How Sadira Furlow, VP of brand marketing at , spends the first 15 minutes of her workday
Before the COVID-19 pandemic started, I was getting up at 5 a.m. That was a specific 2020 goal Id set as a result of reading the book The Miracle Morning. Taking the first hour of your day and giving it to yourselfit sets the foundation for the rest of the day. Id wake up, meditate for 10 minutes, exercise and read the Bible. Id write some thoughts and visualize the kind of day I wanted to have, and I was crushing it. Well, then COVID hit. I started waking up at 7 a.m., and I had no more miracle morning. It was just a miracle to be in a pandemic, getting some sleep and waking up to figure out Zoom again.
Now Ive found a bit more of a balance between the two. Im getting enough sleep, Im getting some mindfulness, starting the day grounded and getting the body moving. Thats my new morning routine, and it feels like itll stick like Im on the other side of this and its something I can maintain. And Im not waking up looking too crazy.
Ill start the workday with a bit of breakfastsomething lightand I start looking at my email offline so that I dont get distracted by messages coming in. I just sit down and see whats come in overnight before my first meeting, and then its go. I call it professional CrossFit. My workout day is whatever that calendar says. And my mental agility? Im hitting PRs (personal records). I feel like every day is a new PR.
What’s your typical breakfast?
Ive been doing a couple eggs, some avocado (like bacon, its its own food group) and some salad. Im trying to eat more vegetables throughout the day.
What are some of your favorite news sources to read or listen to?
I first skim my push alerts in the morning, everything from Hollywood Reporter to The Wall Street Journal. Then brushing my teeth, I listen to NPRs Up First. And getting dressed, usually Joyce Meyers Enjoying Everyday Life.
How do you wind down after the workday?
Ive become a bit of a walking bully. Ive cajoled my friends into walking under the guise of catching up. Ive learned I need air and movement out of the houseonce the days over, Im mentally fatigued but have all this adrenaline going.
Do you have any favorite Frito-Lay snacks?
I love the Lays Crispy Taco chips; they taste just like a crispy beef taco. And I like Lays Flamin Hot Dill Pickle I like complex flavor, so this one has heat but the brightness of dill.
Illustration by Eugene Smith.
Julian Zeng is omni-channel content manager at the 蹤獲扦夥厙. He may be reached at jzeng@ama.org.