Being Your Own Boss When the UV Is 9

Let me explain something very important.

There’s a little-known but highly sophisticated system of time management that a select group of people (me) follow during the summer months.

It’s called UV Tracking.

Think of it like day trading… but for sunshine.

Instead of analyzing stock charts, I’m refreshing the weather app to monitor the UV index. I’m tracking the curve. Calculating tanning risk vs. reward. Watching wind speeds and cloud cover like I work at NASA. And when the UV peaks? You drop everything. You go outside. You maximize exposure.

The goal?

Not to get rich.

To get tan.

(Which, to me and other teenage girls are basically the same thing. One pays in confidence instead of cash.)

But here’s the catch:

This summer, I’m also the CEO of my own little one-person operation working on a project I care deeply about. This. I’m interviewing top Norwegian CEOs about how AI is changing the consulting industry. I’m designing the questions. Scheduling the meetings. Doing the research. Writing the insights. All of it.

No boss. No schedule. No rules. Just me.

And when there’s no one else calling the shots… things get complicated fast.

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UV vs. CEO: Who’s In Charge?

When you’re your own boss, there’s no calendar block keeping you from the park. No manager reminding you of your deadlines. No passive-aggressive Slack message when you’ve “gone offline mid-day.”

Every decision is yours, which sounds like freedom, until the UV hits 7.2 and your Coke Zero is sweating beside you, and suddenly everything on your to-do list feels VERY optional.

Some days, I nail it. I show up. I prep calls. I write drafts. I push the project forward.

Other days, I convince myself I’ll “just work from the park” and end up listening to my favorite playlist and checking the UV index every 12 minutes, while planning what I am going to have for lunch.

This is what no one tells you about working for yourself: It’s not just about discipline, it’s about intention.

When no one is watching, you have to care enough to choose the work anyway.

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I Genuinely Love This Project

Let me be really clear: I’m not dragging my feet because I’m not into what I’m doing. I love this project. I feel lucky to be doing it. It’s interesting. It’s exciting. It feels like a step into something that really matters not just for my own career, but for understanding where consulting is going next.

But love doesn’t cancel out distraction. Caring doesn’t guarantee consistency. Even the best projects require effort, structure, and a little internal negotiation.

That’s what I’ve been learning. And if you’re another young person trying to build something meaningful on your own schedule, I want to share what’s helped me stay focused (even when the UV is screaming your name).

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Four Things That Help Me (When I’d Rather Be Doing Anything Else)

1. Make Real Rules for Yourself - Not “I should probably work.” Real rules. Block time. Write the plan the night before. Set deadlines. If you wouldn’t show up 40 minutes late to a meeting with your boss, don’t do it to yourself either.

What helps me? Going to the library. Bring a snack and a soda you like, for me, it’s one Red Bull (and no, two is never a good idea). Once I’m there, it feels real. Like the work matters. Because it does.

2. Accept That Motivation Is Unreliable - Some mornings you wake up ready to conquer the world. Others, you’d rather conquer a new TV show. That doesn’t mean you’re lazy. It means you’re normal. Discipline beats motivation every time. Try to make starting the work your default, even if you don’t feel like it. And yes, take days off! Just don’t accidentally take every day off.

3. Build Your Own Version of Accountability - If you’re the boss, someone still needs to check in. That can be a mentor, a checklist, or even just texting a friend: “Ask me on Friday if I actually sent that draft.”

For me, it's my dad. I might tell him that by 5 PM that day, I'll send him my blog post draft or begin my presentation, and ask him to hold me accountable. Tip: Choose someone who understands that you need more time if you dont pick up:)

4. Don’t Apologize for Wanting a Life Too - I’m serious about this work. But I also believe in joy. If I’ve done what I said I would, I don’t feel guilty heading out when the UV is peaking and the city smells like sunscreen and summer break. Work and life aren’t enemies. You just have to decide intentionally when each one gets the priority.

Final Thoughts (From Someone Still Figuring It Out)

This blog isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up anyway, when the sun is calling, when you'd rather be anywhere else!

I’m sharing my experience so that anyone reading this (and honestly, I don’t think that many people will) knows you’re not in this alone.

Being your own boss means you’re responsible for everything. And yes, that can feel heavy. But it can also feel like freedom if you treat it with care.

So: Track the UV. Go outside when it matters. But also track your goals.

But, be the kind of boss you’d actually want to work for.

You’ve got this.

– June