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Thrivers Team Edition: How to Stay Refreshed & Focused in 2021

Goal trackers are made, progress trackers are live…and you’re probably feeling like you have to do all the things at once to achieve your goals right now. 

Anybody else? Bueller?

We’re gonna be 100 with you: that’s a recipe for burnout.

You have more than 350 days to make magic and those big 2021 goals come true. So instead of slamming your foot down on the gas to go full speed, make sure you have time in your calendar to refill your inspiration cup, relax, unwind, and find some white space. 

Not sure where to start? To help you get ideas brewing, the Thrivers team is pulling back the curtain and sharing our top ways to stay focused, productive, and rested! Plus, an inside peek at our favorite moments from 2020 to help you reflect on all the magic you made in 2020! 

Welcome, everybody! Let’s start off with a fun one! Share your favorite moment from Thrivers Society in 2020:

  • Entering the venue for the first time at Thrivers Live! After spending nearly a year planning the event, it was so surreal and beautiful to see it all come together so perfectly. – Jess

  • This is a tough one. I would say that Thrivers Society Live was definitely one of my favorite moments. It was an amazing experience all the way around, from getting time to spend with my team to finally being able to put a face to so many of the names that hit our inbox. The vibe, community, and energy was something I am so grateful to have experienced. 

    Second I would say that the teamwork I experienced when the pandemic hit was incredible. It was pretty amazing to see the team completely pivot what we were doing in order to serve our community the best that we can. – JV

  • Without a doubt, Thrivers Society Live! Seeing the whole event come together and being able to be a part of such an amazingly special event was such a rewarding experience that I will never forget! – Jenna

  • Coming together as a team and putting together Bulletproof: How to Thrive through the Unexpected to help Thrivers during such a time of uncertainty. – Lauren

  • I love seeing all the Thriver wins in the Facebook groups and emails we receive! It is such a great feeling to know how Thrivers Society is changing lives and making an impact on so many stylists! – Jessi

You guys, all the feels right now! Okay, share your biggest lesson learned in 2020: 

  • A reminder that mental health is just as important as physical. – RC

  • Take a step back and enjoy the ride. With starting a new role at FSBD, buying a home, and planning a wedding, I have found myself pretty overwhelmed at times, but I’m learning to look at the big picture and see that all of these things are huge steps forward in my life and career and to breathe the moments in while I can. – Hayley

  • We can do hard things. – CT

  • The biggest lesson I learned was to appreciate the extra time together with my husband and daughter that 2020 brought me. Juggling my husband and I working from home with our 3 year old daughter is challenging, but also such a blessing to be together. – Franchesca

  • My biggest lesson learned in 2020 is to learn to slow down, have patience, and have grace. 2020 has been a difficult year for us all and I’ve found that it has been a year of looking within one’s self and be present with our loved ones. – Jenn

  • Rather than worrying, complaining about the things you can’t control, choose to live in gratitude and look for the opportunity. This yields peace, joy, and understanding in life. – Vanessa 

Let’s dig into the good stuff: what’s your top productivity tip or habit that you just have to share?

  • I am ALL about consistency, so sticking to a schedule is key for me. – RC

  • Designate a space to work and stick to it. It’s easier said than done, but I’m way more productive at my desk than I am working on the couch. – Jess

  • Plan out as much as you can in advance! Our brain power can only sustain so much decision-making ability in a day before we start suffering from “decision fatigue.” The more you plan out, the easier it is to stay on track and make smart decisions. (Psychology grad student geeking out with this answer, lol) – Hayley

  • Speak up about what you need and when you need it. If you have a family at home, express to your partner when you need time for you to just crank out some work. – JV 

  • Plan out a weekly schedule. Take a look at your upcoming week, both professionally and personally, and plan out each day so you have an outline of what to work off of and can then shift wherever needed – Jenna

  • I like to work late at night, early morning, or on the weekend when no one else is working. No questions or distractions. – Lauren

  • On the weekend, I like to meal plan for the week ahead on Saturday and order our groceries for pickup on Sunday. – Franchesca

  • I have a to do list for the day that helps me stay focused on what needs to be done for the day. – Jenn

  • For working on the computer, I love the pomodoro method. Work for 25 minutes, then take a five minute break. Repeat 3 times, and on the fourth time, take a 15 minute break. Also, batching my tasks together saves so much time!  – Ellen

  • Time block everything you need to accomplish and write out daily to do’s. – Vanessa

Amazing! Do you listen to music or do you like silence for increased inspiration and productivity? 

  • Whenever I just need to get in the zone, I definitely will play some tunes. My song choice FOR SURE differs depending on my mood in that moment, ranging from rap to acoustic. Sometimes I just want to jam out and sometimes I just want to have all the feels. – RC

  • Yes, but only if I’m doing chores around the house. Current favorites are The 1975, LANY, and The Band Camino. – Jess

  • I don’t because I get way too into music so it ends up distracting me. I prefer to have a TV show that I’ve seen a million times on in the background. Silence is distracting to me so I prefer some kind of sound, but nothing that grabs my attention. – Hayley

  • Calm vibes on Spotify for productivity! – JV 

  • Yes! Spotify has a lot of amazing playlists like “chill hits,” “mood booster,” “relax & unwind” – Jenna

  • Trap music. – Lauren

  • I like to listen to classical instrumental versions of pop songs to get in the zone. – Jenn

  • YouTube ambiance videos (especially the Harry Potter ones. I know. I’m a nerd) – Ellen

  • Yes! A medley of 90’s hip hop, alternative, and down south rap with a mix of twerk music. – Vanessa

Well, we all just loaded up your playlists with new inspiration! Let’s shift from talking about being productive to unwinding. What are you reading right now to unwind?

  • Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller. He’s been one of my all-time favorite authors since way before he became the StoryBrand guy. Next up is How to Be Here by Rob Bell. – Jess 

  • I’m re-reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck (for the 7th time). It’s my favorite book of all time and I love older classic literature. But don’t get me wrong, I also love a good dramatic mystery book too. – Hayley

  • Currently nothing, I am much more of an audio book person. Child development books are what is currently on my playlist. – JV

  • Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly – Jenna

  • Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo – CT

  • Unfortunately, nothing. Need to carve some time. Well, lots of Amelia Bedilia and Addy with my daughter! – Lauren

  • You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero – Jenn

  • Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – Jessi

  • Well Met by Jen DeLuca – Ellen

  • Blue Ocean Strategy by Renée Mauborgne and W. Chan Kim – Vanessa 

What about TV shows? Are there any that help you wind down after the workday or get ready for the weekend? 

  • Any show that makes me laugh. I have way too many favorites to list, but if it makes me laugh, I’m here for it. – RC 

  • This is always changing. But I just recently watched season 4 of The Good Place. I’m also really into all the cooking shows (like seriously, all of them). – Jess 

  • I’m currently watching “Ratched” on Netflix, but my guilty pleasure is mindless reality TV (Siesta Key, the Bachelorette/Bachelor, Real Housewives). I will also never get tired of re-watching episodes of Schitt’s Creek, New Girl, or The Office. – Hayley

  • The Office! I feel like I literally always have this on in the background and it totally helps to set a sense of calm at home. Not to mention my son is pretty good at his version of the theme song now, which is always a great laugh.- JV

  • Any home renovation show on HGTV. Currently: Good Bones – Jenna

  • I am very basic so anything on Bravo or a true crime documentary. – CT

  • Living Single. I watch it every single day. I Love Lucy & Everybody Loves Raymond – Lauren

  • Schitt’s Creek – Jenn

  • A good Netflix series – Sweet Magnolias, Dead to Me, Virgin River. Reality TV – 90 Day Fiance. Comedy – Impractical Jokers, The Office, Parks and Rec, Schitt’s Creek – Jessi

  • The Great British Baking Show is my Friday night go-to! And I’m always in for  a good true crime documentary – Ellen

  • Law and Order: SVU and MTV’s The Challenge – Vanessa 

So many good shows! The Office is definitely popular with the Thrivers team! So now that you’ve wound down and relaxed, how do you find white space and refill your inspiration cup? 

  • Lying in bed, watching Netflix, snuggling with our cats. – RC

  • I’m honestly pretty easily inspired, so I prioritize making time to try new things often. I’m a weirdo that craves new experiences more than almost anything else! If I get into too much of a repetitive routine, that’s actually when I start to go crazy and get too in my head. 

  • Since the shutdown first started here in California, I’ve made a point to cook and/or bake a new recipe at least 1 – 2 times per week. I’ve also made polymer clay jewelry, read and reread tons of books, started sketching, played lots of guitar, tried my hand at cookie decorating, and even went back to school recently. Breaking up my routine with pockets of creativity and learning new things is key for me to keep my cup full. – Jess

  • Morning walks with my dog Piper! I like to get up while the sun is first coming up and take her out before the world is stirring. – Hayley 

  • Go outside and disconnect from my phone and all electronics. I absolutely love to find a space with my son that we can either sit on the grass or ground. It definitely helps me to re-center and feel grounded. – JV

  • Take my pup, Maisie, for a walk. – Jenna

  • With working from home, I have found how easy it is to not leave or get much movement in throughout the day. I just found a new place to hike that is walking distance from my house and have made it a point to put on a podcast (if it isn’t not true crime, it’s usually Lori Harder’s “Earn Your Happy”) and go for a walk at least 4 times a week. I always feel so much better after getting out for an hour and just taking that mental break. – CT

  • Hot shower or relaxing bath – Lauren

  • I often find my white space through meditation. – Jenn

  • Long walks with my dog around the neighborhood. It’s like magic…if I have a problem I’m working on, it’ll almost always sort itself out while I walk. – Ellen

  • I plan it! Attending conferences and taking leisure weekend trips. – Vanessa

Let’s end with a fun one! What’s your desert island hair product or routine?

  • Honestly, just a scrunchie because this girl is going to be rocking a messy bun/ponytail every day. – RC

  • Outside of shampoo and conditioner, the only other hair product I really use on a regular basis is the Davines All-in-One Milk leave-in conditioning spray. Skincare would be a different story, though! – Jess

  • A scrunchie! LOL, not really hair care, but I have super long hair and basically always have it in a bun or pony. – Hayley

  • I don’t know if you consider it a product, but there is absolutely no way I could go without a hair brush. My hair is frizzy and so easily tangled that I would lose my mind not being able to comb it out. – JV

  • Dry shampoo! – Jenna

  • I am now OBSESSED with everything Eufora. The Elevate Hairspray is my new favorite smell of all time. – CT

  • Mane Choice Exotic Cool Laid Sweet Papaya & Pineapple Infinite Conditioner | Pre-Poo, Rinse Out, Leave-In, Co-Wash, Detangler. It’s everything all in one. I use other stuff but I could make this one work on an island. – Lauren

  • Shampoo – Franchesca

  • I would want to have my dry shampoo with me if I’m stranded on a desert island. – Jenn

  • Innersense’s daily conditioner. It’s made my crazy hair actually look GOOD – Ellen

  • Moroccan oil treatment! – Vanessa 

Amazing! Thank you so much, Thrivers team! 

We’re gonna be real with you: it’s super important to stay on track with your goals, but it’s even more important to find balance and time to unwind too.