#14 All You Need is 9 Hours a Week
Discover how I’ve structured my week to achieve personal and professional growth—9 focused hours at a time—while managing a corporate job, a thriving side hustle, and life with two young daughters.
Hello, readers!
One of the most frequent questions I get is: How do you manage to balance your corporate job, side hustle, side business income, and a family with two young daughters? Today, I’m pulling back the curtain to share my personal schedule and the time-blocking method that’s been my lifeline for achieving the goals I set for myself last year.
For those of you who don’t have a corporate job or a family, I’ll say this: your growth might happen faster. But faster doesn’t always mean better. Success lies in focus and respecting the time you allocate to your priorities. Here’s a breakdown of my schedule and how I squeeze out 9 hours each week for my side hustle while keeping life in balance.
My Daily Schedule
7:00 AM:
I wake up and, with my wife, tag-team morning prep for our daughters. Breakfast, getting them dressed, and walking them to the school bus stop are priorities. This ritual keeps us connected as a family and gives the day a positive start.
8:10 AM:
Once the kids are off in school bus, I grab a coffee and spend a few minutes engaging with my networks—Substack, LinkedIn, and other platforms. This is not mindless scrolling; it’s intentional interaction with the content (my algorithm recommends…) and a quick look at trends.
8:50 AM - 6:00 PM:
Corporate work hours. My job is close to home, so I save on commuting time, which is a huge win. During the day, I take short, mindful breaks to listen to podcasts that fuel my growth and mental clarity while exercising at the gym. Maintaining my health is absolutely ESSENTIAL.
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM:
This is family time. No phones. No distractions. I focus on playing with my daughters, helping them wrap up their day happily, and cooking dinner. While I’m no gourmet chef, this is an area I’d like to improve in the coming months—trying new recipes and making mealtime more special.
8:30 PM - 9:00 PM:
Once the kids are in bed, I take a few moments to check messages, jot down ideas, and do some light creative thinking. After dinner with my wife, I’m flexible—whether it’s watching a film together, simply relaxing and talking, preparing for the next day, or organizing personal tasks.
10:30 - 11:30 PM
Bedtime is my golden habit. I grab my Kindle and read in bed, which is an invaluable source of knowledge. It helps me disconnect from the daily noise, reduces any lingering stress, and ensures I’m balanced and well-rested for the next day. I make it a point to get at least 7 hours of sleep—essential for recharging both body and mind.
Portfolio Approach, Night Shifts and Side Hustle Time
Daily Interaction:
As mentioned earlier, I dedicate around 20 minutes during breaks throughout the day to read and comment on Notes or Posts, whether on Substack or LinkedIn. This could be before starting my corporate job or after the children go to bed and before sitting down for dinner (which, I know, is quite late by many standards—we typically have dinner at 9:00 PM here in Spain!).
Tuesday Nights (or 1 night/week):
This is my most productive time—three uninterrupted hours of focus. I dedicate this time to tasks like:
Editing videos for my VOD platform, The Water MBA.
Creating and scheduling content (shorts, reels, trailers).
Writing for my book, newsletters, or next week’s creative projects.
Friday (1 hour/week):
I carve out one hour for recording episodes of The Water MBA. Depending on schedules and Time Zones (USA/South America, Europe or Middle East/Asia), this can happen before the family wakes up or during a quiet moment after lunch time when the kids are at school and my corporate day hasn’t started.
Weekend Focus Blocks (2-3 hours):
Weekends are invaluable. I make it a point to read 8-10 newsletters I’m subscribed to—this reflection time shapes my ideas for the week ahead. I also write for my LinkedIn newsletter, which reaches over 3,000 subscribers in the water business sector.
Substack’s Publications (1-2 hours/week):
When it comes to Substack long-form posts, I let the ideas flow naturally, creating drafts and adding to them whenever inspiration strikes. Once they feel complete, I schedule them for publication.
Substack’s Podcast (1 hour/month)
2025 will bring new challenges and opportunities. I plan to continue hosting Crafting a Portfolio Life, a monthly 30-minute fireside chat with key Substack creators. It’s a short time investment, but the value and learning experience are immense. I’ve already recorded two episodes set to be published in January and February, and believe me, they’re incredible.
Reflection and Growth
What’s the secret? Consistency, reflection, and focus. I dedicate around 500 hours/year to my side hustle. By analyzing my efforts monthly, trying new approaches, and doubling down on what works, I stay on track.
Key Takeaways for You
Time-blocking is your best friend. Even 9 hours/week can yield significant progress if used wisely.
Focus beats multitasking. Choose 5-10 key projects per month and execute them without hesitation.
Enjoy the process. Whether it’s spending time with family, creating content, or experimenting with new ideas, growth should be both personal and professional.
Embrace the lessons learned. What doesn’t work now might be invaluable later.
I hope this gives you a glimpse into how you, too, can balance your priorities and create something meaningful. Remember, every minute you spend should bring joy, growth, or a step closer to your goals.
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Let’s grow. Let’s support each other.
Love your approach, my schedule looks similar - execution doesn't always work as planned - therefore I need to get better in focused time. Thanks for sharing.