Shana Clarke, Journalist, Copywriter and Wine Editor, inside.com (USA)

Years In Industry:

Officially about four. I was in fashion for ten years and during that time I became very interested in wine. I started a blog (more for myself than for public consumption), began taking classes, and eventually passed WSET Level 3 Advanced. After a near-panic attack over the way models walked down a runway at a work event, I knew I had to make a change, and I knew the move had to be into wine.

 
My Biggest Challenge To Wellness: 

Being freelance means any time is a good time to work; I have a hard time creating boundaries for “work time” and “play time” and carving out downtime. I often have to beat back guilt on those rare occasions when I reach for a book or the remote and remind myself that breaks are good, even necessary.

How I Keep It Together To Stay Well:  

Daily workouts are essential. I need to start my day with some kind of exercise, whether yoga, a sculpting class, or a good old-fashioned sweat session on the elliptical. When I’m traveling, I bring my TRX (a suspension training apparatus) so I can work out in my hotel room if the place doesn’t have a gym. It sets the tone for the day and I feel more energetic and creative. If I don’t get this time in, my equilibrium is completely thrown off.

I know this may not work for everyone, but when I travel abroad, I don't get an international data plan and I try to only connect when I have wifi; without the distraction of a buzzing phone, I am much more present and engaged. It’s amazing how stress dissipates when I’m not compelled to check email/Insta/Twitter/Facebook every five minutes.

Every January, I create a mantra for the coming year. It’s usually something that I say to myself in a time of stress or self-doubt, and often stems from something I wanted to work on from the previous year. Simply pausing to take a few deep breaths and silently repeating the phrase helps me re-center. 
 

You can follow Shana on Instagram and Twitter at @ShanaSpeaksWine, or view her work on www.shanaspeakswine.com. Also, sign up for Inside Wine at inside.com/wine