Inside Boss Babe Jamie Grimstad's Do-It-All Pandemic Routine

Jamie Grimstad may be fresh out of college, but the wellness guru and entrepreneur has been hustling for years! 

Currently, the downtown It Girl splits her time between working for an NYC-based VC, running her own boutique marketing firm Curated by Jamie, and most recently, launching her brilliant new startup Favour. 

Curious how the busy business woman gets it all done while working from home? Read below for Jamie's routine, including her tips and tricks for getting through the day!

Would you consider yourself a morning person?
100%. Those who know me know that I’m an early riser, and that I cherish my morning routine. I look forward to having my coffee every morning, and having some quiet “me” time to collect myself before the day starts. I also think most clearly in the morning - which is kind of weird - but I am most definitely my most productive before lunchtime. 

What's the very first thing you do when you wake up?
Although they say not to, I check my phone - haha. I also drink a glass of water before getting out of my bed. 

How do you like to start the day?
I typically get out of bed around 7:45 and dive straight into my morning skincare routine to wake me up. There’s something about starting with a simple regimen that sets you up for a productive day - or at least what I tell myself. Then it’s coffee time. I always have my coffee while watching the news and/or planning out my day. I try to give myself enough time before settling into my office, but I like to get right to it - whether it be answering emails or helping to fulfill orders for Favour.

How are you enjoying working from home?
I work at a VC, while also running Favour on a daily basis, so working from home has really given me the flexibility needed to help me manage my time, and wear multiple hats. It’s also forced me to strive for a better work-life balance, which is always something that I’ve been terrible at. Being home all of the time, I have realized that there are things that I need - a good routine, exercise, seeing friends, and a good drink :) - to feel my best self. But of course, WFH has also had its challenges. There are most definitely days where I feel burnt out, and I just want to binge-watch something on Netflix all day and do nothing. Those days are the most challenging. While there’s definitely too much time to get in my head, I’ve also been able to learn that sometimes it’s okay to just sit on the couch and relax. Throughout it all, Favour has been a real life-saver, and has been saving me on days when I don’t feel my best-self, or need a pick-me up. 

What are your pros and cons of working from home?
Pros: Flexibility, time with my man, complete control over your schedule day-to-day, and getting to take a break in the kitchen for lunch! 

Cons: It is SO hard to get out of your sweatpants, lots of days where the motivation lacks, sometimes finding it hard to get out of the house or finding a work-life balance.  

What's your WFH style look like?
As much as I’d love to say I get fully dressed every morning, I’d call my new day-to-day style casual chic? Most days you can find me in a pair of comfy sweatpants or leggings - something comfortable to wear while sitting in front of the computer all day! Some days I do light makeup, but I’ve become more and more into giving my skin a breather during the week, which has been refreshing. 

How do you like to unwind at the end of the day?
It depends on the day of week, but it most likely always includes cooking something yummy for dinner in the kitchen, or going out to dinner (which is limited, these days). While I try not to drink during the week, some days you just really crave a glass of wine after a long day. 

It definitely gets draining being in front of the computer all day, so something that I've been incorporating into my morning and evening beauty routine is Avenova. It's an eyelid and lash cleansing spray that helps relieve against any chronic eye conditions that could come from hours of screen time. 

Not to mention it's antimicrobial, so it’s the perfect thing to carry in my bag when I'm out and about in case I catch myself touching my face. It's basically like a facial sanitizer!

How are you liking your new neighborhood?
I’m obsessed with it! I definitely see myself living in Tribeca for the long-haul, as it’s the perfect balance between having some quiet time (and space), and being rather central to the places I go most often. 

What's the one piece of advice you have for someone starting their own business?
Delegate, and focus on your strengths! Someone once told me that when you’re starting your own business, you should never assume that you will know how to do everything. 

While you should focus on your strengths, it’s also important to delegate - and I’ve learned that the hard way. As someone who’s very Type-A (if you haven’t noticed, haha), I’m a professional at taking on too much to the point where I get very overwhelmed (in part, why I started Favour). Over the past year especially, I’ve learned that delegating jobs is so important in setting yourself up for success. While we’re a small team at Favour (it’s just me, my mom, and Margaret - and our new social manager, Kennedy), I’ve learned the importance of collaboration and tackling things together. It allows you to think more clearly, and most often, end up with a better result. 

What are you most excited for next?
While it’s definitely been a tough year for all of us, I’m grateful for the time I’ve had to spend with my family, my boyfriend - and the time I’ve had to myself. 

Workwise, it’s definitely reminded me to slow down but also work hard, and socially, it’s made me realize how much I love seeing my friends, having people over, and not being worried about getting sick (or getting someone sick). I’m really looking forward to launching our new product for Favour in December (wink, wink!), spending time with family for the holidays, and getting a fresh start in 2021. 

[Photos by Yumi Matsuo]