Emma Rose Cohen is the CEO and co-founder of the company behind FinalStraw, the patented collapsible, reusable straw that revolutionized the way Americans drink their beverages. Emma’s passion for sustainability started when she was at the University of California Santa Barbara, where she organized beach cleanups, and saw firsthand the devastating impacts of single-use products on the environment. She shares that “before long, we were attending city council meetings dressed as mermaids and offering the council members plastic-filled sandwiches.” Emma went on to earn a master’s degree in environmental management and sustainability at Harvard, spent four years working in waste minimization, and finally developed her passion project—FinalStraw. Some fun facts about Emma: “I work from home and am wearing a onesie 90% of the time. I was on my way to get a burrito when I decided to go to a shelter and get a dog instead… which is why I named her Burrita. I’m a big fan of eco-friendly glitter. I never travel without my pillow.” Below, this entrepreneur tells us how she incorporates self-care into her workday at her home office.

 
Bad habits you’ve cut?

  1. Scrolling through social media.
  2. Waking up and immediately grabbing my phone.
  3. Not exercising.

 

Good habits you’ve added?

  1. I start every day with a short meditation and count backwards from 60. Some days I can do this on the first try. Other days it takes me up to 10 tries. Then I make my bed. These habits are part of my keystone behaviors that help jump start my day. 
  2. Working out first thing in the morning and jumping in a glacier-fed lake. 
  3. Taking time to celebrate the wins. 

 

How do you take care of yourself throughout the day?

  • I drink lots of water. I always have a 32oz mason jar by my desk full of water.
  • Snacks… lots of snacks! My boyfriend jokes that I’m a bird because I don’t generally eat big meals throughout the day, but I’m always picking at something or have something next to my computer that I can munch on. 
  • I take calls while walking my dog, Burrita, so if I don’t need to be by the computer I’ll take it on a walk. 
  • Naps—they’re the best thing about working from home. If I’m tired I’ll take a quick 20-minute power nap. I wake up feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the world. 

 

Are there any activities or hobbies you do to help you de-stress?

  • Physical activity is essential. My go-to activities are mountain biking and skiing, depending on the season. Both of these activities are pretty high adrenaline so I also try to balance them with yoga. 
  • I love playing around on Photoshop and making memes! 
  • I enjoy listening to business-related podcasts so I can learn about the trials and tribulations that other entrepreneurs go through. This helps put my problems into perspective. 
  • Cooking—I love mixing flavors and especially enjoy spicy food. 

 

How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
Between 3-10. My sleep schedule can be pretty irregular. I enjoy working late at night, but that doesn’t pair well with my 6am workout schedule during the week. I get really fired up and some days I just don’t need as much sleep. Ideally, I’d like to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night to prevent myself from having crash phases. 

The most important thing for me about my sleep schedule is just listening to my body. So, if that means working late then so be it. However, if I feel like I really need a nap, I’ll give myself permission to take a quick midday snooze. 

Do you have a favorite wellness trend?
Meditation. I find when I complete my meditation routine, my mind functions better. It’s like when your room is really messy and you need to find something, you have to sort through all of the rubbish to get there. Meditation is like cleaning your room. 

What is your favorite healthy food?
Kraut… I put this in just about everything. I love putting it on my eggs in the morning and in my tuna salad in the afternoon. It’s amazing for gut health and is full of incredible probiotics.