Geri Hirsch | An Influencer On Scaling Back And Self-Care
by Neha Ruch
If you read Geri Hirsch’s Instagram bio, she explains her motto beautifully: “The secret to having it all is knowing you already do.” And it seems like she knows that - along with herself - really, really well.
She’s had her blog for nearly 15 years, was a pioneer in the space, and still has an active following who look to her for advice on everything from clean beauty to (now) motherhood. She also built, and then sold, one of the first YouTube channels and editorialized online video destinations covering all things beauty, health, wellness, and style (alongside her co-founder Erin Falconer who we recently featured in the AMHW series). Then last January, she welcomed her daughter Leo Gem and took a major step back from the hustle of her past.
Not only do we want to read every article on Geri’s site and take note from her ability to scale back, but we left this conversation feeling motivated to up our self-care routine, even if that means not leaving the house.
How did you change after becoming a mother?
I've never felt more peaceful or content in my life and that feeling of completion, of feeling whole, affords me the gift of not sweating the small stuff.
What choices did you make to accommodate motherhood? Would you make them again?
I took a huge step back from work to focus on motherhood. In Leo’s first year, while exclusively breastfeeding, I didn't feel capable of giving 100% to my daughter and 100% to work so one had to give. I chose my daughter. I scaled work way back and the reward was incredible. I wouldn't change it for the world and hope I'll be able to do the same with future babies, gd willing!
Describe yourself as a mother in 3 words. What kind of mother would you like to be?
Warm, loving, firm.
How do you take care of yourself outside of motherhood?
I eat pretty clean because it makes me feel good but certainly indulge because #BALANCE! I try to get in intense workouts 3 days a week, and on the other days, we get in our 10k steps by going on long walks or dancing around the living room to Michael Jackson (Leo's favorite). I sneak in at-home beauty treatments everywhere I can - while I feed her in the morning and at night while she's asleep.
I get a monthly facial, a monthly at-home massage, love a glass of wine or cocktail at night and practice a lot of gratitude. Leo was named after a sheriff who saved my husband’s life one year into our marriage and waking up to the two of them every day fills me with so much appreciation.
Every mother needs help to find balance. What does your village look like?
My husband is my co-pilot! He's completely hands on while he's home. He gets her in the mornings and brings her to bed with us, comes home early on bath nights as that's their special time together, loves to take her out and about and is fully present with us all weekend long.
Besides that, I have a little bit of help with Leo at our house twice a week. My mom also comes over to hang with Leo so I can get a little work done sporadically.
We don't have a nanny which is by design, hence why I chose to scale work back.
What are you working on improving about yourself as a woman & a mother?
I'm trying to get more comfortable leaving Leo so that I can get back to work a little bit more. It's incredibly important to me that Leo sees how hard dad AND mom both work.
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