Every Morning Is A Fresh Start For Kristy Wallace

Abigail Cuffey
(Photo: Ellevate)
(Photo: Ellevate)

Do you spring out of bed, ready to start your day or hit snooze over and over again? That Morning Person is HuffPost’s attempt to make sense of mornings by peering into the routines of others.

(Photo: Isabella Carapella/HuffPost)
(Photo: Isabella Carapella/HuffPost)

As CEO of Ellevate Network, Kristy Wallace is on a mission to close the gender pay gap and help women succeed in business.

It’s no secret that America, which ranks 45 out of 144 countries for gender parity in the workplace, could make some serious improvements.

One reason? Fewer women are working, and the number of women in senior leadership is dwindling. That’s where Wallace and Ellevate ― a global professional women’s network that boasts tens of thousands of community members ― come in: They work to get more women to join boards, take on senior leadership roles, get involved in politics, start businesses, raise funds for
companies and receive equal pay.

Wallace’s resume is impressive, for sure. But one of her most noteworthy feats is raising three kids, ages 8, 4 and 2, in Brooklyn, New York’s Greenpoint neighborhood.

“I grew up in a tiny New Jersey town and the thought of moving to the city was very intimidating,” says Wallace. “Now that I’m here, I’m never leaving.”

Having a family also enabled Wallace to become more invested in her local community. “Even in a big city, there’s always a village supporting
you,” she says.

One way she manages her hectic schedule is to completely embrace the early hours of the day.

“If I’m able to accomplish a lot early in the day, I have so much freedom
later to work on projects that I’m excited about,” says Wallace. “I’m sure I drive my kids nuts in the morning because I’m always singing to them or being silly, but I rarely wake up in a bad mood.”

Why so happy?

“Mornings are fresh starts, new beginnings,” she says. “There is a whole day stretched before me with which to do amazing things.” Talk about morning motivation.

Take a peek into Wallace’s Brooklyn start …

(Photo: Ellevate)
(Photo: Ellevate)

What time do you get up in the morning?

I typically get up at 6:30 a.m., but this varies based whether one of my kids was up during the night (I may sleep later) or if they wake up earlier than 6:30. I’m not a great sleeper and if I’m up in the middle of the night, my mind is immediately flooded with ideas. I’ve been practicing mediation to help clear my mind during these times and it has been helping!

Snooze button: Hit it or quit it?

I’m a total morning person and can wake up as soon as my alarm goes off. Nighttime is another story. After 9 p.m., I’m useless.

What do you wear to sleep?

I would love to say that I wake up in something sophisticated, but it is typically a T-shirt and shorts.

What’s the very first thing you do when you get up?

I always look at my phone. I know, bad habit, but I do. I’ll check my emails, catch up on social media and sometimes meditate or read a book. While I have no problem waking up, I always need 10 minutes of “me time” before starting the day.

Exercise in the morning: Yay or nay?

I walk to the train every day (about a mile), which is a great way to get in some exercise and catch up on my favorite podcasts.

What’s your go-to breakfast?

Eggs and avocado or broccoli rabe.

Coffee or tea?

Coffee! And lots of it. I love cold brew. I typically have a box of Wandering Bear in my fridge that I can tap before heading to work, or I’ll stop by Champion (my local Brooklyn coffee shop) as I walk to the train. Ellevate’s offices have cold brew on tap as well, so I’m never far from caffeine. I drink my coffee black and typically have two cups a day. I try to abstain from coffee after 12 p.m., so that it doesn’t impact my sleep.

The biggest difference between your mornings before and after having kids?

Before kids, I could wake up and be out of the house in 30 minutes. Now it takes 90 minutes. I love every minute though, because I really enjoy being with my kids and the mornings are always full of silly comments and fun conversations.

Fill in the blank: My ideal morning consists of ______

Sunshine.

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Mornings are challenging to say the least. But often amusing.
Mornings are challenging to say the least. But often amusing.
Mornings with a kid requires a lot more coffee.
Mornings with a kid requires a lot more coffee.
Trying to use the restroom while someone says, "It's OK, I'll just wait here for you."
Trying to use the restroom while someone says, "It's OK, I'll just wait here for you."
This was how my morning started yesterday!
This was how my morning started yesterday!
Now for the first bath of the day. I'll be lucky to get one shower for myself.
Now for the first bath of the day. I'll be lucky to get one shower for myself.
My 3-year-old making me LEGO cupcakes as I was getting out of bed.
My 3-year-old making me LEGO cupcakes as I was getting out of bed.
This summarizes things pretty well. Getting out the door on time never happens.
This summarizes things pretty well. Getting out the door on time never happens.
Because feeding the dog is so much more fun.
Because feeding the dog is so much more fun.
This is what happens when you don't go in immediately when they wake up...
This is what happens when you don't go in immediately when they wake up...
Breakfast with a side of toes.
Breakfast with a side of toes.
"Help" with the laundry.
"Help" with the laundry.
Mornings are ... play time!
Mornings are ... play time!
Mine like to lazily watch TV for the first hour they're awake.
Mine like to lazily watch TV for the first hour they're awake.
It's really hard to make them get out of bed when they're being this cute.
It's really hard to make them get out of bed when they're being this cute.
It's hard to stay awake when mom gets me up so early.
It's hard to stay awake when mom gets me up so early.
Me trying to take a shower while my son follows me and lays on his pillow.
Me trying to take a shower while my son follows me and lays on his pillow.
Watching the garbage truck. Thanks to daylight savings time we've been awake since 4:45.
Watching the garbage truck. Thanks to daylight savings time we've been awake since 4:45.
Finally sleeping at night ... but wide awake in the morning.
Finally sleeping at night ... but wide awake in the morning.
Fighting the battle of ice cream for breakfast.
Fighting the battle of ice cream for breakfast.
Time changes are a B. Woke up before the sun but can't be mad at this face!
Time changes are a B. Woke up before the sun but can't be mad at this face!
Mornings are meltdowns cause baby has a Pull-Up and not a diaper like the 2-year-old wanted...
Mornings are meltdowns cause baby has a Pull-Up and not a diaper like the 2-year-old wanted...
Mommy has the day off, he still has school ... LOL.
Mommy has the day off, he still has school ... LOL.
Enjoying my mat leave with baby number three.
Enjoying my mat leave with baby number three.
The beauty of a ten year gap. Brother love.
The beauty of a ten year gap. Brother love.
Pretty much this...
Pretty much this...
Playing. Aka making a mess!
Playing. Aka making a mess!
I need more coffee!
I need more coffee!
Mornings are bad hair days!
Mornings are bad hair days!
Me tiptoeing to the bathroom, making sure not to wake the kids and suddenly realizing I've been followed! "Good morning, mommy - what are you doing?" 
Me tiptoeing to the bathroom, making sure not to wake the kids and suddenly realizing I've been followed! "Good morning, mommy - what are you doing?" 
My kids flipping off the couch cushions to make a "castle" while I make breakfast and pack school lunches.
My kids flipping off the couch cushions to make a "castle" while I make breakfast and pack school lunches.
Waking up to these two snuggling on the couch after a late night up with a teething toddler.
Waking up to these two snuggling on the couch after a late night up with a teething toddler.
Our mornings are fabulous because: "he woke up like this."
Our mornings are fabulous because: "he woke up like this."
Our mornings ... little sis is trying to help wake up her brother.
Our mornings ... little sis is trying to help wake up her brother.
When I asked him if he has seen my frappucino and he said no.
When I asked him if he has seen my frappucino and he said no.
Deciding what to have for breakfast.
Deciding what to have for breakfast.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.