In our regular member spotlight feature, we ask Women in Retail Leadership Circle members what practices or boundaries they’ve implemented in their personal life to create more work/life balance, especially since the advent of COVID-19 and the new way of hybrid work. Below is a compilation of their answers, which range from adding short walks into your daily routine to blocking time off as “sacred”.

Ines Rosa, CEO, Sense and Body 

“Celebrating tea breaks and a short walk. I’ve learned that when I feel too much pressure on my performance, and stress builds up, it works for me to take a short break, and redirect my attention to other things. I realize that the fact that I was alone at home helped me in such a pause. Once back in a bustling office, it’s much harder to maintain this habit.”

Ran Wei Baker, Global Director, DTC Commercial and Go-to-Market Strategy, AB InBev

  1. “Try to work out at least three times a week;
  2. Communicate my “on” and “off” hours, and ask those I work with to do the same so we can try and respect each others’ boundaries;
  3. Be present. Whether it’s at work or at home, I’m very intentional about trying to be present, in the moment, and practice active listening.”

Louise Geller, Senior Director of Planning and Merchant Operations, Uncommon Goods

“Keeping app notifications off for work-related apps on my phone. I’ve also found that removing my work email app from its usual shortcut location during vacations really helps with the muscle memory of opening it.”

Jennifer Masie, Group Vice President, Full Service, CosmoProf

“I am very disciplined with my calendar. I put time on for “work time” so I don’t get trapped in the meeting cyclones and make sure I can just think.”

Nicole McCasey, President, Bravado Designs

“I schedule my time accordingly and stick to it. It starts with a 5 a.m. run almost every morning, before the set schedule has a chance to go off-track with unforeseen demands. The hours of 5-7 p.m. are pretty sacred – no phone, no work, just family time. Once my little one is down, I can go back to cleaning up the work day.”

Interested in connecting with women like this? Apply today to become a Women in Retail Leadership Circle member!