A Day in the Life of a Virtual Assistant – T. Barkus

Working as a Virtual Assistant offers a great way to combine flexible working with managing family life. You can often carry out your work to fit around your daily family commitments such as the school run, homework, grocery shopping and the other daily requirements of a busy working Mum. And then there are hobbies and keeping fit which we also need to fit in somewhere!

So how do we fit it all in? If you’re thinking of becoming a Virtual Assistant or are interested to know what it’s all about, then read on for an example of 1 day in the life of a Virtual Assistant.

6:00am

It’s time to wake up and get the day going. School lunches, school bags, school uniforms, rush rush rush….the usual story with school age kids.

7:30am

With the kids dropped off at school and back home, it’s time for that much needed cup of coffee – ready for my daily commute all the way from the kitchen to my office (that really is a great part of the job!).

Settled at my desk, I open my email accounts to get up to speed. I have 6! My personal email account, my official VA email account and then 4 email accounts specific to each client.

8.00am to 12.15pm

After checking emails and putting out any fires, I work through my client’s requirements based on looming deadlines or urgency.

This could entail any of the following:

• Transcribe notes, podcasts, videos, etc. for clients
• Write/update content of WordPress sites
• Proofread and edit marketing collateral
• Carry our research and provide report of findings
• Write, edit, and schedule Social Media posts to client’s sites and blogs
• Create PowerPoint presentations for client’s
• Carry out online training course
• Make sales/enquiry calls for clients

12.30pm

My morning of work is done and it’s time to pick up child no. 1! And I know –  the day has hardly started!

2.00pm – 4.00pm

Pick up child number 2 from school and drop both off at afternoon activities which means an hour or 2 to catch up with where I left off from my morning’s work. Sometimes I get back to my desk, other times, I can catch up with emails, phone calls and admin from the comfort of my car. Thank goodness for ipads and aircon in cars!

4.00 – 6.00pm

Pick up kids from activities and return home to the chaos of homework, school projects, preparing and cooking dinner. Busy busy busy…. but just the way I like it!

6.00pm – 7.30pm

I have an Action Netball match! Can you believe it?? Mid-life crisis I hear you say…quite possibly. And no this doesn’t happen every evening of course but it is a great escape once a week to let off steam!

8.00pm – 10pm

Bedtime for the kids and work time again for me! With clients based in USA, I find it useful to be able to work in the evenings so that I am at least online for a few hours at the same time as they are. Working in the evening, isn’t for everyone but I am a night owl and am rather proactive in the evening so the flexibility of being able to work evenings and have afternoons with the kids is perfect for me.

I typically, pick up where I left off earlier in the day to ensure deadlines are met and then spend at least 30 mins doing my own admin – tracking work, logging hours, updating calendars and making to do lists for the next day.

So there you have it – a busy Virtual Assistant’s day. I do have to be organised with my time and be deadline driven at all times. Communication is also key to keep clients updated and to ensure their expectations are being met.

It’s kind of a routine without the routine! And it definitely works for me.