Watching the Workday Flow

A Spain-based rhythm for work, family, and clients

Running a motion design studio from abroad

Turns out, it’s not as hard as you’d think.

Mornings

After walking my son to the bus stop and having breakfast, I head to my home office. It’s quiet. Perfect time to get focused work done without interruptions.

Early afternoon

I usually break for lunch with my wife. We’ll walk around Valencia with a coffee or catch up on a show. Sometimes I grab a short nap. Naps are new for me, and I’m a fan.

Late afternoon

Back to the office. This is when most clients come online and meetings happen. I check in with collaborators to keep projects on track, wrap remaining tasks, then head to the bus stop to pick up my son.

Night

We’re at the baseball field three nights a week, watching practice and chatting with other parents. Dinner runs a little late, then we relax. If needed, I’ll take a late call with West Coast clients once or twice a week.

The async trick

Scheduling Slack and email has been a game changer. I write messages or deliver assets on my time and schedule them for when clients are online. They do the same. It creates a steady cadence without anyone doom‑scrolling at 2 a.m.

What I worried about vs. what’s true

Before moving to Spain, I worried about missing client communication because of the time difference. What I’ve learned: time zones don’t matter much if you plan well and communicate clearly. My schedule now works better for my life than it did in the U.S. Work, meetings, and family time fit together cleanly. Right now, it all feels like a good rhythm.