How I Thrive: Sweet Loren's Founder Loren Brill

How I Thrive: Sweet Loren's Founder Loren Brill

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 Sweet Loren's founder Loren Brill, who has the world's most luxurious bath routine and loves a good cup of tea.

Name: Loren Brill

Age: 35

City: Los Angeles, CA

Company: Sweet Loren's, a clean food company transforming what it means to be convenient and delicious. Sweet Loren's is the #1 natural cookie dough brand in the U.S., and one of the fastest growing privately held companies.

Role: Founder & CEO 

Beyond the role: Fiancée a sister, daughter, auntie, mentor and friend. I love cooking and baking, working out, being in nature, health and wellness, dinner parties, and travel.

Morning routine: 

When I wake up, the first thing I do is check my phone. I mentally prepare for the day by looking at my calendar so I know what I need to dress for/prepare for, and skim my emails to see what now takes priority. If something urgent has come up, I send out emails or texts to make sure our team is on it.

Even if I get up at six a.m. in LA, I am already behind and can expect emails from our NYC office. Most of the time, I jump out of bed with an excitement for the day. If I feel like meditating, I will for five minutes, otherwise we put on some good music. I wash my face and leave the soap on while I brush my teeth.

I have a whole skin care routine I do in the morning that makes me happy and helps me feel healthy: I either take a quick shower or apply my favorite face oils and SPF moisturizer. I then do my hair, put on my Native deodorant, get dressed, and go to the kitchen. I pour a big glass of filtered water with some lemon and take my supplements. I find that if I drink enough water in the morning, I sometimes don't even need coffee and I definitely have a lot more energy to take on the day.

The first thing I do after work:

Normally, this is my favorite time of the day: ME time. I usually choose to get my workout in then, and I try to mix it up with either a run on the beach, cycle, weights, or power yoga class. If I worked out in the morning, then I call my family or a friend to check in, or go for a walk in the sunshine to get fresh air. Nothing makes me happier then seeing and talking to my nephews on FaceTime. Dinner is my favorite part of the day; I just love making a delicious, easy dinner or going out. I love finding a reason to celebrate life.

Dinner ritual:

My fiancé and I switch off on making dinner, but I tend to cook more because I really enjoy it. We make lots of easy, clean meals at home but love take-out or going out a couple times a week, too.
We always need veggies or a salad with a protein. Last night, for example, we had a simple but so satisfying meal of teriyaki salmon, baked white Japanese sweet potato, and sauteed kale. Our other favorite right now is this easy sweet potato pizza crust I make, which we top with pesto or tomato sauce and other toppings. I probably make a couple warm cookies most nights because we both have a serious sweet tooth. My  fiancé will pour a big glass of oat milk to go with the cookies.

Nighttime routine: 

I make tea almost every night. It really calms me down and helps with digestion, too. Most nights, I take a bath and it feels so indulgent. I light two candles and throw epsom salt, lavender oil and bubbles in the tub. I love how de-stressing a bath is. It tires me out and warms me up because I can get cold easily. Sometimes I listen to a podcast while in the tub or just meditate. Then I religiously floss, brush my teeth, wash my face, use toner, serum, eye cream, and then moisturizer. I then moisturize my hands and feet before I get into bed. Sometimes I'll read a little to get my mind off of work, but usually I'm too exhausted from the day and I'll pass out while I snuggling with my  fiancé. 

Self-care guilty pleasure: 

Eating cookie dough raw, a long foot massage, binge watching my favorite TV show or sleeping in late.
 

Workday self-care hack:

I always make iced tea with mint or chamomile and add a little honey if I need, to sip on throughout the day. I find staying hydrated with calming flavors keeps me energized and curbs my inkling for snacking often.

How I define self-care: 

I define self-care as tuning into your own mind and body and unapologetically listening to what you need in the moment. We each find joy in different things, so it's important to find what makes you happy and nourishes you. Nothing is more important than self-care and not feeling any guilt for taking it. Daily, if your cup isn't full, you won't feel your best, you won't be promoting health and wellness, and you can't give to others — which is normally what makes us the most happy.

Favorite childhood toy or hobby:

I used to have a desk in my childhood room and, no joke, would put on a blonde wig, line up my stuffed animals around me, and pretend I was running a business with their help. I think I always looked up to my mom who was an entrepreneur and business owner. I liked emulating her and I loved the feeling of being inspired or put up to a challenge to get things done. My mom inspired me a lot, as did my grandmother (her mother).

My grandmother Sylvia was a mother to four kids, and after the kids left home, she went to Paris to attend Le Corden Bleu cooking school. That was a big deal in the '60s! She never had the chance to pursue a career because her job was to take care of the family. I feel incredibly lucky I was born in a time when I could do whatever I wanted, and that I started a business before I had the responsibility of a partner and kids.

State of your (email) inbox: 

I never have zero inbox, but I try each day to absolutely prioritize and get the most important things done first. The other things can wait. 

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Illustration by Megan Behrendt

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