Jaime Schmidt, our boss and founder of Schmidt’s Naturals, is not-so-secretly a health guru. Whenever we ask questions — from what does ashwagandha even taste like?, to what’s the best seat to pick on a long flight?—group consensus is always to “just ask Jaime.” And answers she has. We thought, if Jaime has the solutions to our questions, maybe she could answer yours, too. Submit your questions for Jaime in the comments, or tweet @TheNaturalMag (Opens in a new window) with #JustAskJaime.
“How can I input self-care into my work day?”
1. Beware the multitask
Common time management advice is to multitask. This philosophy drives me crazy. When “multitasking” I feel I’m only partly immersed in everything I am doing. Instead, I want to be present in the task at hand and be there 100 percent. Nothing is more rewarding than to know I’ve committed my best self to something and to have closure before moving on to what’s next.
2. Break your own rules
When I’m working out, I’m pretty adamant about not checking emails, social media, or whatever else my phone wants to tempt me with. This is easy to pull off in a spin class (nobody wants to be that person), but when I’m in the privacy of my basement gym, it’s harder to resist. Here I am sometimes the breaker of my own rules. When I’m skipping through songs on iTunes I can’t help but occasionally check in with the world. And once those endorphins start flowing, I am full of ideas and inspiration, so why hold myself back?
3. Respect your boundaries
While on a conference call recently, I decided to jump in the shower mid-call. I discovered that the little wall hook that holds my husband’s razor also works great for propping up a cell phone. Though I may have been “more productive” this way, I felt like I was cheating on myself, as the shower has always been my haven for relaxing and stepping away from the world. I like to embrace it as a sensory, almost meditative experience, taking in the smells of my favorite products, feeling the water on my skin, and just being still with my thoughts. Since that call, I have since taken the oath of no more phone in the shower.
4. Recognize the power of your environment
For me, too much stimulation can cause feelings of unrest or chaos. Often times a small shift in my environment, like turning off the background news or changing the lighting, can bring focus and clarity.
5. Do something today that allows for an easier tomorrow
This morning when opening my collagen powder I noticed I was down to the last serving. Being the planful person I am, I had another container on backup. Indulging in my cocktail of supplements is a ritual I look forward to each morning, so I opened the backup powder in preparation for enjoyment and ease during tomorrow’s experience. I’ve found that small gestures like these help set myself up to cope with the little stresses that can creep up throughout each day.
While we appreciate Jaime’s perspective on our lives and underarms, Jaime is not a doctor. For questions about your health, please seek advice from a medical professional. For more from Jaime, follow her on Instagram (Opens in a new window).
