Ever wonder what a Virtual Assistant (VA) actually does all day? The term ‘VA’ can sound a bit generic, but the reality is a challenging, and incredibly rewarding day that often looks vastly different from a typical 9-to-5 office job. That’s why at Proactive Assistants we love what we do and that is helping businesses with their admin plus the many other services that we offer.
My day usually starts earlier than the rest of the world—not because I have to, but because I want to. This is my quiet time to prepare for the day ahead. I enjoy starting the day early and getting things done in the quiet time before the phones start ringing and the emails pinging.
• Review my priorities. Which client needs attention first? What are the top three tasks that absolutely must be completed today? I check for any urgent emails or messages that came in overnight from clients. This is all about proactive planning.
• Next is my most focused time. I tackle complex, high-value tasks: perhaps doing accounts-related work, formatting lengthy reports, drafting a client newsletter, performing detailed market research, or tele-marketing calls and updating CRM systems.
• Connection and Coordination calls are essential for clarifying goals, providing updates, and building those crucial client relationships and with associates and business colleagues. Communication is key to virtual success!
• After lunch and checking emails again, the afternoon is dedicated to tasks that require less intense focus but are essential: calendar management (scheduling meetings which can be across multiple time zones), preparing presentations, email filtering/response, and managing client filing systems (OneDrive/Google Drive/Dropbox organisation).
As the day winds down I am tidying up and setting the plan for the following day and clearing all the inboxes.
A day in the life of a VA is less about a rigid schedule and more about flexible discipline. Often having to move onto a task that has just come in and is more pressing with an urgent deadline. It’s a rewarding career built on trust, efficiency, and a diverse skillset. One day I might be a bookkeeper, the next a telemarketer and the day after that a personal assistant—all from the comfort of my home office. Although I also enjoy working at a clients office if they are local.
If you are thinking about hiring a VA please consider Proactive Assistants – Sue Cliff.
