How I Thrive takes an inside look at founders, entrepreneurs and leaders and the behind-the-scenes self-care work they do to in order to live balanced, happy lives. Today's edition is with Last Object founder Isabel Aagaard, who believes in the power of sustainability, a snack drawer, and a foot bath.
Name: Isabel Aagaard
Age: 29
City: Copenhagen, Denmark
Company: Last Object, a company that creates alternative products to replace single-use items.
Beyond the role: Mother, sustainability freak, design-obsessed and hobby painter.
Morning routine:
My baby wakes me up, so I change and feed him first. Then I take my toothbrush with me into the shower, I've always felt this was more effective. I wash my hair and body, and I always brush my hair with conditioner because otherwise it will never get untangled. I scrub my face with a LastRound and some soap.
After I get out of the shower I dry my hair with the towel, sometimes adding some oil on the ends. I use face cream sometimes and clean my ears with a LastSwab. If it's a home day that's it, if it's a going out day I'll put a bit of mascara on.
The first thing I do after work:
I typically drink a bottle of water because I'm so good at forgetting. I take off my mascara with LastRound as soon as I get home.
Dinner ritual:
Depending on the day, my husband and I usually cook together. We cook a huge pot and freeze down small portions. Usually we'll just heat up a portion and cook rice, pasta and potatoes on the side and add a salad.
Nighttime routine:
I put my baby to sleep and then my husband and I clean up the kitchen and living room with some upbeat music. We finish the night with a glass of wine, some candy and Netflix.
Self-care guilty pleasure:
A foot bath, wine and Netflix.
Workday self-care hack:
Snacks. I have a whole drawer of healthy snacks — nuts, dried berries, peanut butter.
How do you define self-care?
Giving yourself a treat that pleases your body and mind.
Favorite childhood toy or hobby:
The first thing that comes to mind is that my mom and I would draw together. So we would start on different drawings and switch at some point to continue each others drawings. I loved this game, because I felt she could make everything I did pretty. This has influenced my collaborative approach to design and in general made me love the work I do with others.
State of your (email) inbox:
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Illustration by Megan Behrendt