Unfiltered: Phoebe Pincus, Chief of staff @ Startmate
Unique peek into the habits, routines and personalities of the people shaping the future.
Unfiltered, by Curiosity Center is a unique peek into the habits, routines and personalities of the people shaping the future. In each edition, a different mind chronicles their routines, plus how they continue to be 1% better in order to stay ahead of what’s next.
This time: Phoebe Pincus, Chief of Staff @ Startmate.
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Inspiration behind Phoebe’s key routines and habits
Key pillar #1: Running
Key pillar #2: Reading
Key pillar #3: Family
My key routines
Background to how I think about this:
Years ago someone told me about their ‘shadow theory’ of values. They did this by asking me the question:
Imagine someone secretly shadows you 24/7 for a week/month/year. At the end of that period of time, what would they say you value most in life?
In theory, if you’re being true to your values then there should be no difference between what you and this hypothetical shadower say your values are. If there’s an inconsistency between these two things then either (a) you’re maybe unhappy because you’re not living in accordance with your values, and you should change something, or (b) maybe you don’t actually value what you say you value.
It might have been a right place or right time thing but this question stuck with me in a big way and forced me to think really critically about how I spend my time, and the routines and habits I build to enable me to live in a way that’s true to what I say is important to me.
I think being extremely disciplined about prioritising the things that I value has formed a large part of who I am. I also think that not compromising on these key pillars gives me a level of energy and resilience that enables me to throw myself into my work and life more fully than others perhaps can.
Three of my key pillars and routines are:
1 - Running
I run every day.
It’s hard to do justice to the joy you get from starting the day in this way. I genuinely believe that the combination of being outdoors + away from your phone and computer, physically pushing yourself, chattering away with your friends and seeing the sunrise and the city slowly wake up might just be the best possible thing you can do for your mood and energy.
It’s obviously not always easy to do this, but it’d be boring if it was. During the week it involves getting up very early so I can make sure I foam roll/activate pre-run. It means you have to be more focused on physical recovery during the day and how you’re fuelling. And obviously sometimes I get to bed late and when the alarm goes off it’s very dark and cold and raining and it’s not what I feel like doing. The key here for me was removing the optionality - it’s easier to just run every day that run a couple of times a week, because it’s not a choice anymore. And you never regret a run.
Values this aligns with for me: I love running because it touches on almost all my core values. It’s challenging and I need to push myself. It’s connective: the conversations you have and relationships you build through running are so genuine and easy. And it helps me be grateful and present every single time.
2- Reading
Like running, reading is a part of who I am in a really fundamental way.
Particularly novels (not ashamed of this even though they are out of vogue in the tech scene: novels have taught me more than almost anything else, more people should read fiction). My problem with reading is less trying to find time, more trying to make time for other things. Some of my routines here:
I usually have a read on my computer over breakfast. Starts with long form articles that I’ve bookmarked, generally winds up into an area that’s more relevant to my job and ease into the day that way. If I’m working from home I’ll read for 20 minutes or so at lunch for a brain break.
One of my hacks is bringing a book with me everywhere so if I’m ever in a queue or waiting for something I can read - I also have the kindle app on my phone and (logged into my parents library as I don’t use kindle usually) just in case of emergencies.
I don’t watch TV - we don’t actually have a TV in our house - so if I’m not hanging out with friends after work then I’m reading. And on weekends I try and make sure I have at least one big clear 5 or 6 hour blocks where I can just get completely absorbed in a book. I’m also in a few book clubs because hearing how one book can be experienced so differently for each person and then unpacking why will never not be fascinating to me.
Values this aligns with for me: Reading challenges me in a really different way to running. So much of the way I think and see the world has shaped and is being shaped by what I read: I love it as a different way of engaging with people’s minds and ideas. Also, it brings me so much joy and gives me the negative space I need to fill my cup for the other areas of my life.
3- Family time
I think my family are probably my favourite people in the world.
I adore my parents and siblings and spending time with them reminds me who I am and why. It’s where I derive a lot of meaning and joy in life. There are a number of ways I protect and prioritise this space:
My parents and sister live in QLD so my catch-ups with them are virtual. The best is in my commute (walk) to work and home: habit stacking at its finest.
I find when you call regularly enough the conversations tend to be deeper: less of talking about what we’ve been up to and more about how things are going.
We also have a family zoom every Sunday afternoon (with grandparents as well) where we do the good weekend quiz and catch up on our weeks
My brothers live in Melbourne and I feel really lucky to spend time with them. We usually do Tuesday night trivia at Burnley brewing co with some friends, maybe a swim or mid week catch-up and then Sunday evening we make rice paper rolls.
It’s a lovely, quiet, peaceful way to wind down the week and I walk away feeling grateful and with a real sense of perspective of what is most important.
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