Weekly Diary: Eating, Drinking, Procrastinating
BTS of a week in my life as a freelance social media manager
Welcome to my first ever weekly diary! This would ordinarily be a paid subscriber only post, but I’m sending it out to everyone to test the waters: plus, my only paid subscriber is my boyfriend who signed up literally as soon as I launched (I know, he is very wonderful), so it’s a pretty small readership so far.
Here’s a week in my life as a social media manager!
Monday 26 February 2024
I start off the week with a pretty ordinary day working at home; my main focus is the launch of a brand new series of videos uncovering the legacies of British Imperialism for Sathnam Sanghera, a wonderful author, journalist and historian who has just published his new book, Empireworld.
I spend the morning making last minute edits to the first video in Canva, going back and forth with Sathnam on WhatsApp to agree a caption, and then we hit publish at 3pm. Success!
The satisfaction of finishing a chunky video edit, crafting something that will hopefully spark interest in people and get them thinking about an alternative history that we still aren’t really taught in mainstream schools, is incredibly gratifying. I’m reminded that this job is never just one thing; I’m constantly pivoting between silly memes that exist purely for the lols, and deeply important and often divisive content that could change the world. It’s important to acknowledge the value of both these things.
I spend the last couple of hours of the working day replying to emails and getting posts ready for approval, and before I know it it’s 6pm and I’m logging off.
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Today is an exciting day, not only because the sun is shining in all its glory, but also because I’m taking myself on a solo date to the Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto exhibition at the V&A Museum in South Kensington. My slot is at 5:30PM, so I plan to work from home, hop on a 2pm train, take some trousers that I bought from Abercrombie back via the store in Carnaby Street and then head to the exhibition.
I have a busier morning than expected and end up leaving later than planned as a result (classic me!) As I’m hurriedly leaving the house, I mention to James that I’m not sure how to get from Carnaby Street to South Kensington, and I’ll have to google it on my way. When I sit down on the train, I realise that he has already messaged me with instructions for exactly which tube to get from which station, knowing that I get easily flustered and stressed trying to navigate my way around places that aren’t familiar to me. It’s the most loving thing he could have possibly done for me in that moment.
I arrive at Charing Cross and walk in the sunshine to Carnaby Street to return the trousers, before hopping on a packed tube at Piccadilly Circus straight to South Kensington. I love the walk through the tunnel to get to the museums - it feels so nostalgic, a reminder of childhood trips to the Natural History museum and days out with my mum to see exhibitions at the V&A.
The exhibition is everything I want it to be and more; so much to read and look at, so many special items and once-in-a-lifetime moments. I feel so fortunate to be laying my eyes on literal pieces of fashion history, items that were once worn and loved by real people. The curatorial team have really captured the essence of the Chanel brand through the decades and, most impressively, they haven’t tried to craft a narrative of who Gabrielle Chanel was as a person, but instead tell her story through what she created.
It takes me a good hour and 45 minutes to make my way around the exhibition, and by the time I leave with a commemorative tote bag, postcards and notebook from the gift shop, I’m hungry and in need of food before I catch the next train. It’s definitely a Five Guys kind of day, so I eat my cheeseburger and fries while checking the Trainline app for updates because there are delays on the line (dear reader: I did indeed get delayed).
A lovely example of the joy of being self-employed. I get through the door at 9:30pm, exhausted but very happy, and fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
Wednesday 28th February 2024
It’s back to my desk and WFH life today, so I start my morning with coffee as always. Today I have two meetings: one with a community garden to talk about sponsorship opportunities for a brand client, and the other to talk about name ideas and timelines for a new podcast in the works.
The latter meeting leaves me feeling incredibly excited and inspired to start developing some visual ideas for the podcast logo and other creative bits. This particular client has also asked me to run the socials for the podcast when it launches, so there’s lots to do before then! I get my initial ideas on to paper and then stop for lunch.
James left this morning at 6:30AM to go on a work trip, so I’m home alone tonight, which I enjoy and dislike in equal measure. I love having the house to myself, but I never sleep well when he’s not here. When dinner time rolls around, I make scampi, chips and peas (a typical home alone freezer dinner, James is not a fan of fish) and catch up on YouTube videos before heading to bed for the aforementioned terrible sleep.
Thursday 29th February 2024
It’s a Leap Day today! Sadly, James isn’t here for me to propose to, so I guess it’ll be another four years before I get the chance. It’s another cosy WFH day for me, so I start by designing some graphic tiles for a brand client and then work on colour, font and logo ideas for the podcast I mentioned yesterday.
I’ve definitely had to learn some new skills since I went freelance four years ago: I’m not a professional designer and would never diminish their craft by claiming to be one, but it has certainly been helpful to learn some basic skills on Canva.
After lunch, I set up an Instagram post to promote the gorgeous women’s retreat that Lorraine and Trish from Postcards from Lorraine & Trish are organising in beautiful Cornwall; their podcast Postcards from Midlife is chart-topping and a fantastic listen, and their Substack mini magazine is also brilliant. Lorraine and Trish are both ex-editors of glossy women’s magazines and honestly, their little black book of contacts is the stuff of dreams.
This evening I am off out with my friend Steff to Essence on The Pantiles, chef Atul Kochhar’s brand new restaurant in Tunbridge Wells; a very different vibe to last night’s culinary delights from the freezer! I quickly change into one of my favourite go-to outfits, a pale blue cropped knitted jumper covered in pearls, wide leg faux leather trousers and chunky boots and rush out of the door, arriving perfectly on time for once (go me). I have a fabulous evening catching up with my friend, drinking the most delicious no-alcohol lychee martinis and eating incredible pan-Indian food. It’s extremely difficult not to order everything off the menu just to sample it all.
James arrives home while I’m out wining and dining with Steff, but I’ve left him a note and a chocolate easter egg (it’s never too early imho). We watch an episode of Ghosts when I get home and then head to bed early.
Friday 1st March 2024
And just like that, we’re in March and springtime is upon us. How did that happen?!
I spend the day huddled over my desk with a cup of tea and my trusty hot water bottle, tying up all the loose strings and sending invoices before the weekend. 6pm comes around very quickly and I am still tapping away, so James brings me a much appreciated glass of wine at my desk.
It’s James’ Tuscan sausage pasta for dinner tonight, which would genuinely be on my last meal/dream restaurant menu, it’s so delicious. I go to bed with a full heart and an even fuller tummy.
Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd March 2024
It’s a weekend of eating and drinking for us: on Saturday night we head to Smith & Western for James’ sister Liv and her boyfriend Levi’s join birthday celebration (a total hoot, I can tell you) and on Sunday evening I am treated to another Essence experience with our friends Em and Phil.
In between the feasting, I manage to find time to meet my friend Bob for a coffee and catch up in the sunshine. On my way home, I grab a bunch of spring flowers from my favourite local florist to brighten up my dining room and make the Sunday cleaning chores feel a bit more pleasurable.
And that’s it! On to a new week, my friends. Thanks for reading if you got all the way to the end!
Lauren x