Top 5 Routines of Female Entrepreneurs
Through my mindful cooking project, Marmalade Kindness, I have had the pleasure of interviewing a host of female entrepreneurs and creators, for my weekly segment In the Kitchen With. Each week, these women generously share their time to give readers a glimpse into their daily routines and the activities that ground them, by answering ten prompts, ranging from my cooking inspiration to favourite random act of kindness.
To mark World Entrepreneur Day this week, I took a few moments to look back on past interviews and share the top five routines of female founders and why you should adopt them!
Why are Routines so Important?
Routines are the structures that we use to build our life; we might think of them as habits, rhythms, or daily rituals, but these are the practices that we return to time and again to give structure to our day. As Jefferson Bethke says in his book, To Hell with Hustle: Reclaiming your Life in an Overworked, Overspent, and Overconnected World, rhythm is living life with music and cadence, it’s coming back to something big or small, again and again, as a way of remembering and reminding.
These practices are repeatable actions that have some meaning because they draw us into the present moment or provide an anchor and depth to our lives. Given our lives are the sum of all these tiny moments, being conscious of our daily routines or rituals allows us to assess whether our actions align with our values and the life we wish to lead. As James Clear observes in his bestselling book, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.
So what are the Practices that Ground Female Founders?
Over the last three months, this is what I learnt.
1. Move in the Morning
From Qi Gong, to yoga, to swimming in the lakes outside Amsterdam, there was one thing that most interviewees agreed on – get moving in the morning! There are many physical health benefits to getting some morning exercise, but what was interesting was that interviewees focused on the mental health benefits.
Some of the benefits of morning exercise include:
- Improved cognitive function
- Increased blood and oxygen flow to the brain
- Enhanced attention, visual learning, and decision-making
Clare Hopkins, Co-Founder, Balance Me observed, I find my meditation through movement. Children’s book author, Neridah McMullin walks regularly to clear her head, as walking is thinking time. The link between movement and improved cognitive function is clear – a 2019 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that walking, even for 30 minutes, will increase blood and oxygen flow to the brain, improving attention, visual learning, and decision-making. While gentle movement has also been used in clinical mindfulness practices for decades to help participants establish mind-body awareness.
2. Enjoy a Morning Coffee or Tea
Waking up, having my morning coffee and going for a run, sets up Hirestreet UK CEO, Isabella West, for success, while for Margot Vitale, COO and Co-Founder, Curate Beauty, it’s two cups of jasmine green tea in the morning. Apart from the joy of freshly brewed coffee and the energy kick, this time was seen by interviewees as an opportunity to set an intention for the day, free of devices and other demands.
As Daylesford Organics Nutritionist, Rhaya Jordan explains, I make sure that the first thirty minutes of the day are mine. I’ll get up early to make that time for myself. I’ll start the day with a morning coffee, and something that slows me down like read, but definitely no emails! I think it’s important to start the day with that quiet time.
3. Journal Daily
Interviewees also kept a variety of journaling practices, including gratitude journals and a writing practice called morning pages, where you write for three pages non-stop when you wake up to help clear your mind and prioritise the day. Journaling has been proven to have numerous physical and emotional benefits.
Some of the benefits of journaling include:
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved liver functionality
- Better sleep
- Stress reduction
- Healthier relationships
Kelly Smith, Founder, Yoga For You, values her daily gratitude practice as a chance to check in on how she’s feeling and connect with her dog, Mila. It’s a practice that offers her a period of quiet contemplation and keeps her grounded and joyful.
4. Sleep Well
Exercise and a good night’s sleep, said Tessa Clarke, CEO and Co-Founder, OLIO, of her daily routines, Not exciting, but highly effective, so I guard them carefully! The two bedtime rituals that came out on top were reading before bed, and having a relaxing bath. While, author Emily Rhodes combines the two – having a bath every evening, with a book to hand and my phone out of the room.
The importance of good sleep cannot be overstated:
- Impacts weight
- Affects cognition and immunity
- Even affects heart health
Given our modern lifestyles see us hooked to our screens and trying to squeeze more and more into every day, we forget that in the past, life was dominated by agrarian rhythms, with people sleeping an average of eleven hours a night before the advent of electricity. Fellow author Desiree Gullan describes her routine as down with the sun, rise with the sun, as this allows her to live in sync with nature.
5. Mindful Moments
The final theme that came up was finding moments of mindfulness and awareness in everyday activities. Spending time in nature and gardening puts me in my happy place, I can lose myself into an almost meditative state, said Charlie Fowler, Founder, Magic Organic Apothecary. The rituals of sharing meals with loved ones and cooking were also important – Meals with family always at the table, not in front of the TV!, said Lara Morgan, Founder, Scentered.
This was echoed by LA-based nutritionist Ati Farmani, for whom cooking and spending quality time with husband were grounding. In the end, it’s all about connection, says Sarah Metzger, Studio Owner, Here Yoga. We use these daily rituals to create connection to ourselves, others, and our environment. Our routines are an investment that set the tone for our quality of life, by building positive habits.
So, are your Routines Putting you on the Path to Success?
By adopting some of these routines, you can start to create a more balanced and fulfilling life. Whether it’s moving in the morning, enjoying a cup of coffee or tea, journaling daily, sleeping well, or finding mindful moments, these practices can help you to ground yourself and achieve your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top 5 routines of female entrepreneurs?
The top 5 routines are: Move in the morning, Enjoy a morning coffee or tea, Journal daily, Sleep well, and Mindful moments.
Why is morning exercise important?
Morning exercise improves cognitive function, increases blood and oxygen flow to the brain, and enhances attention, visual learning, and decision-making.
What are the benefits of journaling?
The benefits of journaling include lower blood pressure, improved liver functionality, better sleep, stress reduction, and healthier relationships.
How can I improve my sleep?
You can improve your sleep by having a relaxing bath, reading before bed, and avoiding screens before bedtime.
What are mindful moments?
Mindful moments are moments of mindfulness and awareness in everyday activities, such as spending time in nature, gardening, or sharing meals with loved ones.
Why are routines important?
Routines provide structure to our day, help us align our actions with our values, and allow us to assess whether our actions align with the life we wish to lead.
