Perhaps that paragraph should have come with a trigger warning. But isn’t it great to know how far we’ve come?! We went HARD with the sweats and swung the pendulum over to donning black-tie gowns in grocery stores just to feel something. Then, we found a new work-from-home rhythm as many of us stayed remote or hybrid. Now in the year 2024, we wear sweatpants when we want to, thankyouverymuch. And for the most part, we get dressed. Still, no matter which way we get the job done, we all face the same question every morning. What am I going to wear?

I can help you with that. I’ve worked fully from home for five-plus years before moving to the hybrid model two years ago. As a “professional” WFH-er I’ve collected a few rules and standards for work-from-home clothes. Let’s review.

The Rules of Work-From-Home Clothes

1. No Hard Pants. There must be room for easy movement and therefore this COVID-era rule remains. Urban Dictionary defines hard pants to perfection: “Pants that don’t have a stretchy, elastic waistband. During any pandemic, the desire to wear only elastic waistband pants instead of pants like jeans. During the pandemic, Victoria refused to wear hard pants.“
2. Wear Easy Layers. The thermostat does not care that you set it to the same temperature every single day. It will always be colder in one room and warmer in the next. Layers are key for comfort.
3. Clothes Must Be Versatile. Your clothes need to take you seamlessly from Zooms to coffee dates to errands to lunches. From sitting to standing and sitting again. A solid collection of basics mixed with fun items makes for a closet full of options.
4. Opt For Casual Yet Professional. This one should be pretty obvious—no need to wear a pair of heels down the hall to your home office—but we can also try a smidge harder than three-day-old pants.
5. Clothes Should Make You Feel Like You. It’s at the bottom of this list but consider it rule number one.

Work-From-Home Clothes IRL

I have a few essentials that I’ll recommend, all of which check off all the rules. I still LOVE my nap dress, for example, and I’m obsessed with these tailored pants. But there is a particular pair of pants I see on just about every WFH outfit list that I had to go try for myself.

I went to the store to try them on and… yeah. They were not as dreamy (pun intended) on my particular body as I hoped they’d be. However, I did discover these incredibly comfortable and versatile trousers (above!) that I immediately loved. They only had petite in the store so I’m planning on ordering the 32″ inseams, but I also don’t totally mind the shorter length. (I’m 5’8″ for reference.)

Work-From-Home and Office Capsule Collection

Behold the ultimate collection of work-from-home clothes for the modern gal. I gathered my personal favorites alongside some everyday essentials, then polled my very fashionable and amazing colleagues via Slack to share any pieces they swear by. I’d first encourage you to shop your own closet for items in these particular categories and then decide what’s missing. (P.S. Don’t sleep on a red power dress. In a sea of neutrals sometimes you need to opt for something fiery and strong!)

Check out the entire collection below and scroll on for three great outfits to get you started.

Every product is curated with care by our editors and we’ll always give an honest opinion, whether gifted or purchased ourselves. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Outfit 1: The Day You’re Toggling Back and Forth

Buck Mason Pima Boxy Crew / Sézane Valerio Jacket / Everlane The Way-High® Drape Pant / Chuck Taylor All Star Classic

Outfit 2: The Day You Take Meetings From the Couch

Sézane Max Shirt / Everlane The Easy Pant / Minnetonka Chesney Slippers

Outfit 3: The Day Your Calendar Is Clear

Wrap Cardigan / Black Rib-Knit Tank / High-Waist Leggings / New Balance 574 Core

Outfit 4: The Day You Go From Home to Happy Hour

Soft Lounge Slip Dress / Sézane Max Shirt / Chuck Taylor All Star Classic

Scoop-Neck Rib-Knit First Layer Tank Top

I have this tank in black and white and truly, I could build an entire wardrobe around these two pieces. The fit is snug but cozy and the soft fabric holds up over several washes. However, I’ve learned that my basics take the most heat when it comes to spills and stains. This price point makes it easy to grab a new one when those days inevitably come.

$9.99 at Old Navy

Pima Boxy Crew

My Buck Mason tees are some of the hardest working pieces in my closet because I just can’t stop wearing them. I love this boxy fit that’s sporty and feminine at the same time.

$45 at Buck Mason

Valencia Blouse

I’ve had my eye on this blouse for years and I finally own her for myself. It instantly elevates a pair of worn-in jeans—so chic and yet so comfortable. UGH, j’adore.

$125 at Sézane

Max Shirt

You might call this classic button-up the Camille Styles office uniform. As Camille quipped on set just last week, “I could literally wear this shirt every day.”

$125 at Sézane

Valerio Jacket

We’re still rocking blazers but lately, it’s the chic cardigan jacket that brings an outfit together in a snap. (And it’s a bit cozier for WFH wear.)

$235 at Sézane

Unisex Oversized Crew

The oversized sweatshirt is a must for those days when you’re craving cozy productivity.

$125 at Daily Drills

Kara Wrap Cardigan

It’s a blanket disguised as clothes, what more do you need?

$88 at Revolve

Soft Lounge Slip Dress

The Internet-famous dress is just as soft and comfortable as it claims to be.

$70 at SKIMS

The Scarlet Dress

Take it from me, a Christy Dawn dress doesn’t go out of style. Expect this to take a starring role in your wardrobe for years to come.

$238 at Christy Dawn

The Easy Pant

It’s all in the name. Comfortable, easy to pull on, and look great with a tee, or a button-up, or a cardigan…

$88 at Everlane

High-Waist Airlift Leggings

IYKYK. The only black leggings, as far as we’re concerned.

$128 at alo

The Way-High® Drape Pant

The aforementioned pants, these trousers are easy to dress up with a blouse and a flat after working from home in a tee and sneakers.

$128 at Everlane

Lounge Waffle Mockneck Top

The lounge set is the essential piece of a WFH-er. This top has matching pants (and honestly, all A&F’s loungewear is on point these days).

$40 at Abercrombie & Fitch

Grove Short Sleeve Field Suit

Yes, Barbiecore is out, but if Greta Gerwig can rock this exact jumpsuit on set day after day then you better believe it belongs in a solid working-girl wardrobe well beyond trends.

$68 at Pistola

Villa Jogger

These are joggers you can wear outside the house and no one will even know you’ve lived in them for two days straight.

$108 at Vuori

Tencel Jersey Fit and Flare Dress

I’m of the opinion that the right dress is more comfortable than any sweat suit you throw at me. This dress proves me right.

$78 at Quince

The Ellie Nap Dress

Speaking of comfortable dresses, this one was literally (okay, kind of literally) made for napping. I’ve had one for three years and it’s the easiest choice when I can’t put any effort into what to wear.

$150 at Hill House Home

Adelaide Sweater Set

It’s a sweat suit, but it’s elevated. You’ll be more productive because it’s cute. It’s science!

$108 at Free People

New Balance 574 Core

A pair of New Balance sneakers belongs is any collection for the sheer comfort. They look good with leggings, trousers, and dresses alike.

$89.99 at New Balance

Minnetonka Chesney Slippers

Avoid those cold floors AND putting on Big Girl shoes. We’re in our slipper era.

$54.95 at Nordstrom

Chuck Taylor All Star Classics

White sneakers for under $100? Done.

$65 at Converse

The post 21 Work-From-Home Wardrobe Essentials You’ll Wear on Repeat appeared first on Camille Styles.

For help in creating healthy habits, building a fulfilling career path, and embracing a vibrant personal life, keep reading. Your best self awaits.

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

What is a life coach?

Though life coaches aren’t anything new, there’s still often a lack of clarity surrounding what they do and how they work with clients. To be clear: though they may address similar issues and areas of a person’s life, therapists and life coaches are not the same. Therapists are licensed health professionals trained to help patients process mental health issues and work through trauma. Conversely, life coaches can support you in navigating transitions and ultimately help you progress and level up in life.

With this goal in mind, life coaches can support individuals in professional and personal development, helping them move along the path of growth in all realms. While the areas of focus will vary depending on the person, a coach can work with you to improve everything from mindset to relationships to your career—and other parts of your life where you may feel stuck.

Why hire a life coach?

Like many, I’ve been bogged down in the past by questions of purpose, direction, and growth. Where am I headed? Am I on the right path? Will I look back on my life and regret the choices I’ve made? (We’re asking the big questions here.) Luckily, life coaches are trained to provide guidance and support for many of the larger issues we face in life.

Whether you’re dealing with a career change, going through a divorce, or navigating obstacles that could benefit from the clarity, insight, and expertise of a professional, a life coach may be just the thing.

Reasons to Seek Out a Life Coach

Though the reasons for hiring a life coach vary widely, some may include:

• You generally feel stuck. Things may be going well—you have a solid career, meaningful relationships, and you even make time for activities in your personal life. But as you go throughout your day, you’re met with a gnawing sense of ennui. You’re not sure of the next step, and though you crave growth, you’re not sure how to make it happen.
• You want to level up your career. Do you feel like you’re checking all the boxes, but still getting passed up for the promotion? Perhaps you’d like to shift industries but aren’t sure where to start. Or, you’re nearing retirement and haven’t yet envisioned what life after work looks like.
• You want support with a creative project. Is it your dream to write a novel, but you can’t get yourself to write the first page? Or maybe you want to build a program online, but have no idea where to start. Would you like to learn a new skill or master a new hobby that can bring color and dimension to your life?
• You need a collaborator to bounce ideas off of. While your relationships may fulfill other needs, you haven’t yet found a creative partner to analyze your ideas. You’re looking for someone who will hold you accountable and help you make progress toward your creative goals.

The good news, is that no matter the specifics of your situation, if you want to level up in some way, the right life coach will help you get there. Not only will a life coach assist in creating a plan to reach your goals, but they can support you every step of the way.

Life Coach Credentials and Certifications

As you’re looking for a life coach, keep in mind that there is no legal requirement for professional coaches to be certified, and as such, there isn’t a universal standard for accreditation. Because of this, it’s important to do your research. While many trainings and certifications are available, some of the top programs include:

• Health Coach Institute
• Jay Shetty Certification School
• Life Coach Institute
• International Coaching Federation*
• Integrative Wellness Academy

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but as you’re looking for a life coach, ask where they received their certification from, and do a little background research to ensure its credibility.

*The ICF is often thought as the gold-standard of coaching accreditation and is the only certification recognized in the professional workplace.

What to Look For in a Life Coach

In your search for a life coach, and perhaps while you’re scheduling free consultation calls, there are a few key qualities to look for. The best life coaches possess the following skills:

• They’re an effective communicator. You want to work with someone who not only conveys their ideas and thoughts clearly and thoroughly, but who also asks questions that challenge you to think deeper and help you grow. What’s more, an adept life coach will take note of your own communication style, tailoring their approach so you can work together most effectively.
• You feel heard in your coaching sessions. An immediate red flag? If a life coach talks over you or cuts you off in a session. You always want to be sure you’re given space to explore your thoughts and that your life coach is taking the time to truly understand you and your goals.
• They approach your challenges without judgment. While we may want to hear that our approach or way of thinking is always right, that’s not how we grow. And though it’s important for your life coach to call you out from time to time, they’ll do so in a gentle and empathetic way. You never want to feel alienated by your life coach. Instead, the best life coaches will strike a balance between coaxing you out of your comfort zone and ensuring you feel safe to explore new options.

How a Life Coach Can Help You Achieve Your Goals

Sometimes, the questions are more important than the answers. This is exactly the case when it comes to life coaching. Without guidance or a framework for growth, we have no way to start working toward our goals. Luckily, a life coach is trained to do exactly that.

If you’re unsure of what you want in life, a life coach can help you identify what feels meaningful and important to you. By asking the right questions, they’ll help you build a vision for yourself—and understand the habits or routines that may be holding you back from achieving it. You’ll collaborate on an action plan that’s marked by attainable steps directed toward your goals. From there, you’ll meet with your life coach regularly to ensure you’re making progress.

Essentially, your life coach will help you see what you really want and build out a roadmap to get there. At every point along the way, you’ll have an accountability partner to check in with and who will motivate you to make these dreams a reality.

How to Find a Life Coach

Thankfully, in our post-pandemic world, there are countless online resources and programs that will connect you with the right life coach. Some of the best platforms include:

BetterUp

After answering a series of questions about your goals, BetterUp will match you with a certified expert. It’s a convenient, well-designed online platform that allows you to connect virtually with your coach. BetterUp offers two coaching services for either corporate settings or individuals. You can select from different monthly plans based on how often you’d like to meet with your coach. And unlike other life coaching services, BetterUp offers a comprehensive library of resources to help you build your skills beyond your coaching sessions.

• Pricing: Tiered monthly subscription plans start at $89 for one session.

Blush

Blush combines the personal element of virtual sessions with the convenience of a chat function. That way, you can connect with your life coach as needs arise (and you don’t have to show your face if the energy isn’t there). Blush’s women-led team has designed a platform to support you in all areas of life—from relationships to work to personal goals. With a beautiful and user-friendly digital experience and proven success (Blush reported that 99% of clients were “somewhat” or “very satisfied” with the entire experience, and 96% would repeat the process), it’s a premium service at an accessible price.

Note: Blush also runs a podcast, Blush You that covers growth-oriented topics from navigating imposter syndrome to offering help through toxic relationships.

• Pricing: Plans start at $199/month.

Koachee

Koachee is an online directory of life coaches, billing itself as an “all-in-one online coaching marketplace.” Instead of having to conduct countless Google searches for the right life coach, Koachee helps you find and schedule online coaching sessions. Sign up for free, and the platform lets you filter searches by reviews, rates, and experience. It’s an efficient way to find the right life coach for you, giving you access to tons of life coaches at your fingertips. Koachee also allows you to integrate platforms like Zoom, Calendly, Stripe and more for convenient scheduling and payment options.

What’s more, if you’re looking to become a life coach, Koachee offers support to help take your coaching business online.

• Pricing: Price varies.

The post Thinking About Hiring a Life Coach? Here’s What to Know appeared first on Camille Styles.

As a designer and the founder of Little Korboose, a modern home goods brand, April takes on everything with intention. From ethical and sustainable sourcing to designs that promote connection, April is building community with her thoughtful approach.

April Nemeth

April Nemeth is an American multi-disciplinary designer, with a special interest in conscious and ethical business, creating strategy, design & production across all platforms. She specializes in brand identities, campaigns, social strategy & content creation, commercials, websites, apps, new product development, environments, styling, interiors, and more.

How Designer April Nemeth Stays Inspired

We recently caught up with April at her open house event hosted by The Well Lived Woman in Topanga, created by therapist Jaimi Brooks and designed by Sarah Sherman Samuel. At the gathering, April showcased her work in the space and gifted her ceramics. And just as April shared her skill at creating gorgeous tangible goods, the women in attendance witnessed April’s gift for connecting people through shared, creative experiences. Guests got to play with an abundance of florals, designing their own arrangements based off of their zodiac.

If you think that sounds like the dreamiest party ever, you’re right. It’s a testament to what is clearly April’s ethos: “Inspired living through art,” as she defines it. It’s a perspective that accounts for the true successes in life—pursuing what calls to you and forever following that spark. When I hear April speaking about it, I find trust and comfort in knowing that, no matter what comes, with that inspiration as our guidance, we’ll always find success in our work, our inspiration, and our lives.

Read on to learn how April’s family shaped her artistic outlook, how she connects with her inspiration, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

How did your creative path begin?

From as far back as I can remember, I have had art and creativity. Art has a way of seducing me into complete immersion unlike any other thing I experience in my life. Time does not exist and every care goes out the window. Art runs through my soul.

I was also taught to understand the value of experience and curiosity.

Can you share how your family influenced and inspired your work?

Growing up, I was surrounded by art. My grandfather was an artist and taught me life lessons through art practices. I was raised by two loving and very free spirits who reject the “normal” and who care deeply about others. They are still married after 48 years and more importantly still in love. Their influences run deep. They are entrepreneurs, go-getters and DIYers. My parent’s continually supported my growth and in the process taught us compassion and the value of community. I was also taught to understand the value of experience and curiosity. In fact, curiosity took us all over the globe to discover new places. We traveled often in search of the next new experience. I remember my mother saying “always go.” 

We had conversations around feelings, dream meanings, existentialism, and the idea that travel, culture, and new experiences trumped anything material. Education, art, and self-expression were at the forefront, always. And certainly, the ever-present push to be conscious and aware of people, places, things, and ourselves.

At the time, I did not know the name for it, but what my parents were trying to teach me was to live an inspired life. Inspired Living means to live aligned with our core values, strengths, needs, and wants through our thoughts, words and actions. For me, it was never about the climb to a specific title or place. It is and will always be about living in alignment and blending passion and profession to ultimately live an inspired life. I was taught that if you do that, success will be residual. 

Where is the most surprising place you find inspiration?

NATURE. I have always felt so comfortable with and close to nature. I feel the most reflected and acknowledged surrounded by the quiet and confident aliveness only found outdoors. Every time I am with it, it begs me to tell the story of the sameness it has with us as humans. I try to do that through my work.

I feel the most reflected and acknowledged surrounded by the quiet and confident aliveness only found outdoors.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I get started around 9:30 am. I value my sleep SO much, so if I feel like I need more and I don’t have a meeting first thing I will sleep more. The first thing I do when I wake up is hydrate with water. Then breakfast. I designed a high-fat, no-gluten, no-sugar meal plan that I have been on for the last decade-plus based on what my brain and body like and dislike.

Breakfast is typically organic Gluten Free Traditional Oatmeal with fresh organic bananas, blueberries, black berries, and strawberries. I start my work day over breakfast by replying to emails and checking in with the production team. Both divisions of my brand, Textiles and Ceramics, have separate production studios, each staffed with a production manager and an amazing team. The production studios are also where fulfillment (shipping) of wholesale and online retail orders from littlekorboose.com take place.

At around 1:30 pm, my body is usually begging me to move so I jump into an hour and a half of yoga and strengthening exercises. After yoga and breath work, I may squeeze in a bit of sunshine with a walk and then I will grab a quick lunch. This often consists of vegetables and quinoa drizzled with Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar, Ojai Olive Oil, Himalayan sea salt and ground black pepper. I put Braggs on everything.

After lunch, if I have a new collection I am working on or new design work of any kind, I pick that up and work on it until I feel I am in a good place to stop for the day. This varies based on deadlines but I try to wrap by 5:30 pm. Then dinner! My brain tends to be the calmest at night so I will usually take more time to design after dinner as well. Weekends and slow days look a bit different with beach days, weekend trips up and down the coast, museum hopping, films at the Chinese Theatre, and exploring the city. 

How do you connect with your creative flow when you’re feeling stuck or uninspired?

I check in with my mind, body, and spirit. That “stuck” feeling for me is all about a lack of coherence and harmony between the three. It’s almost like a blockage needing to be cleared and reset to create flow. I create coherence and clarity in the following ways: 

Diet. For me personally, sugar, gluten, and grains are blockers and foods high in fat provide clarity. Foods rich in antioxidants like berries are also key as they have wonderful anti-inflammatory properties. This way of eating gives me a clear mind and a balanced energy level throughout the day. It supplies my body with the right nutrients so I am not constantly craving more.

Movement and Rest. It is imperative for me to move my body with exercise daily. Years ago, to complement my degree in design and to balance it all out, I earned my certificate as a yoga teacher, specializing in Vinyasa yoga and guided meditation. I try to practice daily so my body is conditioned and prepared for challenging or even just uninspiring times. On the subject of sleep, nothing works properly if I don’t get enough sleep and I need a lot of it!

Connection. For me, this isn’t necessarily about who I am connecting with, just that I am staying connected to the whole. A necessity for flow. I believe we are all one big “thing.”

Play. I have been told I have a very playful sensibility so I also naturally incorporate PLAY into all I do! This could mean games, exploration, travel, etc. It enhances creativity. 

How would you describe your aesthetic? Is it consistent across your personal style and work?

My aesthetic across my personal style and work vary slightly as I don’t ever wear pattern. I save that for my work. Outside of that, they are almost identical. Minimal, intentional but organic, color blocked, imperfect, drapey, with a rock and roll edge. Asymmetrical, but always balanced. I also like to incorporate a dash of vintage into my personal style and my work. It adds an element of story, life, and personality and can elevate any outfit, space or object.

For an outfit, I’ll pair a solid tie-waist boho dress with black boots and one of my grandmother’s vintage bags or a vintage leather jacket. If I am designing a space, I will pair clean modern lines and white walls with velvet goldenrod first-edition vintage seating. If I am designing a product, I will keep it minimal, stripping it down to the most authentic reflection of what is in my head, while subtly nodding to the past through shape, pattern or color. 

What are your design rules to live by?

Form follows Function. For me, design is not strictly ornamental or strictly functional. It is a balance of form and function — the foundation for all of my work and my measure for “good” design. Of course, design principles such as alignment through grid systems, hierarchy, contrast of shape and size, minimalism, true materials, and negative space guide my work as well. 

As a multidisciplinary designer, another rule I like to live by is that our output is a direct reflection of what is inside. Analogous to the saying, “A cluttered home is a cluttered mind.”

How does community and connection inform your art and design?

I believe that the relationship we have with ourselves is the most important relationship to have followed by our connection to our bodies and our people. Creativity flows when these forces are present. 

How has moving to a new city affected your creative process?

Now, I have full-time access to all that inspires me like nature year round and gorgeous architecture. There is no shortage of beauty on this coast. Prior to moving to the city full time, for the last 8 years, I was flying back and forth between the midwest and my spot in Ojai which I still go to as a retreat from the city. I consider Ojai “home” on the west coast. LA and Ojai could not be more opposite of one another and I LOVE that because they are both inspiring in different ways. I have never been able to choose between the city and nature and now I don’t have to. All about balance. 

What advice would you share with someone who wants to make their dream career a reality, but might be too scared to go off on their own?

When we are living inspired and in alignment with our core values, we are happy. That happiness ripples like a rock skipping across a pond to every single person our energy comes in contact with. Living out our dreams does not only help the individual but us as the collective human species. On Earth, I believe becoming the truest expression of ourselves as humans is the goal and the most important relationship is the one we have with ourselves. No matter the path, living in alignment helps call forth that true expression and makes the world more harmonious. Life will always love and support us when we live from our hearts. 

Life will always love and support us when we live from our hearts. 

I will say that before making this decision it is important to know yourself and understand which types of stresses or challenges are manageable for you and which will not be sustainable to withstand over time. Unfortunately, leaving a job and working for yourself won’t solve all problems. Whether you are working for a company or working for yourself, there WILL be stress and challenges involved. Just maybe not the same types of stresses.

Take the idea of your time for example. When you work for a company, your schedule is not entirely yours but when you work for yourself, you are in control of your time. Security is another example. Working for a company can provide consistency and security while working for yourself can be inconsistent. One person might really value time while another might really value consistency. It is all about what stresses are more manageable for you.

What are some major lessons you’ve learned along the way?

What you water grows.

Many people ask the secret formula or the secret sauce to success and I answer them with a question: What is success to you? There’s really no one right way to journey through this life. I do know for me, since I was young, I had a micro focus on combining art with business to communicate and create change. I can also tell you that whatever you set your focus on WILL grow, you just have to commit and give it 100%. Abandoning things after a short time, moving from thing to thing… it won’t work. Tap in and listen to your inner knowing and have a micro focus. What you water grows. 

Life is not linear.

Societal norms tell us that we go to school, get the degree, get the six-figure job, get married, have kids, buy a giant house on a cul-de-sac, buy more things, etc. Life is not a series of boxes to check off. It’s a discovery. You can do something for now and know it’s not forever. It’s okay to change paths.

Change does not = failure.

I am a huge commitment person. I believe in committing to efforts 100%. But just because you are creative doesn’t mean you can’t also be a singer or even a physicist. Labels are just that. The brain likes to compartmentalize things, put a label on them, and file them in a drawer so it understands. The truth is, humans are way more complex than that. We can do multiple things all at once, so don’t limit yourself. 

Every experience is an opportunity.

Even if you don’t love what you are doing, get as much as you can out of it. Sometimes you have to put your time in. That said, if you feel stuck in a situation in which you are not learning or growing, use that as an indicator that it is time to move on. 

No one owes you anything. BE HUMBLE.

This was such a good one. No one is entitled to anything here. Listen and watch more than you speak. When you walk into a room every single person there can teach you something either directly or indirectly. 

Create your own “normal.“

Decide how you are willing and want to live. This is your time. How will you use it? 

Learn to love the word “no.”

As a recovering perfectionist myself, this is always a tough one, but in our industry, you really have to embrace rejection. It is part of the experience. It may look super easy up here, but 5/10 times we go after something, we get told no. The trick here is to really trust that those no’s are for a reason and are actually leading you to your innermost desires. 

Do not contract with fear.

Fear is such an illusion that holds you back. If you’re going after a big job or something intimidating and you let fear hold you back, the only one you are hurting is yourself. 

Explore more.

Exploration, travel, getting out of your comfort zone… it all helps you learn more about yourself and your edges. It expands awareness and has a way of shifting perspectives. It is powerful.

The post “It Will Always Be About Blending Passion and Profession”—Step Inside April Nemeth’s Creative and Inspiring World appeared first on Camille Styles.

Now fully ensconced into my 30s, and well past any visions of launching a Glossier-type empire out of my parent’s garage, I occasionally grapple with the idea that I’ve failed. As though I’ve missed some sort of golden entrepreneurial opportunity to reach my fullest potential. That I’ve submitted to a sad existence as a—gasp—employee.

But then I get a grip. Not only because career success, at its core, should be defined by getting paid to do something you enjoy, but because there are so many stories that break the millennial-minded mold of what a fulfilling, influential career should look like.

Featured imaged by Michelle Nash.

How You Can Learn to Redefine Success

Take, for example, Amy Liu, who founded the clean skincare line Tower28 at age 40 (with three small children and a mortgage) after years of working for companies and eponymous brands like Smashbox and Kate Somerville.

“I was an employee,” Liu shared with Create & Cultivate founder Jaclyn Johnson on the Work Party podcast. “I had a really linear path. I went to business school. I worked my way up in the beauty industry. It took me 18 years before I started doing this.”

She later notes that working in the same industry for a long time also helped her when striking out on her own. “I had a community and knew who the players were,” Liu said.

All of this is not to say that to achieve true success means you have to be your own boss or launch a brand. For starters, not everyone is cut out to be—or even wants to be—a boss. So, to get a more thoughtful understanding of how we should be defining (or redefining) success, I spoke with transformative coach and consultant Jessie Douglass-Smith McGraw.

Jessie Douglass-Smith McGraw

Jessie Douglass-Smith McGraw is a transformative coach sharing the profoundly simple truth of how we work inside to free people from the chains of their internal thoughts so they’re no longer a victim of their minds or their circumstances. She is a catalyst for change and mentor to folks from all different backgrounds with a private practice, and serving as a consultant for companies and organizations.

The Benefits of Taking Career Risks Later in Life

More than anything, as people go down the path of life, they tend to get clearer on what’s important to them. They understand better what their passions are, and what lights them up. It comes from a deeper place of authenticity, a soul-pull if you will, versus from an ego mind full of conditioned ideas around what will bring them the most money, notoriety, or power (on a deeper level: safety, security, and belonging). And in doing so, they experience a feeling of alignment in ways that are incredibly fulfilling and that impact every area of their life.

It comes from a deeper place of authenticity, a soul-pull if you will, versus from an ego mind full of conditioned ideas around what will bring them the most money, notoriety, or power.

Incidentally, when people start a company or new career from this more deeply aligned place, they tend to find major success (or success finds them). They have already experienced fulfillment by belonging to themselves, to their desires, and to what’s good for them, which unveils the feeling of safety and security from within. The money, notoriety, or power ends up being icing on the cake and even humbling.

Is there a sweet-spot age for taking a career risk?

Absolutely not. I have had clients make incredibly successful and daring leaps from ages 19 to 70. The most important factor is following one’s own instincts, the quiet voice inside that is giving the next indicated step. Humans tend to get caught up in ideas of how fast things should be happening. They monitor how they are doing and measure it against the idea in their head of where they think they should be. This often leads them to feel like they’re falling short, which lowers their professional self-worth and ultimately makes them doubt their potential.

But with their gaze turned inward and away from the noise, everything is possible.

On the Pitfalls of Autonomous Early Success

This isn’t the case for all young folks, but more often than not, they were driven to that success to make up for something that they feel is missing inside, a feeling of emptiness. So their ego—the conditioned ideas in their head of what will bring them the most money, notoriety, or power (on a deeper level: safety, security, and belonging)—is the driving force that ultimately leads to burnout, lack of deep fulfillment, narcissism and a sense of self-importance.

Why narcissism and self-importance? When we build our lives on a foundation of insecurity, anything and everyone becomes a threat to the success that was built on that foundation.

When we build our lives on a foundation of insecurity, anything and everyone becomes a threat to the success that was built on that foundation.

On Feelings of Hopelessness About Your Career Path

First, do a gut check…

Are you pursuing your current career because you’re keeping up with an idea in your head that it’s what you have to do or should do to be successful? And that success is what you need in order to be fulfilled? If so, your hopelessness is being a friend—one who’s trying to wake you up to the fact that you’re belonging to someone else’s idea of success and fulfillment, not your own.

Step 1: Appreciate Where You Are

Do you love the career you’re pursuing? Congratulations! Firstly, it takes courage to honor your own voice and path, to break the mold at any age. Take a moment to appreciate that.

Step 2: Listen to Your Gut

Second, be mindful of the mood you’re in when you’re taking stock of how you’re doing in your career. Our moods, 100% of the time, impact how we see ourselves and how we see our life. If we’re in a low mood, things don’t look so good. When our mind settles and our mood rises, life looks full of potential and possibility again.

Step 3: Honor Your Instinct

In this case, your hopelessness is once again being a friend, letting you know your mood isn’t great. So pump the breaks on assessing how things are going, turn your gaze inward, ask yourself what you want to do next, and honor what your instincts tell you. One foot in front of the other and you will find yourself back in the saddle again.

The post Feel Like You Don’t Measure Up? A Career Coach Explains How to Let Go of a Timeline and Redefine What Success Means to You appeared first on Camille Styles.

I remember standing in my ‘Public Speaking 101’ class in college, clutching my speech as I obsessed over how to perfectly deliver my message. Shoulders back! No ums! No likes! When it was go-time, my professor interrupted me after 20 seconds. ‘Don’t cross your legs,’ he said. ‘Stand taller. Think of Winston Churchill.’ Oof.

I’m not alone in this fight. Countless people, mostly women, have struggled to captivate minds in our (still) white hetero-male-dominant culture. I’m guessing if you’re reading this, you have, too. Maybe you’ve thought: What will make me sound powerful? How do I speak without any ‘ums’ or ‘likes’? And why is it so damn hard to feel heard when I have something to say?

Featured image from our interview with Babba Rivera by Belathée Photography.

How to Be Heard: Tips From Author Samara Bay

Here’s the flip: It doesn’t have to be so hard, believes Samara Bay. We need to change what power sounds like. Bay, an author and a speech and communication expert revered in Hollywood, believes that when we think of what power looks and sounds like, we conjure images of privileged, abled white men like JFK and Steve Jobs. As amazing as they are, these figures have been the basis of what we think is the “right” way to sound powerful. As Bay writes in her riveting book, Permission to Speak, there’s “the certain kind of voice we’ve all grown up hearing that sounds like command and conviction.” This has created a brick wall against which we’ve broken ourselves and lost our voices.

There’s “the certain kind of voice we’ve all grown up hearing that sounds like command and conviction.” This has created a brick wall against which we’ve broken ourselves and lost our voices.

Bay is working to break this wall and open the room for everyone to see their power. Rather than perpetuating masculine-coded ideals of what we’ve been taught power should sound like, she’s encouraging us to look within. She’s fighting for us to honor what we have to say and how we uniquely say it—ums and likes and all.  

I chatted with Bay about her mission to help all of us honor our voices. These are my biggest takeaways from our conversation and her book. 

By helping us all see that power is within all of us, Bay is changing the world. 

Permission to Speak: How to Change What Power Sounds Like, Starting with You by Samara Bay

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We Must Unpack Our Voice Stories

I’d never heard of a ‘voice story’ until reading Permission to Speak. Bay posits that much like a money story or a body story, the way we speak also has a history. “This suggests a story, not like a narrative, but a story like a collection of myths that may or may not be serving us,” Bay tells me. Perhaps we’ve been in too many rooms where we had to quiet our voices or shift our intonation. Maybe we’ve felt intimidated because the way we sound differs from a powerful male in the room. Therefore, we’ve picked up habits and ideas, some to our detriment. We’ve made these “micro-adjustments our whole life for people to lean in, not lean out,” Bay continues.

“We all have a voice story because we live in a culture that has many thousands of years old opinions about what powerful people should sound like.” — Samara Bay

The key, I learned from Bay, is to know there’s nothing wrong with the way I speak. And there is nothing wrong with the way you speak. We’ve picked up every speaking habit for a reason, believes Bay. “When someone pulls you over in a room and tells you ‘you say like too much,’ and then you feel a wave of shame follow, I’m here to wave this flag of compassion and say: ‘You picked up that habit for a reason. It served you in some room to keep you safe and keep you unintimidating.’”

Informal Language “Makes the World Go Round”

When I first read Bay’s words, I yelped. Audibly. “Casual, conversational, simple language helps people connect,” writes Bay. “Unless you’re engaged in legal proceedings […], you’ve probably got more leeway to speak informally than you think.”

Let’s take that all in. Long gone are the school days of extracting the precise “perfect” words from the thesaurus. Bay says to speak with our hearts, souls, and unique minds. This is how to be heard.

Think about a speech that’s captivated you. Was the person using stodgy big words and complex sentences? No. Instead, those epic talks, from impassioned Oscar acceptance speeches to moving graduation talks, are from someone’s deep heart. As Bay tells me, those people are “approaching it from a love-based perspective: How do I talk about what matters to me in a way that makes me trustworthy and makes the thing I care about contagious? How do I spread care out loud?”

Informal and conversational speech does not mean careless, however. “Your words count, not because they’re impressive in and of themselves,” writes Bay, “but because they’re your chance to be as accurate as possible in capturing what you mean for the specific ears you hope will hear them.”

We Must Connect With Our Emotions

Do you know when you can almost feel the pain, the joy, the fight in someone when they speak? That’s their emotions on full, raw display. Leaning into how we feel is critical for winning hearts and minds. So where do we start? By tapping into our humanness. “We must move ourselves before moving others, and we must move others to get what we want—to get what we all want,” writes Bay. 

When we get a deep emotional hit, that’s telling us that “something here is bigger than me,” says Bay. Too often when we feel like we might cry, our voice might crack, or we might speak too loud, we instantly shame ourselves because we don’t want to come off as “unhinged.” Winston Churchill’s voice didn’t sound emotional, so therefore mine can’t. Just the opposite. Leaning into our emotions is what drives our message forward. As Bay writes, “without an emotional component, no one will remember what you said.”

So how do we tap into our emotions? By connecting with our bodies. “Your body is part of you,” Bay tells me. “It has some deep wisdom that you can’t access unless you do something that feels good. So dance, run, walk, jump around, and do yoga. Get physical to get your emotions flowing. Think of doing so as a way to evolve the world. Because everyone of us deserves to feel powerful and heard.

The post How to Use Your Voice to Get What You Want—This Best-Selling Book Has the Answers appeared first on Camille Styles.

Social Media Manager for Camille Styles

It’s a unique time to join our team as we build a new brand (Casa Zuma), grow our media property (Camille Styles), and develop strategic business opportunities. This is an opportunity to work closely with our editorial and production team in a positive, high-energy environment.

If you’re passionate about social, are both creative and highly organized, and know how to engage and grow a vibrant social community, this could be the challenge you’ve been looking for. We will count on you to create dynamic social media content and bring a steady stream of creativity to the table—along with daily execution and overall social media savvy. Candidates should have a keen understanding of social strategy and the ability to think outside the box.

You Are:

• Passionate about social media. You feel energized by diving into all aspects of social.
• Highly creative. You’re an idea person, able to bring fresh ideas and creative solutions that target our social goals.
• Experienced in digital media. Either social media, digital marketing, or content creation—you understand our business.
• Detail-oriented. Ability to ensure standard of quality is met across every task.
• A strong copywriter. Both written and verbal communications are strong, and you can craft sharp copy for social.
• Aesthetically-driven. You love the Camille Styles brand aesthetic and are able to create photos, videos, and graphic layouts that are aligned.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to switch from task to task with little notice.
• Experienced with all social platforms and related software. Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Canva, Google Workspace, and scheduling software like Later/Planoly. Bonus points for Asana, Slack, Youtube, and WordPress. MAJOR bonus points if you have experience editing videos.
• Ego-less. We all wear the hats that need wearing to make our team a success.

You Will:

• Maintain brand voice and grow our audience across social platforms
• Develop social media strategy to meet company goals
• Work closely with editorial team to roll out monthly launches and priorities
• Create video and photo content for social channels
• Update social media content across all channels daily
• Engage with our social community
• Coordinate with partnerships director to package and deliver social sponsorships
• Build creative assets for Instagram and Pinterest
• Work hand-in-hand with our team on traffic and affiliate goals
• Report on social content performance and present social insights and best practices to our team
• Stay up-to-date on latest social media trends and updates, and make regular content recommendations to editorial team

Commitment & Comp:

• This role has the possibility to be full-time, part-time, or freelance. Our priority is finding someone who’s a great fit and passionate about working with us in this capacity, so if it sounds like you, let’s talk!

To apply: Please send your resumé to jobs@camillestyles.com

How we feel about diversity and inclusion:

Camille Styles is committed to bringing together people from different backgrounds and perspectives, providing employees with a safe and welcoming work environment free of discrimination/harassment. We strive to create a diverse & inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, feel a sense of belonging, and do impactful work together. As an equal opportunity employer, we prohibit any unlawful discrimination against a job applicant, and are dedicated to going above and beyond in fostering diversity across our workplace.

The post We’re Hiring! Social Media Manager for Camille Styles appeared first on Camille Styles.

But that decision to find a mentor put me back at square one. How the heck did I find someone who would want to mentor me—an early twenty-something with little insight and experience to offer in return? I knew it would be a crucial part of my career trajectory, but I had no idea where to begin.

Featured image by Belathée Photography.

How to Find a Mentor: An Expert’s Top Tips

The question of how to find a mentor is one that puzzles both entry-level employees and workforce veterans. In a culture that’s not often comfortable with asking for help, it can feel like a sign of incompetence to come to someone with questions. But hello… admitting you don’t know something is an important step toward growth. So if you’re ready to transform your career and grow deeper in your professional pursuits, a mentor could be just what you need.

I spoke with Naomi Rothwell-Boyd, an EMCC and CIPD-accredited career and performance coach and the founder of Tribe and Seek, a resource for anyone looking to make a career change and explore a more meaningful path. Read on for Naomi’s answers and insights into finding a mentor who can support you in designing the career of your dreams.

Naomi Rothwell-Boyd

Naomi is the founder of Tribe And Seek and an EMCC and CIPD-accredited career and performance coach. Naomi was also the first in-house learning and development lead at the HR consultancy Lane4 (the leading L&D consultancy in the UK). She worked alongside Olympic athletes to support clients like Kraft Heinz and TUI to develop their senior leaders.

What should you do before looking for a mentor?

Before going out to find a mentor, it is important to take the time to assess your needs and goals. Think about areas you want to develop or skills that you need help with, as this will help you determine what type of mentor can best support your growth.

What are your top tips for finding a mentor?

Finding a mentor can be done through research and networking. Start by researching potential mentors in your field or area of interest. Read up on their profiles and read reviews from those who have worked with them before.

Once you have identified one or two prospective mentors, reach out to them! Send an email, make a phone call, or even attend a conference, event, or meetup they are attending to introduce yourself and politely inquire about mentorship opportunities. You can also use social media outlets like LinkedIn to contact potential mentors. Don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations from people you know in your field or industry who may have had successful experiences with a mentor before.

What qualities should you look for in a mentor?

When looking for a mentor, look for someone who displays qualities such as experience, knowledge, empathy, and patience. Your mentor should have strong communication skills and be able to provide meaningful advice and feedback in an effective manner that suits your communication style. It’s also important to find someone who is open and willing to commit their time when needed. 

Can you explain the different styles of mentorship?

There are three main styles of mentorship: formal, informal, and peer. 

Formal mentorship is a structured relationship between a mentor and mentee. This type of relationship is often used in corporate settings where the mentor provides advice, guidance, and feedback on professional goals and career paths. Formal mentorships are often mutually beneficial because they provide an opportunity for learning while also allowing the mentor to extend their reach and influence within their field or industry. 

Informal mentorship is usually less structured than formal relationships, but still offers guidance. It can grow out of existing relationships or be sought out through networking events or online communities. Informal mentors may help shape your career paths, provide ideas on how to stay current with trends in your field, or even offer personal advice that can apply to other areas of life as well. 

Peer mentoring is similar to informal mentoring but allows two peers (i.e., two people who are at the same level in terms of experience) to exchange experiences, knowledge, and skills with each other. Peer mentorships have increased in popularity as more people recognize the value of learning from peers who may have experienced similar challenges or achieved success in their own careers. 

When deciding which type of mentor-mentee relationship to pursue, consider what you hope to gain from it and how much time you want to commit to it. Formal mentorships are best suited for those who need more oversight while pursuing professional goals while informal and peer mentoring is better suited for those seeking advice on soft skills such as communication or leadership abilities.

Should you pay a mentor? If so, how much?

Mentoring is usually not paid as it is different to career coaching.

Informal or peer mentoring is by definition an informal arrangement where the mentor is offering you their help without being paid. Then the goal of formal mentoring is to teach a specific set of skills and/or knowledge person to person. The end goal here is mostly dictated by the other person giving you mentoring, usually an employer trying to upskill their employees. Therefore it is most common to either find your own informal mentor that you don’t pay, or for your employer to cover the cost of any formal mentoring.

This is different from career coaching where you would hire a coach. While career coaching is also delivered one-on-one like mentoring, the destination is set by the participant, not the Coach, and usually isn’t confined to only a specific set of knowledge or skills. Coaches get you to where you want to be, they don’t dictate where you should be. Coaches are also accredited practitioners whereas mentoring usually doesn’t require any formal training.

Editor’s note: For more info on hiring a career coach, read Naomi’s post.

What would be a situation in which you wouldn’t pay a mentor? Should you compensate them in another way?

There are several reasons why someone may choose to mentor you for free. It could be because they genuinely want to help and have a passion for mentorship, or it could be because the mentor believes that a mutually beneficial relationship can arise from this dynamic. Many mentors also offer free mentoring in order to build their network, gain insights or ideas that could benefit them professionally, or even learn something new from the exchange itself. Whatever the reason, it’s always important to remember that any type of mentorship requires time and dedication on both sides.

How can we get the most out of a mentorship?

1. Develop and maintain open communication with your mentor. Establishing and nurturing an open communication line with your mentor is essential for a successful mentorship experience. Ask questions and be honest about any expectations you have so that both parties are on the same page.
2. Respect your mentor’s time. Your mentor has likely dedicated significant time and energy to helping you out, so it’s important to respect their schedule and commitments. Make sure to check in with them regularly, but don’t overburden them with too many requests or expect an immediate response every time.
3. Be proactive. Don’t wait for your mentor to come up with all the solutions or answers. Take initiative by doing research on your own and coming prepared with questions or solutions when you meet. Your mentor will appreciate your enthusiasm and dedication to succeeding in whatever goals you have set for yourself.
4. Stay open-minded. Mentors can offer valuable insights that may challenge your thinking or push you outside of your comfort zone—this is a good thing! To get the most out of mentoring, it’s important to stay open-minded, even if what they are suggesting goes against your initial ideas or opinions.

How do you know when it’s time to end a mentorship? How can you do so respectfully?

Knowing when it’s time to end a mentorship is never easy and usually relies on assessing the current situation, discussing expectations with your mentor, and communicating clearly. Here are some tips that can help you end your mentorship respectfully and kindly.

Talk to your mentor. Before making a decision, have an open conversation with your mentor about the relationship and how it has grown over time. This will give you both an opportunity to express your points of view, reassess expectations, and come to a mutual understanding about where the relationship stands.

Give notice upfront. Letting your mentor know well in advance that you intend to end the mentorship will give them ample time to adjust and prepare for any necessary changes.

Thank them for their time. Show your appreciation by thanking them for their guidance and support throughout the relationship. Depending on the duration of your mentorship, you might even consider sending a gift or writing a personalized letter expressing all that they have done for you.

The post Want to Find a Mentor but Have No Idea Where to Begin? A Career Expert Has the Answers appeared first on Camille Styles.

I’ve long been puzzled by the word “enough.” It’s inherently subjective, fully dependent on our—or other people’s—definition. It points to the fact that in pursuit of something so vague, we’ll inevitably miss the mark. By chasing an indeterminate endpoint, we keep wanting more. And a toxic cycle of productivity continues until we reach a breaking point due to the fleeting satisfaction from success.

Today, we’re talking about the causes of mental exhaustion and sharing ideas for how to escape the push to be productive for productivity’s sake. It’s time to leave the #girlboss and hustle culture behind—let’s move on toward a new era of contentment.

Featured image of Ashley Robertson’s home by Matti Gresham.

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and we recommend that you always consult with your healthcare provider.

What is mental exhaustion?

I’m sure we can all relate to the occasional desire to stay in bed all day. But when mental exhaustion hits, taking on the day can feel impossible. Mental exhaustion can materialize for a number of reasons. There’s, of course, the stress of a demanding job. Or, perhaps you’re a caregiver for little ones or an aging parent. Whatever the cause, mental exhaustion is on the rise—particularly since the pandemic began. Almost 75% of workers reported feelings linked to mental exhaustion. These symptoms include:

• Inability to focus or get work done
• A lack of motivation at work or in your personal life
• Low mood or a sense of hopelessness
• Feelings of overwhelm or anxiety
• Fatigue no matter how much sleep you get

In an article for BetterUp, Certified Integrative Wellness & Life Coach Allaya Cooks-Campbell likens the causes of mental exhaustion to physical injuries as a result of overuse. Tennis elbow and carpal tunnel both develop from repetitive stress. Mental exhaustion is similar, only that you’re over-stressing your mind.

Saying Goodbye to the #Girlboss?

Before the 2020 reckoning of many female-led startups, the idea of the girlboss held strong. Coined in 2014 by Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso, the girlboss was meant to stand as a powerful contrast to the patriarchal structures of work. But as Samhita Mukhopadhyay wrote in The Cut, the term quickly “became synonymous with ‘hustle culture,’ with a feminism-lite twist: the optimistic, almost religious desire to get ahead at work and in life.”

And though the concept of girl-bossing has largely been dismantled, the hustle still holds in many circles. While we’re told to prioritize self-care, we simultaneously work long hours at our main gig and put in extra time to build our side hustles. So, the narrative feels like an inescapable double standard: you become a project alongside your work.

How can we let go of hustle culture when it’s all around us?

I’ve long felt that hustle culture evokes a new era of the American Dream. What does constantly striving and pushing ourselves get us? Closer to the promise of reaching your dreams. It’s the 2023-ified version of the white picket fence: we’re after not only financial security to compensate for our efforts, but also the self-worth and image of value that we associate with success.

But through this constant hustle, instead of a deeply rooted sense of fulfillment, we often feel something closer to an existential worry: Is this really all there is? Enter: the hedonic treadmill.

The Hedonic Treadmill

The hedonic treadmill defines the experience of sprinting toward a goal only to chase the next pursuit after you meet it. The result is that you’re never happy with the present. No matter what you achieve, you’ll always want more.

This is where the frustrating vagueness of “enough” comes back in. It’s clear that by the way the hedonic treadmill functions, enough is only an ephemeral pipe dream. So what do we do? It’s time to re-think our priorities and pour into what truly brings us a sense of contentment.

How to Heal From Mental Exhaustion and Seek Contentment

To escape the hedonic treadmill, we have to learn to find meaning in other areas of our lives. Whereas we may have once wrapped our identity entirely in our ability to check tasks off our to-do lists, it’s time to seek purpose beyond the hedonic treadmill. (Because that’s the cycle keeping us stuck.)

Easier said than done, of course. But satisfaction can be cultivated when we learn to appreciate what’s around us and express gratitude for what’s currently, inextricably ours. Let’s look at the things that will help us connect deeper with our values and prioritize what’s truly important to us.

Take a gentle pause

If possible, stop. Are you in the middle of your workday? Give yourself five minutes or so to step away from your computer, pour a glass of water, and take a few deep breaths. If you’re putting in extra time without a pressing deadline, shut things down and sign off for the night. The first step to coming back into alignment is to create a moment that’s physically separate from the stress. It’s hard to meaningfully reflect when you have Slacks and notifications pulling you back into your screen.

Reflect and refocus

Now that you have space for yourself, ask: What truly fulfills you? What are the activities and rituals that make you light up when you think about them? Pull out your journal or start a digital document making note of the feelings that are coming up for you when you compare how you currently spend your time to how you’d like to be filling your days. Oftentimes, when mental exhaustion is at play, the two can look very different.

Several years ago, a friend shared with me the best advice I’ve ever received: Trust that you never have to prove your worth.

Let social media work for you

When we go on social media, we’re inevitably met with the highlight reels of other people’s lives. While we may know that everyone saves the bad moments for IRL, seeing so many picture-perfect clips and images can make us feel inadequate. No matter if it’s a friend or an influencer, unfollow or mute the accounts that make you feel that way. Remember: you’re in charge of the content you take in.

Enjoy the process

The way we think about growth often has us laser-focused on the end goal. Yes, we might be aware of the steps that it takes to get what we want, but we think about grinding our way through them in lieu of a process we actually enjoy. When you think about your goals, take into consideration not only the objective itself but the journey of reaching it. Ask yourself: Will I like the ways that I’ll change along this path? Do I like the process of learning, of supporting others, of working with new people? Reflection can help you get clear on why you’re prioritizing certain goals and if they’re really representative of the the life you want for yourself.

Connect with the present moment through gratitude

Gratitude helps us build a sense of awareness of all the good currently in our lives. And if there’s one way to escape the hedonic treadmill, it’s by letting ourselves connect more deeply with the present. In reflecting on your journey, express gratitude for the ways you’ll grow as you move toward your goal. This helps shift your focus away from the outcome and toward the here and now.

Remember: You are more than what you do

Several years ago, a friend shared with me the best advice I’ve ever received: Trust that you never have to prove your worth. Over the years, she had watched as I chased more and more work and took on every opportunity presented to me. But in speaking with her, I learned that I was searching for a way to carve out an identity for myself. I wanted to present myself as a person who was competent, productive, and successful. That, I thought, was the only way I could find—and truly deserve—my place in the world.

Little by little, I’m beginning to learn that I’m someone apart from what I produce and the work I put into every day. Each night, when I shut my computer, I remind myself that no matter how much I accomplished, I still have inherent value. And though it’s been a process, little by little, I’m seeing signs of my growth. And I suppose that’s my goal, isn’t it?

P.S. Looking for a realistic morning routine? Let Camille’s AM rituals inspire your own.

The post We Can’t Be Productive Every Day—So Why Do We Continue to Glorify It? appeared first on Camille Styles.

We are clear-headed and capable, though. We can find the truth. I’ve found that for every fickle and contrived narrative, an iconoclastic woman is marching against it, pouring light down a new path that is utterly inclusive.

Featured image by Christie Graham Photography.

3 Successful Women on What It Takes to Make a Midlife Pivot

Since I’ve become passionate about changing the narrative around aging, I’ve discovered countless women who embody the truth that it’s never too late to go after what you want. I spoke to three—Heena Patel, Lesley Jane Seymour, and Stephanie O’Dell. They’ve each navigated a midlife pivot, taken roads barely traveled, and wildly reinvented themselves—all after 50. 

The coolest part is they advocate for other women to do the same. And that’s what we need: Clear, strong, no-holds-barred proof that age has nothing on our careers and dreams. O’Dell says it best: “One of the key tools is finding someone that looks like or sounds like you.” 

So here are three powerful examples of women owning their dreams and their advice for how we can grab our own. Nothing is conflicting here—these women’s words are only proof that marching against the tide is the only way.

“The more generous you are, the better off we all are.” — Lesley Jane Seymour

Lesley Jane Seymour: Founder and CEO of Covey Club

Lesley Jane Seymour has made incredible use of her career. As one of the most respected magazine editors-in-chief of our time (she’s heralded Marie Claire, Redbook, and MORE, to name a few), Seymour’s writing and editing have touched millions of pages and readers. (That’s not to mention the activism that’s fueled her days: In one of her adventures, she traveled to Asia with First Lady Michelle Obama to spotlight the launch of Let Girls Learn.)

Today she’s running a new mission: Covey Club, a warm, inclusive space that aims to support women in business and personal growth through education, events, workshops, and inspiring content. Seymour also hosts the inspirational podcast, Reinvent Yourself with Lesley Jane Seymour. She’s living proof that second—or third, or fourth—acts look damn good.

You’ve interviewed hundreds upon hundreds of women who have reinvented themselves and made a midlife pivot. What has been a key asset in going after one’s dreams?

For the ‘Reinvent Yourself’ podcast, I’ve interviewed nearly 200 people. Everybody comes from different angles: They have money or no money. Connections or no connections. A big job, a small job, or no job. What holds everybody together is mindset. Having an open mindset with the idea that there is something else out there for you, that you can envision, places you on the path to success. Now, I did not always believe in this. But I will tell you, it works. At Covey Club, we do vision board classes, where you create a vision board and look at it every day. It helps you focus so you know you know where you’re headed. That’s what mindset does. 

These days it seems like the conversation around aging is becoming more inclusive, but there’s still a lot of fear-based narrative around it. What’s your take on this?

That’s the sadness about American culture. When I was growing up, I’d see articles about the 25-year-old doctor who also wrote a bestselling book and who also sings on Broadway. And you would read these things and you’d think, Well I’m just a failure. But when you poke your head up and you listen to all the different twists and turns that very accomplished people have made, it is a lifetime of moving and changing lanes, taking a bad detour, coming back onto the highway, getting knocked down, and getting up again. 

The more generous you are, the better off we all are. 

There are times when you get knocked off the mountain and you must decide to stay down or get back up again. I got knocked off a couple of times, some in horrible ways. And what could I do about it? I could go home and cry, but I decided I had to continue doing what I do and help women have a voice out there and find their path. That’s what Covey Club was designed to do: to help anybody in that drifting, stuck, unsure moment of their career or personal life. I always love to say, ‘It ain’t over until you say it’s over.’

What is one thing we can do today to help a fellow woman who is facing the challenge of wanting to make a midlife pivot but feels held back?

Be uber generous. Whether this means giving somebody a contact or sharing a book you read or a podcast you follow, be your most generous self. If you are generous with other people, they will be generous with you back. Women need to be more generous with each other because the patriarchy has been telling us that there’s only one seat at the table for women and the rest is for men. This has been a good way to distract us and keep us from organizing and fighting the patriarchy. So the more generous you are, the better off we all are. 

“I can be your example. I always wanted something more than what was expected of me. If I can do it, you can too.” — Chef Heena Patel

Chef Heena Patel: Chef and Co-Owner of Besharam

If you only have one night in San Francisco, go to Besharam, the sensational Gujarati restaurant tucked in the city’s trendy Dogpatch neighborhood. The food is stellar. The name—which translates to “shameless”—iconoclastic. But what makes this bold restaurant riveting is Patel and her gumption for flavor and owning her dream. From her youth growing up in India to her time living in London and then the US with her family, spices and flavor have always captivated Patel. She held lauded positions in the culinary world, including a residency at Bay Area culinary incubator La Cocina.

But dreams of her restaurant fueled her. In 2018, Patel took the plunge, owning her midlife pivot by opening a restaurant of her own that showcases her talent for pushing the boundaries of cooking while honoring her heritage. Just last year the James Beard Foundation Awards recognized her as a Best Chef California semifinalist. 

You say at 56, you are shamelessly pursuing the dream you’ve always had. What gave you the gumption to make a midlife pivot and go after it?

Cooking has always felt like a form of self-expression. I’m my truest in the kitchen. I feel free and fearless. There’s something magical about creating and serving a dish to someone, and that feeling initially inspired me to begin cooking professionally. Going after my dream was possible because of the support I received at La Cocina, as well as mentors like Traci Des Jardins and Stuart Brioza, and Nicole Krasinski. They helped give me the confidence to find my culinary voice and share it with a larger audience.

I’m my truest in the kitchen. I feel free and fearless.

Over the years, cooking has become like a language to me; a way to connect with my guests, with my team at Besharam, and with my community and other immigrants. I feel a duty for my food to represent generations of women in India who haven’t had the same opportunities to be so bold. I’m filled with gratitude every day that I walk into Besharam. I have nothing to prove, and everything to celebrate.

Now that you own and run your dream business, what keeps you motivated?

Opening and running a restaurant is hard, and I didn’t have a template to follow when I first started. I learned as I went, following my intuition and what felt right and true to me. I run my restaurant the same way that I cook: with feeling, color, touch, and texture. This is the first time I am following my path, which feels fulfilling because it’s my course to chart. There’s always more to learn, and my passion to continue growing keeps me motivated. Seeing a guest enjoy a dish, and seeing one of my team members excel—it’s the best feeling in the world. We’re creating impact. There’s nothing better.

Many women want to go after their dreams but feel held back by age. What do you say to this?

How bad do you want it? With every opportunity you have, work to the best of your ability and that will lead you toward your goal. Passionate dreams have no age or deadlines—but they need perseverance.

What is your advice to the woman who wants to lean into a midlife pivot but feels she still needs to conform?

I can be your example. I always wanted something more than what was expected of me. If I can do it, you can too.

“I love telling a younger person that I’m 60 and that I found my passion and purpose in my 50s.” —Stephanie O’Dell

Stephanie O’Dell: Founder of Celebrate the Gray

As a sought-after stylist, Stephanie O’Dell saw the same image of women—over and over—in the media: thin, young, and white. Rare was the true photo of a woman over 50. So, O’Dell set out to change this. She has built a community of like-minded women who wanted to see themselves in ads and stories. This ultimately grew into Celebrate the Gray, a platform that offeres representation, consulting, education, and advocacy for women 50 years and older. With one of the largest cohorts of models and influencers embracing midlife and beyond, Celebrate the Gray is proving that beauty never grows old. O’Dell is creating exactly what she sought: Visual representation of realness and power, midlife and beyond.

You represent and advocate for women over 50. What have you found to be a tool in fighting age adversity and owning a midlife pivot?

I like to peel back the layers and help women understand where their aging stories are coming from—like dye your hair, cut your hair, stop wearing this or that—and give them permission to set their standards and define their aging journey. The industry is starting to do a better job representing positive aging, but we still have a long way to go.

For the woman who feels that her age is an obstacle to the giant leaps she wants to take, what do you say? 

Take a small step and see what happens. Sometimes we let our lack of knowledge, experience, or education dictate what the possibilities are for ourselves. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, find a mentor, take a class, read a book or volunteer. It also helps to find a community of women that see the version of yourself that you see.

Years ago, I was interested in fashion styling but didn’t have any experience. I let that stop me in the beginning. But then I got a part-time job in the stockroom at Athleta, started volunteering at a non-profit organization Bloom, and helped friends and family with their wardrobes. Slowly I gained confidence in my styling ability and from there went on to open my own styling business, started styling for Athleta, and worked at Stitch Fix. I ended up styling over 6000 women aged 13-90!

This experience led me to ask the question: Why don’t we see older women in fashion marketing when they have money to spend? That led to writing the blog, Celebrate The Gray which led to creating and starting our agency and collective. I love what I am doing and feel like I am making a difference in the world. I always say, does the work fill you up? If it does, keep at it!

What is one thing we can do today to positively change the conversation around aging? 

Be vocal and visual about who you are, what you are doing, and how old you are. Make sure that you take the opportunity to engage and have conversations with younger and older people. We are living longer and healthier and the perception and reality of aging haven’t caught up yet. I love telling a younger person that I’m 60 and that I found my passion and purpose in my 50s.

Next, check out social media and find those women or men that resonate with you. Reach out to them and tell them that you find their aging journey inspiring. Start building a community of like-minded people who see the updated version of you. Don’t be afraid of doing something toward that idea, be afraid of not doing something toward that idea. Let that idea that is buried deep in your brain start to grow, and be inspired to think about the possibilities not the limitations of aging. Stop thinking Who am I to think I can do this? and instead think, Why not me?

The post Of All the Career Advice I’ve Heard, This Is the Most Motivating appeared first on Camille Styles.

A sought-after career and leadership coach, AlTai has seen countless people operate from a place of fear (or scarcity, as she refers to it), especially during these tough times. However, there is a way through, she says. We can move forward with enthusiasm and power—even if the forces are grim—and nourish an abundance mindset. It’s not woo-woo, nor is it lofty. As AlTai fills me in here, having an abundance mindset begins with employing some mental tools, all of which are free. Plus, it requires the knowledge that no matter what, there is always more—and there is always enough. Let’s dive in.

Feature image by Lindsay King Photography.

What is an abundance mindset?

An abundance mindset is knowing there is more than enough out there for you. Basically it’s about acknowledging abundance and knowing you’re worthy of it—and allowing yourself to see and go after all that’s possible.

Why is it so powerful?

The reason an abundance mindset is so powerful is that our beliefs govern our ideas, which then guide our actions and produce our experiences, explains AlTai. Additionally, we have something called confirmation bias, a tendency to look for things in the external world that confirms our beliefs.  

“When we’re in fear-based thinking we often approach situations from a place of scarcity,” adds AlTai. “Our first thought is usually that there isn’t enough. So, if we believe that there isn’t enough, it will be reinforced externally.”

Contrarily, when we shift this perspective to one that is of abundance or more than enough, that too will be reinforced in our lives. And this is positive! “That’s why our beliefs are so important—because what is planted there will be reinforced through our experiences.” 

How to Create Abundance

Like any practice, an abundance mindset is personal. We all carry limiting beliefs and storied histories that inform our perspective today. To begin on the journey toward abundance, AlTai invites us to first think: I CAN thrive and have what I want, even in the face of challenge. 

Next, she suggests a tool called fear-sorting. “This is one of the most helpful methods I use with clients in challenging times,” she says. “Basically, it allows us to get abundantly clear on our fears and then sort through them to understand what might be a cognitive distortion and what is an actual threat we need to prevent from happening.”

How to Fear-Sort in 6 Steps:

#1: Ask yourself, What am I afraid of right now? Jot down all the reasons you feel those fears today. “Don’t leave anything off the page,” says AlTai. “This is your space to put it all out there without judgment.”  

#2: Check to see where you might be using mental filters—our unique way of processing information based on our own experiences. “We are living in a scary time and these fears are very valid—all feelings are valid,” stresses AlTai. “We just want to see if we might be over-rotating into distortion.”

Common mental filters include:

• Catastrophizing: assuming the worst outcome.
• Overgeneralizing: believing that because something happened once, it will happen again.
• Superstition: the tendency to think something bad might happen if we make a choice or move.

#3: Identify your fears and how likely they are to occur. Ask yourself, is there a low, medium, or high chance of this fear happening? “This helps us see what is real and what is false evidence,” says AlTai.

#4: Look at the fears that have a higher likelihood of materializing and see how you can prevent them from materializing. How can you mitigate its impact or have a backup plan for the worst-case scenario?

#5:  Support your mental safety and well-being. “When we are fearful, we tend to let our mind run away with stories,” says AlTai. “We can stay out of our stories by having integrity in our actions.”

#6: List your strengths. Jot down where you are most courageous, inviting your brain to see and believe in your resilience and fortitude. “Tough times can make us feel powerless,” believes AlTai. “This exercise serves as a reminder that even in the most difficult moments, you are capable.”

How to Sustain an Abundance Mindset

AlTai shows us that it is possible—and accessible—to shift and expand our perspective. But even when we land on an abundance mindset, we must actively work to hold it. To do so, she recommends the following:

A Dedicated Daily Practice

“This could be a journaling exercise to ensure we are addressing our mindset and the actions we’re taking out in the world,” says AlTai.

The Fortitude to Keep Inquiring Within

Indeed, this is one of the most powerful things we can do for ourselves. AlTai suggests asking ourselves: 

• What am I afraid of right now? 
• Where do I feel contracted? 
• How can I find evidence to the contrary? 
• What can I do today to move toward growth? 
• And ultimately: What actions can I take today to feel more abundant?

Looking for more ways to weave an abundance mindset into your daily life? Let Camille’s morning routine help you get grounded and carve out space for more inspiration throughout the day.

The post Lucky Girl Syndrome? We Call It ‘Abundance Mindset’—A Career Coach Explains Why It’s Key to Making Your Goals a Reality appeared first on Camille Styles.

This time, picture yourself setting a goal that continues to inspire you over the course of the entire year—one that you make actual progress on over time, giving you a deep sense of satisfaction. Over the last decade, I’ve learned there’s a strategy and a method for how to achieve goals that do just that, and I truly love this season as an opportunity to set my vision for the year ahead and map out how I’m going to get there.

Know Your Vision

In order to properly set goals, you have to first know where you’re headed. Enter my Vision Workbook, a tool I created for myself a few years ago to help me set priorities in my life, then make real traction on my goals in an achievable way. (If you don’t have your copy yet, you can download it for free right here!) Last week, I shared how I use the Workbook to create a vision for my year by walking through nine thought-provoking questions. If you missed that post, I’d highly recommend starting there, as it lays the foundation for today’s topic: how to set goals that are aligned with your personal vision.

Once you’ve visualized the outcomes you want to create, you can roadmap the transformative steps that will make that dream a reality this year. But first, let’s talk about what makes a good goal.

Understand How to Set Goals You Can Stick To

Often, we think about the goals we want to achieve, but we lack the strategy for making them stick. You’ve probably heard of the “S.M.A.R.T. Goals” framework, which is an acronym that stands for: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. The idea is that using this checklist will transform your vague goals into something you can actually achieve. This has been a helpful way for me to think about goal-setting, but over the years I’ve personalized it so that it fits better within my own life. Now when I set a goal, I make sure that it checks the following boxes:

Focused

I set ONE goal for each area of my life at a time. Each of these goals has ONE action step that I’m most focused on.

Systematized

I create a system for how exactly I’m going to get there, in a way that fits my life, schedule, and unique circumstances.

Holistic

Since I want to continue growing in all the different areas of my life, my goals should reflect that.

Focus On One Goal at a Time

Have you ever started the new year with a long list of goals, only to become so overwhelmed that you kicked them all to the curb by February? Same. Believe it or not, our minds can only effectively focus on one goal at a time, thanks to an idea called Goal Competition. James Clear describes the phenomenon of “goal competition” like this:

Goal competition says that one of the greatest barriers to achieving your goals is the other goals you have. In other words, your goals are competing with one another for your time and attention. Whenever you chase a new goal, you have to pull focus and energy from your other pursuits.

Yes, we’re setting goals for different areas of our lives, but for each of those areas we’re forcing ourselves to prune our list of goals down to the ONE goal that’s most important to us.

Create a System

When it comes to setting new goals, I like an action plan that seamlessly fits into my life, also known as systematizing that goal. Let me explain.

The Difference Between Goals and Systems

A goal is our desired end point. A system is the framework, or execution strategy, you put into place to help you make actual progress on your goals. For instance, if your goal is to start journaling every morning, your system is determining when, where, and how you’re going to be consistent with this practice over the long-term. If your goal is to make more dinners at home this year, your system will include when and how you’ll plan your meals and shop for groceries.

Focus on the One Most Impactful Action Step

After I’ve determined my one goal, I narrow down the one most important action step that will move the needle most powerfully toward achieving that goal. This sounds like a small thing, but it’s been so impactful in my own life. For example, in 2020, my career goal was to increase our website traffic. There are so many different small things we could do to help increase readership, but I knew that if I put all my energy towards growing our email list, we’d see a direct result. So that’s where I put my focus.

For any of your goals, just ask yourself: what would be the ONE most powerful action step I could take to make traction on this goal? Write it down, and know where to focus your energy.

Implement Habit Stacking

This is a specific type of system that helps you integrate new habits and practices into your daily schedule. I often habit stack my one action item to ensure it becomes a regular part of my life.

Here’s what habit stacking is: first, you identify a current habit you already do each day. Then, you stack your new behavior on top. I first learned this practice from James Clear, who explains it this way:

“The habit stacking formula is:

After/Before [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT].

For example:

• After I pour my cup of coffee each morning, I will meditate for one minute.
• After I take off my work shoes, I will immediately change into my workout clothes.
• After I sit down to dinner, I will say one thing I’m grateful for that happened today.
• After I get into bed at night, I will give my partner a kiss.

By linking your new habits to a cycle that is already built into your brain, you make it more likely that you’ll stick to the new behavior.“

Take a Holistic Approach

If you’re a reader of this site, there’s a high likelihood that you share our desire to build a life based on a holistic approach to wellness—one that encompasses our emotional health as much as our physical well-being, and our relationships as much as our careers or ambitions. So often, goal-setting is solely focused on achievements, but what about all the other important parts of you? Creating your dream life isn’t just about achieving success—perhaps even more key to your long-term happiness are your relationships and wellness. My goal-setting practice takes this approach, asking you to set your own most important goal in each of four areas:

Relationship Goals

Relationship goals could focus on romantic relationships, ways you want to show up for your kids or extended family members, or perhaps you want to create new friendships this year.

Career Goals

Your career goal might focus on your current job, or something new you want to move into this year. It could be a creative pursuit or side hustle, or maybe it’s even a financial goal you want to bring to fruition.

Health Goals

A health goal might be about physical health (nutrition, exercise, healthy habits) or it might focus on your emotional health.

Personal Growth Goals

How do you want to grow as a person this year? Your personal growth goal might include something new you want to learn this year, a hobby you’d like to try, or simply a practice like journaling or meditation that will help you grow more into your best self.

We want to keep growing and developing in all these different parts of ourselves—but get really specific on how we’re going to do it!

***

As you review how to achieve goals in each area of your life this year, celebrate! You’ve taken a major step in designing your dream life this year, and you should be so proud of what you’ve created. If you haven’t yet grabbed your own copy of the workbook, access it right here. Next week I’ll be sharing what my exact daily and monthly practice looks like as I integrate my goal systems into my life.

The post Re-think Your Resolutions! 6 Steps to Make Your Goals *Actually* Happen This Year appeared first on Camille Styles.

Over the course of 2023, I made several tweaks to how I use the workbook myself, so I wanted to create a version that helps us go deeper and is even more impactful for defining your “why” and creating the life of your dreams. So, grab your Vision and Goal Setting Workbook right here, and let’s dive in!

Here’s Why I Write Down My Vision for the Year

There’s a lot of content about manifestation and vision boarding, and white it’s heavy on the visualizing, sometimes it stops short of actually helping me map out a strategic plan to brings it to life. I’m an enneagram 3, y’all. I like a roadmap. I want to know the “how.” And that’s why this workbook is an incredibly powerful tool in my life.

Here’s the deal: Visualization, plus a tactical plan for doing the work, is the secret to making real traction towards creating our dream lives.

Throughout January, I’m going to be sharing a series of posts on how I walk through my vision workbook. It starts with creating the vision (what this post is all about), then defining my top priorities for each area of life: relationships, career, health, and personal growth. As a final step, I articulate one powerful thing I can do in each of those spheres to make the most traction towards my long-term goal. It helps me visualize how I want the year to look in an organized way that I can revisit and remind myself of daily.

Today, with the fresh start of a new year, we’re going to focus on creating that high-level vision. It’s what will fuel your passion and make you want to jump out of bed every morning and get after it. We’re going to give ourselves permission to dream big, get creative, and approach our lives with an abundance mindset. This step should be really fun, and it’s key to the process. And remember:

“You only need to know the direction, not the destination. The direction is enough to make the next choice.” – James Clear

How to Create a Vision for the Life You Want to Live:

It’s pretty typical for companies to create mission statements or vision statements to inspire and give direction to their teams. It’s how a business articulates their goals for the future, and defines how they’re going to get there. But I think it’s equally important to take the same intentional approach in who we’re becoming day-by-day, year-by-year, and this requires crafting a purposeful vision for your life.

Here are the 9 steps I use to create my own vision. I walk you through each of these in the Vision Workbook so you can define your own.

1. Write Your 2024 Mantra

If the entire workbook is the long version of your 2024 vision, consider your mantra to be the short version—typically just a sentence or a few words. You want to be able display it where you’ll see it daily, and quickly repeat it when you need to recenter. Though I lead with this step in the workbook, you may not know your mantra right away, and that’s okay. Complete the rest of the steps first, then come back to this one once you’ve been able to look for patterns and themes.

This year, my own mantra is:

Less distraction, more engagement.

Here are other examples of mantras I’ve written through the years to help get the creativity flowing:

• Slow down, stop rushing.
• Raise your energy.
• Enjoy today.
• Be here now.
• Simplify.
• Have more fun.

2. What Does Your Dream Life Look Like?

Visualize what your dream life looks, sounds, smells, and feels like, then journal about it. Don’t limit yourself to what seems realistic in the moment—allow your imagination to run free. To help break free of the mindset that “dream life” equals status or material possessions, I like to focus more on what an actual day in my dream life looks like, by answering these questions:

• Where are you?
• Who are you with?
• How do you feel?
• What does “success” look like for you?

I always find that this exercise unlocks some new realization for me. It helps me get clear on what I actually want, instead of what I think I should want.

3. How Do You Want to Feel This Year?

Next, create a list of emotions that you want to feel more of in 2024. Part of the Daily Practice in the workbook is reviewing this list each morning to ask, “How can I feel more of these today?” It’s amazing how setting an intention for the way you want to feel changes the way we carry ourselves through the day. Try to limit your list to no more than 5, so you can actually focus in on these and incorporate them throughout your day.

Here is my list for this year:

• Present
• Curious
• Energized

4. When Are You the Happiest?

It’s a simple question that may unlock some major aha’s for you. How often do we go on autopilot and forget to ask ourselves if we’re incorporating the things that make us happy into our day-to-day lives? A little soul searching may uncover that you’re happiest when you’re cooking, walking with a friend, trying a new sport, traveling, or lost in a good book. Whatever it is, the goal is to intentionally make more time for that in your life this year.

5. Where Do You Want to Go This Year?

So often, our travel plans get pushed to the bottom of our priority list, and then we’re making decisions in the eleventh hour based on flight costs or our busy schedule. What if we took a more proactive approach to our travel destinations by dreaming at the beginning of a new year about where we most want to visit? Then, we can take an honest look at our calendar and our budgets and get creative about how to make it happen. I usually target one “big trip” a year and a couple smaller trips to places in the US. You may not get to them all in 2024, but I’m confident that if you take this approach, that “dream spot” will be in your future. Here are mine this year:

• Costa Rica (it’s already scheduled))
• Los Olivos, CA (need to plan this)
• Japan (stretch goal)

6. Who Are the People in Your Life You Want to Prioritize?

For several years, I’ve kept a note in my Evernote called “My List.” It’s ten or so names of people in my life (outside my family) who are top priority. These are the people I want to invest in, spend time with, and cultivate our relationship in a meaningful way this year. We all know how busy life gets, and keeping this list in a place where I can easily access helps me remember to check in and stay connected through the year.

In this step, you simply make a list of the friends, co-workers, extended family, etc who you want to prioritize this year–keep it short enough so that you can really invest in each of them.

7. What Books Do You Want to Read This Year?

I like to set an intention at the beginning of the year for a few books that I want to read start-to-finish. Four means one book a season–feel free to get ambitious and up your number to one a month.  

Here’s my list for 2024. The first two are tied to two of my goals (continuing to develop my voice as a writer, and being a better listener with my kids) and the last two are beautiful narratives that I want to dive into.

1. Everybody Writes, by Ann Handley
2. Good Inside, by Dr. Becky Kennedy
3. A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini
4. A Heart That Works, by Rob Delaney

8. What’s One Thing You Want to Learn This Year?

Learning something new every year is majorly inspiring—and it’s cool to think that even as an adult, if you learn one new thing every year, in 20 years you will have cultivated 20 new skills, hobbies, languages, etc. That said, some of us can be a bit too, ahem, ambitious about what we’re actually going to learn in a year.

For the purpose of this exercise, I like to focus on just ONE thing I’m going to learn in the year ahead. Don’t laugh, but this year my goal is that I want to learn how to do face yoga. Seriously (google it.)

9. Create a Vision Board

For the uninitiated, a vision board is the visual representation of your goals. It’s typically made up of words and images, and is meant to provide inspiration and remind you where you’re headed. No matter what your goals are—to slow down, to start a company, to be a better parent, to travel more, to be more creative, to workout every day—a vision board is a tool that can be incredibly powerful on the journey.

So, how do you actually make a vision board? Well, I like to start by completing all the other parts of the Vision Workbook first, so you actually start the process with a solid understanding of what your own vision actually is. Then, you can search for imagery and words that spark those feeling and represent those goals for you. There’s really no wrong way to do it.

I love to make digital vision boards in Canva—they have templates with all kinds of beautiful layouts that make it easy for beginners. Just import your inspiration photos and arrange them into a collage on the digital canvas.

However, for the beginning of the year, there’s really nothing like using my hands to make a large-scale vision board that lives in my office the rest of the year. I get out my stack of magazines and scissors, print pages from my Pinterest boards, and go through my folders of postcards and stickers that I’ve saved through the year. I’ll also use pen and paper to write out quotes or inspiring words that I want to see every day.

***

You did it! How does it feel? Look back through your Vision Workbook and celebrate—you’ve taken your first major step in designing your dream life this year, and you should be so proud of what you’ve created. If you haven’t yet grabbed your own copy of the workbook, access it right here. Next week I’ll be sharing how I tackle the next step—how to set and achieve goals, then creating a strategic plan to reach them.

The post 9 Life-Changing Questions I Ask Myself At the Beginning of a New Year appeared first on Camille Styles.

“It is normal to feel overwhelmed at work from time to time,” shares Kathryn Lee, a New York-based psychotherapist. “Regardless of your field or role, work can be stressful! However, if you are finding yourself persistently feeling overwhelmed, that can be a slippery slope to burnout.”

Featured image by Teal Thomsen.

In our current pop culture moment, “burnout” is a buzzy term that tends to get conflated with the idea of being overwhelmed. But they are not one and the same. While feeling overwhelmed often leads to a reactive, emotional response, those experiencing job burnout are typically too exhausted to feel or react at all.

“Feeling overwhelmed can be a sign of burnout; however, burnout is a result of chronic and persistent feelings of stress,” Lee adds. “It can occur when we are constantly feeling overwhelmed and drained.”

Promptly addressing feeling overwhelmed at work is crucial to avoiding burnout down the road. Thankfully, Lee took the time to share some tips for how to cope, and how to communicate your mental health to an employer. And just remember—it’s totally normal.

Kathryn Lee, MHC, Ed.M, M.A

Kathryn Lee is a New York City-based mental health counselor whose work aims to support all people by creating an empathetic, compassionate, and nonjudgmental environment. Her client-centered approach aims to tailor the therapeutic process to each individual, working collaboratively with clients to ensure their perspectives are supported and all their needs are met.

What stressors cause overwhelm in your work day?

“Individuals can feel overwhelmed if they have various responsibilities and feel that they do not have the support, time, energy, or means to accomplish what they feel they need to,” Lee explains. “Sometimes, an individual may also feel overwhelmed because they are going through a life transition or a traumatic event.”

What tips do you have for someone dealing with workplace stress and feeling overwhelmed?

Set boundaries. Set and maintain firm boundaries that mirror your current capacity for work. For those that struggle with people pleasing this can be difficult; remember that you know your limitations and needs best.

Sleep. Sleep is integral to our brains and bodies; it allows us to reset and restore physically, mentally, and emotionally. Work on your sleep hygiene—you can start by creating boundaries and a routine around sleep.

Schedule breaks. If you are able, consider taking a mental health day or some time off. Make sure to take breaks throughout the day, even if it’s five minutes to stretch and walk around your office, listen to your favorite song, get some fresh air, and take a minute to just breathe. Creating mental distance from work—even if it’s brief—gives us time to pause and reset.

Relaxation exercises. Try practicing meditation or mindfulness. Keep in mind that mindfulness is not just focusing on deep breaths—it can be anything from baking or painting to implementing a skincare routine. Find an activity that can ground your mind and body.

Connect with your support network. It is easy for us to get lost in our own realities. Sometimes we might not even recognize how overwhelmed we are. Research has shown that the more people feel connected, the more they are able to manage stressful and traumatic events.

Work with a mental health professional. If you are finding yourself struggling with some of the tips mentioned, it may be pointing to deeply rooted narratives that we have internalized. Connect with a mental health professional who can work with you to identify these patterns and wounds.

Is it okay to tell your boss that you’re feeling overwhelmed?

Many of us, especially women (and absolutely millennials), grew up with a warning never to show weakness in our work life. Knowing when it’s time to protect your mental health should be seen as a strength, but it can still feel stressful to share your workload needs with an employer.

“Yes, it is okay to tell your boss that you are feeling overwhelmed!” Lee shares. “There are many people competing for your boss’ attention; your boss may be unaware of how you are feeling. Communicating your needs to your boss can provide an opportunity for you to re-prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and delegate tasks.

“Keep in mind that you also will perform your best when you are feeling confident and stable; your mental health is an essential component to your performance at work.”

The post Feeling Overwhelmed at Work? A Psychotherapist Shares How to Beat Burnout Before It Starts appeared first on Camille Styles.

Executive & Personal Assistant for Camille Styles, Casa Zuma, and Family Office

It’s a unique time to join our team as we build a new brand (Casa Zuma), grow our media property (Camille Styles), and develop strategic family business opportunities. This is a ground-up longterm opportunity to work closely with our founders across these initiatives in a positive, high-energy environment.

If you’re the type of person who’s good at a lot of different things, is both creative and highly organized, and hates being bored, this could be the challenge you’ve been looking for. We will count on you to thoughtfully prioritize all types of needs, including daily administration, calendar management, project coordination, photo shoot and event production, travel schedules, and creating presentations. You will be challenged. You will solve multiple problems per day. It’s an opportunity with major potential for growth.

You Are:

• Proactive and Independent. You see what needs to be done and are a self-starter.
• Detail-oriented. Ability to ensure standard of quality is met across every task.
• A strong communicator. Both kind and clear in written and verbal communications.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to switch from task to task with little notice.
• Experienced with office management software. Google Workspace, Slack. Bonus points for Asana, Canva, WordPress, and/or Shopify.
• Ego-less. We all wear the hats that need wearing to make our team a success.
• Located in Austin and able to work a Monday – Thursday weekly schedule (with some flexibility for events/shoots outside of those hours.)

You Will:

• Solve day-to-day operational issues
• Assist with social media and email marketing
• Manage calendars, emails, and meetings
• Book and research travel
• Run miscellaneous errands
• Assist with packing and shipping
• Assist with setup and breakdown of photo shoots
• Coordinate talent and production schedules
• Plan events

Commitment & Comp:

• 3 month contract at 20 hours per week
• $2,500 / month
• For the right candidate, we anticipate this turning into a full-time salaried position

To apply: Please send your resumé to jobs@camillestyles.com

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How we feel about diversity and inclusion:

Camille Styles is committed to bringing together people from different backgrounds and perspectives, providing employees with a safe and welcoming work environment free of discrimination/harassment. We strive to create a diverse & inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, feel a sense of belonging, and do impactful work together. As an equal opportunity employer, we prohibit any unlawful discrimination against a job applicant, and are dedicated to going above and beyond in fostering diversity across our workplace.

The post We’re Hiring! Executive Assistant for Casa Zuma & Camille Styles appeared first on Camille Styles.

First, the name

When we first started tossing around the name Casa Zuma, it was in reference to the 1950’s beach house overlooking Zuma Beach that we bought in 2020 to turn into our family’s retreat. Over the (still-ongoing) years-long process of renovating, it slowly began to represent something more: a slower way of life that was rooted in feeling more deeply connected to nature, each other, and ourselves.

For years, I’d wanted to create something that I could share with others to help cultivate more meaningful everyday experiences in their own lives—to enhance the small moments and be a cue to enjoy the present. It’s my vision for this site, and I dreamed of how that could come to life in the physical world. So, Casa Zuma began to grow into that thing—not just the place that I love so much, but also a way of life, and ultimately, a brand in itself. When I think of Casa Zuma, I picture the rhythmic beat of the waves, the waving grasses at Point Dume, and the sunset over the mountains that leaves us speechless each night.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared about the products we’ll be offering, but way before making those decisions, I had begun the process of unearthing who Casa Zuma is.

What does the brand look, feel, smell, and sound like? And so began the process of creating a new brand from the ground up.

Establishing the domain

First, we bought the URL, casazuma.com, as well as the closest social handles that were still available. I started asking friends if they knew any branding/design wizards who could help bring our ideas to life visually. One of them mentioned having worked with Matt Titone and Ron Thompson, who own ITALIC Studio based in Southern California.

A long breakfast meeting in Malibu revealed that not only did we love their creative direction, but their passion for surf culture felt serendipitous. I handed off a deck I’d put together that contained my mood boards and descriptions of how I wanted the brand to feel. It was full of images and words that nodded to the natural elements—terra cotta, agave, and sand—that inspired me. And we were off.

Creating the brand identity

With ITALIC, we began the process of looking at a wide range of visuals and graphic elements to see what we were drawn to—everything from surf hotels in Montauk to artistic references like Matisse cutouts. We made detailed notes—we liked the edginess of the hand-drawn elements; we wanted to stay away from anything that felt tribal or Aztec. Our muse was the place, Zuma Beach, and the sun-drenched, laid-back life that drew us there.

A few weeks later, Matt and Ron sent us our first branding concepts to review. It included ideas for colors, logos, graphic elements, and fonts. Here were some of the initial logo concepts that I liked, but didn’t make the final cut:

Logo

The concepts were challenging to narrow down at first. Every logo option was so good! I loved the carefree nature of the hand-drawn font on the left, the sculptural curves of the top middle, and the quiet sophistication of the top right option. I went through all the options, absorbed them, then didn’t look at them for a solid 24 hours so the ideas could marinate. When I came back to it the next day, there was one option that just felt right:

This is the one I kept coming back to—it felt cool and just unexpected enough, but with a refinement that balanced the more raw and free-flowing parts of the other branding elements.

We wanted a smaller “mark” that could be used to stamp the bottom of our ceramic pieces or carved into our wood boards and bowls. The ITALIC guys came up with a brilliant solution (see above) that included the CZ brand initials, but also reminded me of my favorite view from the beach house, where the mountains and sun meet the water.

Color palette

Our brand colors were inspired by those natural elements that define Malibu: canyons and ocean, seaweed and agave, eucalyptus trees, rocky beaches. Since our actual products will be made in earthy neutrals, it’s nice to have some color options to play with in our branding elements.

Fonts

We also chose fonts. We settled on GTF Ekstra for our primary branding materials (i.e., presentations, marketing, and business cards). But for the website, we chose a similar Google font that would work seamlessly with our branding elements. (Google fonts are free and often result in faster load times on a site.)

And, we had a brand. The whole process took a few months, and when it was done, this project felt real. The logo, colors, fonts, graphics, and mark were there. And just as important, we’d spent time cultivating the personality and purpose of Casa Zuma. It was almost a living, breathing thing, and this brand identity would inform all the steps we took next, from the website design to the social channels to the products themselves. We refer back to this deck time and again for inspiration, to guide us on whether or not a choice is aligned with our vision.

Starting with the brand before anything else, even the product design, made every decision that came after it easier. We had clarity and confidence that we were creating something special with a strong point-of-view. Now we just had to bring it to life.

Next up: I’ll be diving into the design process of a few of my favorite products from our launch collection as we gear up to launch Casa Zuma in just a couple of weeks!

The post Building Casa Zuma, Part 2—Creating the Brand Identity appeared first on Camille Styles.

Starting a business doesn’t necessarily require loads of experience or taking on investors. It does require vision, the willingness to work like crazy, and the courage to take risks and possibly fail along the way.

Easy, right? Hardly. But 1000% worth it to pursue something that lights you up so much, you can’t ignore it. Before we dive into the juicy stuff (the branding! building a website! the huge mistakes I’ve already made! I promise, we’ll get there), let’s start with the essence of any new business idea, which is quite simply—what are we selling, and why?

Everything You Need to Set a Table You Love

It sounds simple, but a major key to building a business with longevity is the ability to simplify and hone in on your core product offering. I’ve thought of a lot of different business ideas through the years, and while many of them could have worked and even been fun to pursue, I knew that if I was going to pour my heart into something it had to feel purposeful and core to who I am. Here are some of the boxes that had to be checked before I was ready to dive into this new venture:

Passion.

The core business had to be something I’m so passionate about that I naturally want to talk about it all the time. Something that scratches my own itch by bringing products to the market that I personally want to buy, and that I’m genuinely excited to share with the world.

Point-of-View.

I had to be confident that I bring true expertise to the business. As a former event planner and lifelong party thrower, I have a strong POV about the plates, glassware, and linens that I want to use on my table. I’ve spent a crazy amount of time thinking about why a handmade vase sparks so much joy when I fill it with branches, or what makes a linen napkin so satisfyingly perfect. My design approach is informed by years of gathering people around the table, and writing about it here, for you.

Connection.

One of my litmus tests for pursuing any new project is—does it feel like a natural extension of what we’re creating at Camille Styles? Is it aligned with our core values, and will it provide a meaningful lens for storytelling? There’s a beautiful connective tissue between products for the table and the stories we share around cooking, design, and gathering people together in meaningful ways. And through this process, I’ve already discovered some of the most incredible people, places, and creative work that I can’t wait to share with you. Our sourcing trip to Oaxaca alone began a domino effect of creative inspiration in my own life.

My passion for handmade ceramics, textured table linens, and beautiful glassware runs deep, and I’ve spent years searching for the best versions of each one. When I thought about designing and sourcing my own products for the table, I got that feeling deep in my soul that just said—YES.

Minimalist Vibes and That Earthy, Wabi Sabi Aesthetic

Every product in Casa Zuma’s launch collection is meant to elevate your experience around the table, and it’s informed by the things I use to set my own table again and again.

Many of you share my love of pieces with imperfect, wabi sabi character. We gravitate towards neutral colors and earthy textures, and want to surround ourselves with handmade items that spark joy every time we use them.

So, I set out to design a collection that reflects the warm minimalism and connection with nature that I’m always after in my own home. By staying true to that aesthetic, my vision for our products is that they’ll mix and match seamlessly. Collect the things that speak to you and know that everything will look amazing together.

Designed By Me, For Me (And You)

Through the years, various opportunities have come up to create and sell products. Some were interesting, but none felt quite right. I knew that if I ever put a physical product into the world, it had to be something that really spoke to me—something that I could concept from start to finish, design myself, and work directly with the makers to bring to you.

Yes, doing things this way has been a lot more work than if I’d just put my name on something, but it was worth it to ensure that the products we’re creating are the most perfect versions of themselves—the things I’ve searched for and haven’t been able to find. Here are just a few of the items that I can’t wait to share with you:

• Oversized Linen napkins with a satisfyingly heavy weight so they wash and dry beautifully.
• Handmade no-handle mugs to make my morning ritual feel really special.
• Wood boards that are the perfect size for chopping, serving, and displaying in the kitchen.
• Handmade dishes that are one-of-a-kind, yet durable enough to use every day (and put in the dishwasher!)

I want every Casa Zuma piece to serve multiple purposes in your home, and to bring more joy and beauty into your everyday life. And it’s coming soon! Be sure you’re on the list to be the first to shop, and stay tuned for next week—we’re doing a deep dive into how we created the branding (logo, colors, fonts, and more!) from start to finish.

The post Building Casa Zuma, Part 1—It Starts Around the Table appeared first on Camille Styles.