4. Track how long things actually take you. I used to use a time tracker app but now just have a good sense of it. Overestimate your time needs to avoid calendar frustration.
5. If you work from home, create a dedicated workspace to keep your work life and personal life separate. It makes a huge difference.

If you want to explore any of these ideas more, or if you have tips from your own routine, please leave a comment on the show notes page at bhooked.com/135. You’ll also find links to the apps and tools I mentioned, in case you want to try them out.

Thanks for joining me for this different kind of episode. Next week, we’ll be back on track with crochet, knitting, and yarn inspiration.

Until then, take care, my friend.