Catch up on national news (I prefer NPR’s Up First podcast)
8:00 AMÂ Â Â Work day begins
Read through state news clippings (our organization pays for this service)
 If legislature is in session, review committee schedules/agendas.Â
Fill in daily planner with emails to be sent and meetings to attend
8:30 AMÂ Â Begin tackling email inbox! (Obviously a never-ending project).Â
Staff meeting – each staff member (including all analysts, communications     team and community engagement staff) report out on their work over the       past two weeks and what’s ahead on their schedules. This is a place where   we can collaborate, pitch ideas to one another and share general            announcements. There are usually bagels.
Committee meeting at the state capitol or legislative buildings. This          depends on the day of the week and time. As analysts we sit in on           committee meetings when a bill related to our policy area is being            discussed. We also submit cards in opposition or support on behalf of our     organization and sometimes testify at hearings.Â
11:45 AMÂ Head back to office
12:00 PMÂ Â 30 minute lunch!Â
This is usually when I catch up on national news as it evolves throughout the day. Twitter is my friend.Â
12:30 – 2:00 PM  Write.
At any given moment, I can be working on a policy brief, report, op-ed, blog post or fact sheet. So I’m constantly blocking out time in my schedule to work on these writing projects. I tend to write better outside of the office so sometimes I’ll take a day to work remotely so I can focus.
I’ve found the Pomodoro method to be really helpful in keeping me on track.
When I write, I’m also simultaneously fact-checking and reading through peer-reviewed articles to support my arguments. Usually, I like to prepare a literature review before I begin the bulk of my writing, but that doesn’t always happen on a short time frame.
2:00 PMÂ Email catch-up (this happens constantly throughout the day)
2:30 – 4:00 PM  Coalition meeting or call
At any given moment I’m working on a policy issue campaign with leaders from other advocacy organizations or community groups, so I’m often on these weekly or biweekly calls or meetings to update campaign partners on my progress with outreach, research, media engagement, etc.Â
4:00 PMÂ Â Work day ends!
I try to work 7.5 hour days and generally ignore work emails in the evening, unless it’s something urgent, of course.Â
prguitarman
blakekathryn
germansingergirl
