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Balancing the Grind With Jordyn Christensen, Freelance Beauty & Lifestyle Journalist

Jordyn Christensen is a Freelance Beauty & Lifestyle Journalist who has contributed to publications such as BEAUTYcrew, marie claire, Harper’s Bazaar and more.

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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?

I started as an editorial intern in magazines and was lucky enough to move into a Contributing News and Social Writer role.

In this role I was primarily writing news pieces but was thrown in the deep end in executing and tracking daily Facebook posts, working across Instagram and sending out weekly editorial newsletters.

I moved into a Beauty Writer role and then Beauty and Social Media Editor, but developing those initial skills in writing and social played a huge role in where I am today.

I have written for publications including BEAUTYcrew, marie claire, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE and beautyheaven and am currently freelancing in social strategy, as well as beauty and lifestyle journalism and copywriting.

2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?

The beauty industry is so much fun and I have been so lucky to spend time with fantastic brands and people but after a few years of a long commute, I was ready for a bit of a change.

I have been working between Sydney and New York at the moment so everyday has been different. Recently, it involves heading to a cafe or co-working space and working through my content for the day.

I much prefer to be out the door the same time I would normally be going to an office, I’m not particularly productive when I’m working from my couch.

I would love to say I have a regular exercise routine at the moment and I definitely function better when I do, but it’s honestly been too crazy. When I’m in Sydney, with the weather warming up I will just try and make sure I jump in the ocean once or twice a week.

3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?

Freelancing is obviously a very different situation to the structure of full time work. It has meant I’ve had next to no routine for the last few months which is hard but I do like being able to work on projects I’m really excited about.

I also love that it has meant I can be travelling and experiencing different cities and environments at the same time.

4) Do you have any tips, tricks or shortcuts to help you manage your workload and schedule?

I write everything down, if I don’t it leaves my brain instantly. I take a hard copy diary everywhere I go and write a pen on paper to do list, which I then work my way through.

I’ve also found my day runs the smoothest when I do the hardest task first. I’m always so much sharper in the morning and find procrastinating difficult tasks only makes them harder to accomplish later in the day.

5) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?

I’ve found a work-life balance really hard to achieve. Since I’ve only been really immersed in the workforce in the last five years, having emails on your phone and being reachable instantly is the industry expectation. Also being in media, especially social media means you have to be up to date on industry and celebrity news and trends all the time.

This means I spend a lot of time scrolling. I’m really striving to have time-out from my phone, emails and social media everyday, and having conversations with my family and boyfriend where I’m actually engaged and not half thinking about something else.

6) What do you think are some of the best habits you’ve developed over the years to help you strive for success and balance?

I think the best habit I’ve developed over the years for my personal productivity is waking up early and getting as much done before lunchtime as I possibly can.

7) Are there any books that have helped you improve over the years?

Not really books, but I’ve recently been cold messaging people who’s careers I admire and asking if they would mind meeting up, and offering to buy them a coffee.

More often than not, they have been super responsive and know exactly how real the hustle is. I’ve made some amazing friends this way and I’ve also learnt a lot about the industry and myself personally. It’s opened some incredible doors for me.

8) What is the number one thing you do to make sure you get the most out of your day?

Sleep well and eat well. It sounds so idealistic but making sure you’re taking care of yourself first will mean managing your time, thinking logically and creating great content will come much more easily.

Manageable problems feel like the end of the world when you’re tired.

9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?

I’ve had a lot of hard decisions to make regarding my career recently and I’ve been relying on the people I love to help me make them.

I think the most important thing I’ve learned so far is to trust my gut. When the right opportunities come up, you’ll know, and if they’re not right, it’s okay to say no.

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About Author

Hey there! I'm Hao, the Editor-in-Chief at Balance the Grind. We’re on a mission to showcase healthy work-life balance through interesting stories from people all over the world, in different careers and lifestyles.