As 2020 comes to an end, chances are you’re in one of two camps:
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Looking over your 2020 planner, wondering just what on earth happened to your goals
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Or doing a crazy happy dance because you made amazing things happen
No matter where you are, you’re probably looking at the upcoming 2021 with a little bit of nerves…because 2020 proved that how we’ve been planning and preparing just wasn’t enough, right?
And maybe you’re looking for a little inspiration to help you decide how you want to walk into 2021.
Today we have a special surprise for you all: we sat down with Britt to interview her all about her top habits and recommendations from 2020 (plus an exclusive peek at her day-to-day life!) to help you make 2021 amazing!
Hey Britt! We’re so excited to talk about organizational tools and tips today! Let’s start off with a big question: can you share one amazing memory from 2020?
This Mother’s Day was my favorite ever by far. Because of coronavirus, we weren’t able to see our moms or grandmas as we normally would for Mother’s Day, so instead my husband planned the most incredible day to celebrate me.
He surprised me with a beautiful bike ride through Lovers Lane in Monterey, California. It was just me, him, and our two kids enjoying a leisurely day in the sun, eating way too much fish and chips, and enjoying each other.
As hard as it was to not see the other important moms in our life, this was the first Mother’s Day in 17 years that I really felt like the day was about me enjoying my time as a mom and it was such a treat.
Was there one big life lesson that stood out to you in 2020?
I’ve always known this, but was reminded in a big way that money comes and goes but time is always fleeting. Time is the only resource that can’t be replenished and it’s always running lower and lower with each passing day.
We were the typical family that was on the road from sunup to sun down, driving kids to school, softball practice, soccer tryouts, swim lessons, PTA meetings, birthday parties, and beyond without taking a single moment to slow down and just be.
This year has been the year of reconnecting with the simplest things in life and it’s been such a blessing.
Was there one big game-changing habit or routine that came out of that lesson that you’ll keep in 2021 and beyond?
We won’t be going back to the crazy pace that our lives had become. Moving forward, we will commit to saying “no” to more invites than we accept, put our little family first, and find ways to enjoy the blessings of every single day.
We’ve made a habit of getting outdoors every single day as a family. Sometimes it’s a bike ride, sometimes it’s walking the dogs down to the beach, sometimes it’s just sitting in the backyard sipping cocktails while the kids play, but every single day we take time out to enjoy nature.
That sounds so amazing. Now, let’s make a quick pivot and dig into what filled your cup in 2020. Were there any business books you especially loved or made a big impact on you this year?
I didn’t read many business books in 2020. I try not to “input” and “output” simultaneously. Because this year was so much about implementation, I didn’t want to start learning new strategy in the mix of that. But The One Thing is still my fave biz book of all time.
Totally makes sense. What about podcasts?
I seriously haven’t listened to any business podcasts this year. Because of my unique method for input and output (to not get overwhelmed), I’ve intentionally tried not to take on new strategies that I knew would distract me from the projects at hand.
But I listened to plenty of guilty pleasure and true crime podcasts!
Psst: Want to know Britt’s guilty pleasure podcast recs from 2020? Click here!
We were all watching a lot more TV in 2020 than maybe ever before. Were there any shows or documentaries you loved this year?
Definitely! I was hooked on…
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Schitt’s Creek (I just finally started this!)
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Love is Blind
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Tiger King (of course)
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Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates
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Brene Brown: The Call To Courage
How about social media inspiration?
I know this sounds insane…but because this year has been so complicated, I haven’t turned to any influencers for inspiration since everybody is in progress. I’ve only worked with my coaches so I stay hyper focused.
I will say that I’m working really hard to build a truly inclusive brand. and I’m working with Erica Cordae (@ericacourdae) and following @rhodesia_jdesigns for inspiration.
Amazing. Now, the question we’re all wondering… what’s your daily routine like right now?
My routine right now is:
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Wake up at 5:30 – 6 am and work until 7 am
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Wake up the kids and dogs, and get everybody fed and dressed for Zoom classes
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Get kids on their computers by 8 am at our dining room table (which is now just a mess of workbooks, crayons, printouts and Chromebooks)
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Homeschool my kids until 10 am
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At 10 am, hubby takes over homeschooling so I can work
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Break to have lunch with my family at 12 pm (P.S. I haven’t taken lunch breaks in 15 years before this pandemic and lunch with my family has been a true gift)
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Work & meetings in the afternoon which are often interrupted by my husband or kids who are all home 24/7
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Dinner
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Family time
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More work from 8 pm – 11 pm as needed since I don’t get as much done during the day any more
That’s a pretty full day! Do you have any weekend traditions to help you relax and unwind?
Sundays have always been family day. It starts off slow and stays that way. I make a big breakfast for everybody (with the kids if they want to help), and then we usually watch football in the fall or classic movies like Back to The Future or Star Wars during the day.
We are lucky to live by the beach so we always do a Sunday big walk with the pups or a bike ride as a family up the coastal trail.
That sounds like the perfect day. Thank you so much for sharing a glimpse of your life in 2020 with us, Britt!
Even though 2020 threw our entire industry into flux, Britt still found moments of silver lining, created habits that helped her thrive, and built a daily routine that lets her be with her family and still show up for Thrivers.