How I Live Well: Emily and Jess of Shine PR
Emily Ward & Jess Hunichen, Shine PR (all photos by Kieran Darcy)
As an entrepreneur, mother and human trying to get the most out of life here on earth, I've always been fascinated by the real, concrete ways that creative people (especially those that I admire) live. I'm a big fan of memoirs and books like Daily Rituals: How Artists Work that allows us to peek behind the curtains of the daily lives of creative and entrepreneurial people. What seemingly small choices do they make throughout their day in order to live fully and with purpose? How do they design their days with living well in mind?
At All You Are, we believe that self-care shouldn't be another item on our to-do list. Instead, we believe in committing to living well, every single day. So today, we are launching a new series, How I Live Well, with the goal of uncovering how the women who seem to have AND do it all actually create and design their days.
We'll share the previously unknown tips, tricks and rituals (you could call them life hacks) as well as the products they use to live well. We'll learn from the simple but creative ways they design their days to maximize joy, fulfilment and growth.
I'm kicking off the series with two women I met only this year - Jess Hunichen and Emily Ward, founders of a boutique PR firm, Shine PR and Shine Influencers. I met them separately at different events and when we all sat down together we made instant friends. They both live with their whole hearts and with the intention to always be creating (ABC!) and building value for their families, clients and community.
I hope you learn as much from them as I did...
What does living well mean to you?
Jess: My two main focuses are fun and flexibility. No matter what I’m doing, I need to be having fun with it. Of course, there are days that are harder than others, but overall, if I’m not having fun, I’m not interested. And flexibility is a huge one for me, I love to travel and it will always be important for me to go home (to Melbourne) a couple of times each year.
Emily: Being aligned with my core values and being surrounded by people who support them.
What rituals support your quest to live well?
Jess: Travel is a big one. I’ve done more travel this year than I’ve done in the past because we opened an office in LA, so I’ve been back and forth a lot. No matter where I go though, for business or pleasure, I come back refreshed, reinvigorated and SO motivated. And sunshine. Sunshine makes me very happy :-)
Emily: Oh, so many :) I’m selective about the people who I let into my world because I truly understand the value of being surrounded by loving, supportive people. I’m constantly learning about new ways to live fully through podcasts, books, conversations with amazing people, and work with my mentors. It’s a regular part of my day, which doesn’t feel like work. I’m constantly accessing new information.
How do you prioritize your professional goals vs your personal life?
Jess: When you run a business that is so tied to who you are, it’s difficult to make the distinction between your personal and professional life, so I look at my goals in a more holistic way. So in terms of prioritizing them, for me, they are broken down into short and long term. My short-term goals are more actionable day to day vs the long-term ones which are tackled in quieter moments when I have more mental capacity to dream a little bigger!
Emily: I am blessed that they are one in the same, so I don’t have to choose. Building Shine with Jess has allowed me to reach personal and professional goals that I needed to feel fulfilled. As a single mother, Shine provides me with a lot of flexibility a typical agency role wouldn’t offer. My kids are often in the office and around the team. They feel part of Shine and get to have a group full of “aunties” who adore them.
Tell us about your morning routine.
Jess: I like to have slow mornings, it sets me up well for that day, plus I’m much more productive in the evenings! I’m awake around 7.30, will send some emails from best then into the shower. Breakfast is a really important part of my day, I can’t function without it! I’ll typically have avocado on toast with a soft boiled egg. In terms of my skin care/beauty routine, I’m a creature of habit here and wear minimal makeup. Moisturizer, bb cream, brow pencil and some highlighter, then I’m out the door - always late!!
Emily: I get up and have a coffee while I get my daughter out of bed, then start getting myself ready while my son is getting up. I’m really big into The Ordinary skincare products right now. They are so inexpensive and have completely cleared up my skin in two months of use. I don’t wear a ton of makeup, but I do love Lancome’s Monsieur Big volumizing mascara and Mabelline’s Master Strobing Stick highlighter.