(@josie_francis)

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and after a lot of moving around and travelling post grad, I have settled down in Los Angeles… at least for now. About six months ago I left my corporate job and have been pursuing freelance work in social media managing, content creation and styling. I am so excited to be doing what I am passionate about. I think I’m the happiest I have ever been.

What was it like to leave your corporate job and start freelancing full-time? Any tips?

Not gonna lie, it was spooky! But it was perfect timing. The social media startup I was working at wasn’t doing well and ended up laying off the majority of its employees, so for the first time in my adult career, I was without a job and in a weird limbo. But it gave me time to reevaluate and the opportunity to pivot, which I am so, so thankful for. In terms of switching to freelance, be confident! Start pitching yourself to brands you want to work for and make as many connections that you can. Keep at it, things will start to fall into place.

What do you like to do when you’re spending time alone?

Lots of things! Water my plants, style new outfits, draw, find new music to listen to, catch up with friends, redecorate my apartment, experiment with makeup and skin care products, get cozy and chill on the couch… the list goes on. I’m pretty good at entertaining myself.

Describe your ideal day at home.

It would probably go something like this: First things first, my oat milk matcha latte that I make almost every morning without fail. It’s always such a good start to the day. Then some form of activity like an at-home yoga session or a virtual workout class. Setting the tone for the day with a quick morning sweat always seems to help my mood and productivity. After a quick shower and getting dressed (even if I am working from home that day, I always put on an outfit), I get situated with work, catch up on emails, brand work, shoot content, blog stuff, etc. My favorite days usually include an evening walk of some kind (ideally to the beach where I can watch the sunset) and a home-cooked dinner (plant-based for me).

What’s the best plant-based dinner you’ve made recently?

Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos, hands down. Even if you’re not a veggie, you’d love this dish.

When you’re feeling down, what’s one thing that will always cheer you up?

Getting outside! It never fails and it’s so simple. Even just a 10-minute walk around the neighborhood can drastically lift my mood. I am lucky enough to live walking distance from the beach which is one of the best things for me when I am feeling a bit off. There’s something about the ocean that really helps me reset.

Something new you’ve been trying to learn?

I have been trying to get better at skateboarding the past few months, like intentionally practicing more than normal and trying new things. I usually just use my board to cruise around, but I am trying to learn basic park tricks. It’s been interesting, to say the least. I need more girlfriends that skate, so if you live in the LA area and skate or are down to learn, let me know!

Favorite account to follow on social media? Why?

This is such a tough one, but one of my favorite Instagram girls is @annejohannsen. I have been wanting to travel to Copenhagen for years now so I vicariously live through her account, plus her pastel feed is everything. One of my style inspirations, for sure.