At Thrive Global, in honor of International Women’s Day, we’re inviting women business leaders to share how they Thrive.
Thrive Global: What’s the first thing you do when you get out of bed?
Tammy Brook: I say a mantra before I even open my eyes. Today is a gift, and I set my intentions.
TG: What gives you energy?
TB: Good sleep and peace of mind before I go to bed. Being around like minded people who are productive and inspire me.
TG: What’s your secret life hack?
TB: I take notes in my phone all day.
TG: Name a book that changed your life.
TB: The Go Giver. It’s an easy read and changed the way I think about business and championing people you believe in.
TG: Tell us about your relationship with your phone. Does it sleep with you?
TB: I recently purchased an iphone case cover that opens and closes like a book as a conscious effort to disconnect and be present. I make sure to put it away 30 minutes before sleep and not look at it in the morning until I have gotten out of bed and meditated.
TG: How do you deal with email?
TB: I do it in doses. I skim through them and then spend an allocated amount of time during the day to return emails.
TG: You unexpectedly find 15 minutes in your day, what do you do with it?
TB: Breathe, listen to a podcast, read daily affirmations.
TG: When was the last time you felt burned out and why?
TB: Award show season. I felt that my schedule didn’t belong to me. It was go go go time.
TG: Share a quote that you love and that gives you strength or peace.
TB: Life’s rejection is God’s protection and redirection.
TG: How do you prioritize when you have an overwhelming amount to do?
TB: I take time to breathe, reset and remind myself that it will all get done with time management. I make a list and knock each item out.
TG: What advice would you give your younger self about reducing stress?
TB: Put one foot in front of the other, you can get it all done. Just breathe.
TG: Do you have any role models for living a thriving life?
TB: Arianna and Agapi!
TG: What’s your personal warning sign that you’re depleted?
TB: I feel tired and not grounded and easily affected by outside influences.
TG: When you notice you’re getting too stressed, what do you do to course correct?
TB: I ground myself. I tighten my body for 8 seconds and it resets me. I practice self care, pilates, a walk on the beach, meditation.
TG: What’s a surprising way you practice mindfulness?
TB: Self-care. When I am acting in self care this is a reminder that I am being mindful of me. I pull angel cards, 3 a day first thing in the morning and set my intentions.
TG: How do you reframe negative thinking?
TB: I catch myself and choose positive thoughts, choose a better story to tell myself.
TG: What brings you optimism?
TB: I stay in gratitude and I focus on what’s THRIVING.
TG: Tell us about a small change you have made in your life to improve your sleep. What did you do, how long did it take until it became effective, and how you sustain this habit?
TB: Turn off my phone and TV an hour before sleep. I call it my magic hour. Immediately.
TG: Tell us about a small change you have made in your life to improve the way you connect with others. What did you do, how long did it take until it became effective, and how you sustain this habit?
TB: I make a point to stay in gratitude and tell people in my life how grateful I am for them. I prioritize staying in touch with people I care about deeply.
TG: Tell us about a small change you have made in your life to improve your focus. What did you do, how long did it take until it became effective, and how you sustain this habit?
TB: I put my phone away when I have an important task to complete.
TG: What was the biggest turning point in your life?
TB: In my recent life, it was asking for mentors, and leaning into their guidance.
TG: What’s your evening routine that helps you unwind and go to sleep?
TB: My magic hour routine is listening to music with no lyrics, just instrumental, taking an epsom salt bath with candles…This self care puts me at ease and keeps me in self love.