Kimia Marzban’s Self-Care Routine: “A shift in energy happens when I’m feeling stressed or burnt out.”

Kimia Marzban is the Strategy & Operations Manager at Carted, an e-commerce startup enabling developers to make commerce seamless by connecting them to millions of merchants and billions of products with a single API.

What does self-care mean to you?

To me, a self care routine isn’t about taking a few hours every week to treat yourself or do something different. Rather, it’s an accumulation of little things you can do or avoid during the day that will set you up for success and motivate you.

How do you know when you’re feeling stressed or burnt out?

A shift in energy happens when I’m feeling stressed or burnt out. Rather than feeling excited and motivated, I feel drained and end up putting off tasks and procrastinating. A very dangerous cycle then begins – feeling even more stressed because I’ve wasted time achieving nothing. Currently reading the book ‘I didn’t do the thing today’ which talks about the stress related to lack of productivity. 

Do you have a regular self-care routine? If so, what does it look like?

There are a number of things I know I can do, that collectively set me up for success and get me ready to take on the day.

I like to wake up a few hours before I start work to make sure I can go for a walk, listen to a podcast, and have a cup of coffee in peace. I prioritise getting 8 hours of sleep and avoiding processed food and sugar so  that I feel energised.

As an extroverted introvert, I also recharge by spending time alone and doing something creative, like painting or working on my brand. 

What bumps you off your self-care routine and how do you get back on course?

Lack of sleep and booze are the two biggest culprits. Taking it easy on myself and jumping in the ocean helped me hit the reset button. 

Where do you go for inspiration, ideas or tools for self-care?

I think we ourselves know what’s best for us and it’s important to look inwards and listen to our bodies when it comes to self care. 

Before you go…

Self-Care is a content series exploring the different self-care routines and habits of people from all walks of life. Get in touch with us today if you’d like to talk about your self-care routine.