Alexis Barber
FOUNDER, TOO COLLECTIVE
“Being reflective and intentional has been the foundation for all of my best decisions.'“
What is one thing you do for self-care?
My evening decompressing rituals are sacred - my favorite is taking a Friday night to myself to take THE shower, relax in my robe, order takeout, and catch up on Housewives. I used to feel insecure about not having weekend plans, but now I say no for some ME time - embrace the joy of missing out!
Working, maintaining relationships, and taking time for yourself can be difficult. How do you center yourself and keep balance in your life?
Morning and evening rituals are at the center of my sanity. I spend mornings journaling and doing skincare before I face the world, and at night I fully turn off after I shower and put my robe on to watch TV & make dinner. I spend so much self-care time in robes - to me, the represent that daily commitment to myself.
Describe what you do to unwind.
I can't unwind without feeling calm, so the first step is to make a concrete to-do list for the following day so I can fully turn off knowing everything is handled. After a long walk, I shower, listen to a podcast, and make a delicious dinner for myself and my partner. If it's the weekend, my favorite way to unwind is a massage - a trip to the spa will always do it for me!
What are you most proud of?
I'm most proud of my confidence. I was born to a teen mom in a trailer park and grew up with nothing, and that greatly impacted my self-worth. I was so insecure for so many years, and I used to look for external validation in the form of career progress to feel fulfilled. Now, though I've got external praise sometimes, the confidence I've built alongside my career is stronger than ever - and that can never be taken away from me!
What is your greatest struggle/challenge in building a life of ease?
My greatest struggle has been deciding when to rest and when to accelerate. I'm full of ideas, but not full of energy. I'm still learning the art of prioritization!
What does “protecting your peace” mean to you, and what advice would you give to others who want to do this?
To me, protecting my peace is being very clear about what serves me and saying no to everything that isn't that. Being reflective and intentional has been the foundation for all of my best decisions, so I try to take that with me always. For others looking to do this, I highly recommend getting very clear about how you want to FEEL, not what you want to do/have, and finding more ways to cultivate that feeling in your life.
