Welcome to THE BALANCE PROJECT: a series of relevant and refreshingly candid interviews featuring inspiring and accomplished women talking about balance. I’ve always been curious about how women I admire manage the tragically glorified “doing it all” craze. So I asked them. As I suspected, no one really does “it all.” Everyone’s making sacrifices somewhere. And that should make us all feel a little better. I hope the conversation will be steered toward that reality rather than toward the flawed and dangerous assumption that we should try—or even want to try—to perfectly do “it all.”

By the way, looking for THE BALANCE PROJECT novel that was inspired by these interviews? It’s here.

No. 161: Latham Thomas, Entrepreneur, Doula, Founder of Mama Glow

Age: 36
Where I live:
 New York City
Job: Entrepreneur, Doula, Author, women’s wellness expert, founder of Mama Glow and The Ritualista
Kids: A son, Fulano, 12 (DJ prodigy: FulanosWorld.com)

Have you changed jobs or adjusted anything in your career to have more balance?
I designed my path as an entrepreneur to spend the most time possible with my growing child. I am really family-oriented so that was key for me to have the most time possible with my son. I have always been on the entrepreneurial path so part of that journey has been geared toward incorporating what’s most important into my life—self care, family, and uplifting women.

Do you think having “it all” is realistic or impossible and why?
I believe you can have it all, you just need to know what it “all” is. What is it that you truly want? I don’t think happiness is underrated, but “being realistic” is overrated. I don’t want anyone to tell me what’s possible or damper my dreams or drown my aspirations by their limited experience or lack of faith. Being realistic is often times an excuse for people to play small and avoid taking the risks that would propel them forward in personal growth. It’s all about figuring out what you truly want, not what you think people want for you, but what your soul truly desires—what is it?

What part of “balance” can you just not seem to figure out?
I think it’s important to keep in mind that it’s a juggle. It’s not about balance, but about dynamic equilibrium, keeping the balls in the air and catching them when they come down. Life is constantly in flux. I don’t try to wear down my edges and fit into a depiction of what a balanced life looks like—I focus on creating a life well lived for myself and everyone around me. That includes putting attention on some things before others, prioritizing what I need in the moment. I believe in a strong self-care and self-reflective practice—whether that’s meditation, yoga, dance. Glow time is my self care movement and it’s all about relaxation whether you have two minutes or two hours—indulge so you honor yourself. You’ll be a better mother and better businesswoman for it.

Do you have a favorite time management tool, hack, or other strategy you use that helps you achieve balance that you would recommend to others?
So, I am terrible at managing time. I don’t think time appreciates being managed either. I have learned to start buffering for appointments so I am on time because it’s impossible to get around NYC in taxis and the subways these days. So I plug appointments with 30 minutes of a buffer so I arrive early. I also use The Daily Greatness Journal. They have a business version which is incredible for staying organized.

What’s the best advice you ever heard on balance?
From a mentor/coworker?
 “Schedule your vacation time and go away.”
From your mother? “You don’t have to do it all alone.”
From your spouse/partner? “Just take a nibble of work off your to-do list, then shower and go to sleep.”
From your kids? “Playtime is the best time.”

If you had one extra hour in each day and you couldn’t work or be with your family, how would you spend that hour?
On the massage table!

What do you wish you’d known when you were 20?
I wish I knew that my fun in the sun would catch up with me. I should have started wearing sun protection back then.

What do you hope to know by the time you’re 60?
I hope I know all of the popular dances the young people are into so I can impress my grandchildren.

What one part of your home life do you wish you could outsource?
I wouldn’t outsource anything. Except for folding clothes, I’m not as interested. I have a housekeeper and that’s about as much as I feel comfortable outsourcing. I’m not sure if this counts, but shuttling my son to some of his commitments—when we have schedule conflicts at the last minute, I wish there was a little fairy who would show up with the snap of my fingers and chaperone him and keep me on FaceTime so I could watch.

Whose job do you wish you had?
You know, it’s interesting, the grass is always greener… but you still have to mow it. We may look at someone’s life through a lens and wonder what their life must be like, but everyone has their own arc and life journey. If you could try on someone else’s job for size, you probably wouldn’t like it, as glam as it may seem. I work with a lot of celebrities and many of them wish they weren’t in the public eye and some carry burdens that I can’t even imagine. I am so happy with the life and career I have designed for myself that I don’t want someone else’s. Part of my personal work is about not comparing myself to others, and focusing much more on my own stuff and appreciating what I have while continuing a path of intention and meeting my goals.

Whose job are you glad you don’t have?
I’m so glad I am not in the realm of politics, it’s crazy out there!

Favorite books?
The Gift by Hafiz and Dream Birth: Transforming the Journey of Childbirth Through Imagery by Catherine Shainberg, PhD.

What are you reading right now?
The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time by Arianna Huffington.

Biggest vices…
Activity? Listening to podcasts.
Food? If avocado is a vice, then I am guilty. I love guacamole!
Website? Oh…. does HULU count? I love HULU. Instagram, too.

How many hours do you generally sleep at night during the week?
I aim for 7-8 hours.

What do you read every morning?
Scripture, a spiritual passage, or poetry.

Complete the following sentences:
I think I: can.
I wish I:
could speak French.
My son: is my biggest blessing.

Do you have a personal motto or favorite saying?
God writes straight on crooked lines… keep the faith.

Anything else you’d like to add?
Remember how amazing you truly are!

About Latham:
Latham Thomas is a celebrity wellness/lifestyle maven and birth doula—transforming not only how women give birth to their babies, but how they give rise to the best version of themselves. She is the founder of Mama Glow, a lifestyle brand and highly regarded website offering inspiration, education, and holistic services for expectant and new mamas. A graduate of Columbia University and The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Latham serves on the advisory board of Yahoo! Health and is the best-selling author of Mama Glow: A Hip Guide to Your Fabulous Abundant Pregnancy, a go-to wellness guide for expecting mothers endorsed by Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr Mark Hyman, Christy Burlington Burns, and more.

Having cultivated her wellness practice over nearly a decade, she has served as a doula and lifestyle guru for celebrity clients including: Alicia Keys, Rebecca Minkoff, Tamera Mowry, Venus and Serena Williams, and more. A self-proclaimed ritualista, Latham believes in turning the the ordinary routines of every day life into something sacred. Whether travel, dining, self care, style, mindfulness or wellbeing, Latham is guided by inspiration and celebrates moments of magic in the mundane. This lust for life is focal point of her newest lifestyle venture, Ritualista.

Latham’s leading a revolution in radical self-care and spiritual growth, helping women embrace optimal wellness as a pathway to empowerment. She was named one of the “Top 100 Women To Watch In Wellness” by MindBodyGreen. A single mom residing in NYC, she is the proud mother of 12-year-old DJ prodigy and entrepreneur, DJ Fulano. Latham has been featured in a variety of media outlets including Vogue, SELF, Fast Company, Wall Street Journal Magazine, Essence, Fit Pregnancy, Dr. Oz, Good Day NY, and Inside Edition, to name a few.

Find out more about Latham:
www.mamaglow.com  
Twitter: @glowmaven
Facebook: LathamThomasMamaGlow
Instagram: @GlowMaven
Pinterest: GlowPilot


WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT WORK-LIFE BALANCE? CHECK OUT MY NOVEL THE BALANCE PROJECT!

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