After getting back, I have a light breakfast, and then I start work right afterward at around 7:30 a.m. or 8 a.m. Around noon, I take my dogs out again—sometimes to a nearby dog park where they can run around while I listen to audiobooks or my own podcast to revisit some learning lessons I can share again or build on in future episodes—then, I get back to work. After another few hours, usually around 5 p.m., I’ll take my dogs out on a longer speed walk so I can get my daily steps and cardio in, come back home to do some movement exercises on the yoga mat, then prepare dinner and start to unwind from the day. After 5 minutes of mindfulness when the next alarm goes off, I go into 5 minutes of movement—stretching out my body slowly, stepping off the bed to do some light body resistance motions, etc. Sometimes, I’ll play music along with movement and just allow my body to lead me based on the rhythms of the song playing. Finally, when the third alarm goes off, I go into “mindset,” which is where I think of and jot down three things I’m grateful for. To dive a bit deeper, I also visualize the sensory details of everything on the list and reflect on why they are important or meaningful to me. I wrap up the ritual by writing out my top priorities for the day. What I do during the breaks also depends on how I feel. If I’m hungry, I snack. If I’m cold, I make hot tea. If my body feels achy and stiff, I do some stretches and movements on my yoga mat. If I’m feeling slow and unfocused, I might take a walk outside. This interview has been edited and condensed. Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
