Thrive Global: What’s the first thing you do when you get out of bed?
Zibby Owens: Take out my black lab, Nya.
TG: What gives you energy?
ZO: Coffee, dark chocolate, and racing against time.
TG: Name a book that changed your life.
ZO: Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee because I now design everything around me to inspire joy.
TG: How do you deal with email? Incessantly.
ZO: If too many pile up, I sort by name instead of by date and plug away, one letter at a time. Also I try to respond as soon as an email comes in so I can quickly delete it.
TG: When was the last time you felt burned out and why?
ZO: By the time I get to the December holiday break, I am always a mess.
TG: When was the last time you felt you failed and how did you overcome it?
ZO: I recently had a book proposal for a middle grade series get very far and then rejected. I’m trying to remember that sometimes it isn’t about how many books it will sell but about the writing itself, so, back to the drawing board. Trying to enjoy the process of writing and then see where it goes, not vice versa.
TG: Share a quote that you love and that gives you strength or peace.
ZO: My former therapist once said, “Don’t miss the plot.” That really resonates with me.
TG: How do you prioritize when you have an overwhelming amount to do?
ZO: I start handwriting lists and usually talking to myself out loud. I’ll say something like, “Okay, I’m going to start with this and then after 30 minutes, I’ll move on to that.”
TG: What advice would you give your younger self about reducing stress?
ZO: Ask yourself: in the moment, in the grand scheme of life, on a scale of 1 to 10, how important is it? Will you remember the outcome in 5 or 10 years?
TG: Do you have any role models for living a thriving life?
ZO: Arianna Huffington!
TG: What’s your personal warning sign that you’re depleted?
ZO: I have a hard time retrieving the correct words from my brain.
TG: When you notice you’re getting too stressed, what do you do to course correct?
ZO: Deep breath. Make a list. Make a schedule for when I’ll accomplish what. And maybe get up and get some more chocolate covered almonds.
TG: What’s a surprising way you practice mindfulness?
ZO: Reading. Maybe not so surprising!
TG: How do you reframe negative thinking?
ZO: I ask myself what advice I’d give my kids if they had similar negative thoughts — and then try to take my own advice.
TG: What brings you optimism?
ZO: Sunrise.
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?
ZO: I started using a weighted blanket. It started working almost 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?
ZO: I remind myself to sustain eye contact and not get distracted or check my phone, even if it dings. It’s a work in progress.
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?
ZO: I started batching groups of emails and allocating time, uninterrupted, to get through them.
TG: What was the biggest turning point in your life?
ZO: When my best friend died on 9/11. Also, when my first marriage ended.
TG: What’s your secret time-saver in the morning?
ZO: Sometimes I only shower every other day. Is that gross?
TG: What’s your evening routine that helps you unwind and go to sleep?
ZO: Reading in bed. I can’t fall asleep without it.
Featured image credit: Tim Aukshunas