The Moment I Stopped Working Like Everyone Else’s Schedule

13 Nov

When I first started my business, I thought I’d left the 9-to-5 world behind.
Turns out, I’d just rebuilt it — perfectly.

At my desk by 9. Lunch at noon (if any!). “Clocking out” at 5 — even though there was literally no one telling me to.

I called it discipline. But honestly? It was fear.
Fear that if I wasn’t constantly online, everything would fall apart.
Fear that people would think I wasn’t really working if I wasn’t glued to my laptop all day.

And because I wanted to be “professional”, I did what any new entrepreneur would do: I rented a co-working space at Regus. You know — polished desks, shared printers, those classic neutral carpets. It looked the part.
If you look at the photos from that time, you can probably tell it didn’t last long. A month later, I was back at my home desk — and I stayed there for years.

Finding My Flow

For a while, I went all in on the opposite extreme — starting work at 6am.
I loved the stillness before the world woke up. That quiet, that space. Just me, my thoughts, and a cup of black tea with milk and honey. Those hours became sacred — the calm before the noise, the time where I could create, think, and build with absolute clarity.

By the afternoon, I had the mental space to handle client calls, emails, and all the operational things that come with running a business.
And then there were days when my creativity would only return in the evening — me on the sofa, Leila curled up beside me, a film playing softly in the background while ideas quietly unfolded.

That mix — of early mornings, structured afternoons, and slow evenings — became my balance. My version of structure.

Redefining “Professional”

For the longest time, I thought being available 24/7 was part of being reliable.
I’d pick up every call, reply to every message immediately, interrupt any task to prove I was “on it”.
But every time I did, I broke my flow.

It took me years to accept that being professional doesn’t mean being constantly reachable — it means respecting your time and your process.
Now, when I’m in my creative zone, I stay there. The phone can wait. The inbox can wait. Creativity can’t.

Where I Am Now

Fast-forward to today — I’ve moved to Milan, and decided to give co-working another go. This time, it’s a completely different experience.
I’m at WeWork in Via San Marco (and honestly, shout-out to their amazing team — they’re the kindest).
It feels good to be surrounded by people again — but this time, I’m doing it on my own terms. No fixed hours, no rigid rules, just my rhythm.

Final Thoughts

It took me a long time to learn that structure isn’t the enemy of freedom — it’s the framework that supports it. But that structure has to come from within.

When you listen to your own rhythm — whether that means starting at 6am, taking a long walk mid-afternoon, or finishing up ideas late at night — your work naturally aligns with your energy.

I stopped trying to work like everyone else. I started listening to what I actually needed.
And that changed everything.

If you’re building something of your own, give yourself permission to do the same.
Your schedule doesn’t define your success — your alignment does.

As per usual, with lots of love,
Lisa

From my Self-Employed Diaries:
Honest lessons for building a business on your own terms