Diving with whales, browsing, and operating on the seaside: this sustainable startup’s CEO decompresses within the ocean

In the present day’s CEOs are dealing with innumerable challenges: a world pandemic and a sea change in how and the place staff need to present up for work, simply to call a couple of. For leaders, the strain has by no means been larger. How do they mitigate it? In our new sequence, we ask executives about their day-to-day wellness habits to achieve perception into the techniques they use to reduce stress and keep their well-being.


Lindsay McCormick is the Founder and CEO of Chunk (As a result of It’s the Earth), makers of plastic-free, cruelty-free merchandise on a mission to grow to be the world’s most sustainable private care firm. McCormick has since constructed a multimillion-dollar firm geared toward getting plastic out of our day by day routines together with her first product being viral toothpaste tablets in 2018. Since then, Chunk has created a completely plastic-free oral care set and most not too long ago, launched the primary ever 100% plastic-free deodorant with compostable refills and its plastic-free and pump-free physique balm.

Espresso or tea? And what do you set in it?
Yerba mate tea. I purchase the free leaf model so it’s plastic-free and make it in a French press each morning. After I first began ingesting it, I’d add agave and lemon however now I really like the earthy taste all by itself. 

What’s your go-to breakfast?
I’ve discovered that intermittent fasting helps sustain my vitality and focus all through the day, so I don’t eat breakfast however my go-to lunch is both granola with blueberries and coconut yogurt or the Thai tofu salad with kale from Erewhon. 

Inform us about your exercise routine.
I reside proper by the water so I really like going for runs on the seaside. It helps clear my head and there’s nothing higher than being outdoors. To remain in form although, I take completely different lessons at Equinox and The Studio (MDR) within the mornings—Megaformer Pilates, Tabata, yoga. I combine it up, however attempt to get in no less than three lessons per week.  

What number of hours do you sleep on a typical night time?
I do know it’s beneficial to get 8 hours however I’ve discovered that 6 1/2 to 7 is basically the candy spot for me. I’m going to mattress round 11 and get up at 6am in order that’s often round or simply beneath 7 hours. I perform greatest that approach.  

How do you de-stress?
Spending time outdoors actually helps me decompress—akin to browsing or being on the water. It was truly whereas I used to be working as a surf teacher that I noticed how a lot plastic was washing up on my board. This later impressed me to start out my firm, Chunk. I additionally meditate and journal each morning. 

In accordance with your cellphone, what’s your day by day common display time from final week? 
5 hours, 32 minutes which is tremendous excessive—I used to be out of workplace at a convention final week so I used to be spending most of my time working from my cellphone. In the present day was a traditional work day and I’m at two hours, 21 minutes which is extra typical. 

What app do you utilize essentially the most?
Messages by far, which is shocking to me. I had by no means checked out that measurement on my cellphone! It is smart although as a result of I textual content for each work and private so I’m on that app lots. 

When’s the final time you took a time off? What did you do?
I went to San Diego final weekend and took a half day Friday and all of Monday off. We rode the Pacific Surfliner down which is the Amtrak route proper alongside the coast and spent all the weekend hopping round vegan eating places and swimming at Swami’s Seashore in Encinitas. It was the primary time I took a protracted weekend in approach too lengthy so we put work and cellphones away to make it really feel like a real trip. 

What’s one factor your organization is doing to prioritize worker wellness?
I consider with the ability to management your schedule and time is without doubt one of the most essential issues to psychological well being and wellness. One thing that has been actually impactful is rolling out what we name “Related Hours” at Chunk. Our firm work hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PDT which is after we are all on-line and obtainable for conferences and fast solutions by way of Slack. Apart from these hours, it’s fully as much as every individual once they need to work and to be obtainable, which means if somebody prefers to work mornings and finish early to be with household they nonetheless know that they may have the ability to join with and depend on somebody who’s an evening owl and prefers to roll away from bed proper at 10 a.m. and work later. I’ve discovered it permits for essentially the most worker autonomy whereas sustaining the pace essential at a high-growth startup.  

What’s your favourite deal with?
Darkish chocolate, particularly the Cashew Butter + Pure Vanilla Bean bar from Hu. It’s simply the correct amount of bitterness from the darkish chocolate and sweetness from the cashew and vanilla bean.

Present us a photograph of your pleased place.

ceo lindsay mccormick diving with a whale
“That is off the coast of French Polynesia after I was capable of free dive with humpback whales throughout their migration season however my pleased place is underwater, within the ocean, anyplace.”

Courtesy of Lindsay McCormick

Leave a Reply