A Day in the Life with Khara Wolf
Location: Durango, Colorado
Started using Squarespace: 2017
Title: SEO Expert and Website Designer, Websites by Khara
When you’re running a solo agency, it’s easy to get caught up in client work and managing the various aspects of your business. Khara Wolf, owner of Websites by Khara, refuses to let the grind dictate her schedule. The Squarespace Expert and Circle Platinum Partner makes a concerted effort to balance passions with work, and has a strict policy on using devices after 3:00 PM.
Khara’s journey with SEO began in 2013. Today, she boasts more than a decade of experience in web design, development, marketing, and graphic design. She also runs the Squarespace SEO Lab, a community for Squarespace website owners who have an interest in SEO and are looking for money-making SEO and AI SEO strategies, as well as help from a pro.
When Khara isn’t working on client projects or creating new content, she leaves plenty of room in the day for outdoor walks with the dog, evening relaxation, and musical pursuits.
Check out a day in Khara’s life and see her top advice for web designers.
Khara’s schedule
5:00 AM: First work block of the day. I’ve always been an early riser, and anyone who has worked with me jokes about getting emails at 4:00 or 5:00 AM. This first hour is just for catching up on email, notifications on social media, responding to comments in my Squarespace SEO Lab, and knocking out quick tasks on the to-do list that take under 5–10 minutes each.
6:00 AM: Breakfast. While I’ve never been great at letting technology lie dormant before breakfast, I do take a nice break at the beginning of the day to eat and relax.
8:00 AM Walk the dog. Every day I get outside and walk the dog for about an hour. In the dead of winter, this walk will get moved to later in the day, but for most of the year, it’s in the morning.
9:00 AM: Focused work block. I typically dedicate a large block of time first thing in the morning for project work. Devices are silent. Inbox is closed. This is an extremely focused time where I knock out big tasks. Despite best efforts to get up and move around, this time rarely has any breaks. On Mondays, I typically use this block to record content for my Squarespace SEO Lab and YouTube channel, but the rest of the week this time is dedicated to client work. Today, I worked on some SEO brand positioning for a client and built out their homepage on Squarespace.
12:00 PM: Lunch break! The morning session is the most intense, so I take a long lunch break to relax and go for another walk outside. During peak summer months, I’ll often do my second walk earlier in the day, which can help force that morning project time into smaller chunks.
2:00 PM One last check in. I finish the day off the way I started it—with a quick check in to finish tasks from earlier in the day, check my inbox, respond to comments and posts in the Lab, do admin work, and get organized for the next day. At 3:00 PM, when I’m done, my laptop stays on my desk and my cell phone stays in a separate room. These devices don’t travel around the house with me and aren’t at arms length. It’s critical to disconnect until the next day. If they’re within arms reach, I’ll keep checking in!
3:00 PM Flute practice time. Many don’t know this about me, but I’m also a professional musician. I consider this block of time a work-block as it’s critical for upcoming performances, recording projects, and teaching. The first session is about 30 minutes on Celtic flute. I play the flute first because it’s easier to play it before the oboe.
3:30 PM Oboe practice time. I spend about 10–15 minutes fussing with reeds to find a good one. Then I dive in. This session can include anything from scales, technique, and warm-ups to running through music I’m performing or recording. It typically lasts about 45 minutes.
4:15 PM Reeds. Oboists spend almost as much time, or more time, each day making handmade reeds as they do practicing. I try to do this at the end of the session so I don’t get sucked into tweaking for two hours and lose the time to play!
5:00 PM Evening relaxation. I start my day early, so I end my day early. It’s still a 12-hour day from start to finish, even with some long breaks. I will sometimes do some stretching before or after my practice sessions to prevent overuse injuries, but if I haven’t done them before practicing, I do them before dinner.
Khara's top advice for web designers
Limit your responses each day. Email responses can boomerang back and keep you sucked into your inbox, so it’s helpful to limit emails and notification checks to once or twice per day.
Make friends. Your network is your most powerful asset, and we have an incredible Squarespace community—lean on it!
Better out there and imperfect than not out there at all. I’ve built my business off dozens of different pivots over 13 years and find success comes from being eager to learn, willing to shift as needed, and growing alongside your business rather than waiting for the perfect time to start.
Want more?
Check out Squarespace Circle, Squarespace’s program for professional designers and web design agencies. Along with exclusive content, discounts, and other perks, Circle brings professionals together from across the globe to exchange advice while connecting with new clients and collaborators.
