Melissa Wood Talks Self Care, Work-Life Balance & More Wellness Tips​

If there’s anyone who knows the ins and outs of managing an at-home schedule, it’s Melissa Wood-Tepperberg of Melissa Wood Health.

PureWow recently chatted with the health guru, who discussed everything from her self-care routine to her work-life balance. Here, Wood-Tepperberg explains how she’s coping during this time of social distancing.

How are you practicing self-care during this unique time?
It’s quite challenging these days trying to run my business on top of taking care of my two babes all day, but the one thing that’s really keeping me centered and sane is prioritizing my practice. I strive for ten to 15 minutes of meditation a day and about 20 minutes of movement (or anything I can get in really). It’s keeping me grounded with all the highs and lows and emotions that are coming up during this time. These practices are what make me feel my absolute best, so even on days I’m not feeling motivated to do something, I put on a song that makes me want to move and roll out my mat because I know it will immediately shift my entire mood.

How have you been staying connected with friends and family?
I’ve been doing Houseparty with my friends, group texts and Facetimes with family when I can. 

Have you set yourself and your family up with a specific schedule to stay sane? 
I keep reading about all these schedules, and the truth is… I fly by the seat of my pants every day and do my best with what’s in front of me. Some days my daughter skips her nap and trying to get my son on every school zoom call can feel overwhelming while taking care of a 19-month-old. So, I dropped the pressure of living by a schedule and live in the moment instead. And I feel so much happier! The kids usually wake up and go to bed around the same time every day, and the fact that I know I have a chunk of time to myself when they are both asleep is pure gold. It gives me space to tend to my work like clearing my inbox and filming workouts, which helps me breathe a little deeper.

What are some of your favorite meals you’ve been cooking at home?
I’ve been living for my vegan pasta alla vodka sauce, quinoa stir fry and my loaded avocado toast. 

How have you and your husband spoken (if at all) to your children about what’s going on? 
Benjamin actually came home from school one day telling us about the virus and every time we put a mask and gloves on, he likes to talk about it. We like to keep things open and honest on how we're practicing social distancing to lessen the spread and keep everyone safe. He’s very aware of what’s going on without giving him too much detail.

Have you been able to find a silver lining through all of this?
There’s always been a part of me that wanted to be a dedicated stay-at-home mom. With the current situation, it’s giving me a sense of appreciation to take it all in and really be grateful for this extra time I’m getting with my kids. But it’s also reminded me how much I love my work and what I contribute to the world and how I ultimately thrive being a working mom. It’s also taught me that I unintentionally run on autopilot, so I’m giving myself the space to really listen to the things that make me happy versus things that immediately knock me off course. 

You’ve built an incredible career and community for around Melissa Wood Health. If you could offer any advice to our reader about being a working mom, what would it be?
Get really clear with yourself and where you want to put your time and energy because as you grow, your business grows and opportunities grow. There’s one part of you that wants to say yes to everything, so you don’t miss out, but saying no is equally as important. As a mother and business owner, my time is extremely valuable and saying ‘no’ to things that don’t make me jump for an immediate ‘yes’ has to be an unapologetic ‘no’ with zero guilt attached. This took a lot of time for me to learn but it’s the best adjustment I’ve made as a businesswoman.