THIS Is How Successful Women Manage Stress

Between the hectic work schedules, "hustle" mentality, social media pressures, and copious amounts of coffee, it comes as no surprise that millennials have been dubbed the most stressed generation. However, in recent years — amidst the kale and spin-class crazes —a new obsession with self-care to manage said stress has emerged ... and it's spreading like wildfire.

In fact, according to research, millennials are reportedly committed to self-improvement more than any generation before. Now, this improvement takes on many forms. It can translate to fitness and better eating habits, meditation, mental health days (yes, they're a thing), or even the simple act of sleeping. Whatever avenue you take, these small shifts in routine can be pretty transformative and can be the tipping factor between sanity and burnout.

To get a clearer picture of what self-care looks like right now, The Zoe Report tapped six female CEOs or founders to define it for us. Check out what they had to say about the role of self-care in their lives and how they incorporate it daily.

Jen Rubio, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer,

"No two days are ever the same for me, but my morning routine is sacred. It’s important to own the first two hours of my day, even when I’m traveling, since the rest of my day is often unpredictable. For me, that means starting each morning by meditating or getting in some type of workout (usually yoga, pilates, or a boxing class) to help me feel more balanced and prepared to take on whatever is on my plate, especially ahead of a particularly busy day."

Sophia Amoruso, CEO of Girlboss

"In terms of self-care, it's really about investing in myself by doing small things to help me feel better. That can include getting on the treadmill for 20 minutes, or doing something as simple as fixing my bottom teeth, which I've always wanted to do. I'm working with Invisalign and it's been incredibly easy. So there's literally so many 'invisible' ways to take care of yourself that don't take a lot of your time."

Bianca Gates, CEO and Co-Founder of Birdies & Marisa Sharkey, President, Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder of Birdies

Gates: "The best way for me to relax, recharge and manage stress is by working out. Getting in a good workout helps me sleep better at night, gives me more energy during the day and is my time to think creatively."

Sharkey: "Ironically, the stress of entrepreneurship has helped me get in better shape. I find myself waking up at 4 a.m. every morning with all the uncertainties of the day ahead circling in my head. One morning, I decided to jump out of bed and started running outside. I figured if I wasn't sleeping I might as well do something productive! I now workout three days a week at 6 a.m. and it’s a tremendous stress reliever. I rotate from barre to spin to running depending on the time of year. I’m able to be home at 7 a.m. with a coffee in hand and still get a few minutes to check emails and get a head start on the day before my family wakes up. I never imagined the key to managing stress was waking up earlier."

Kamilah Tibbitts, CEO of Caravan

"Women are being promoted, elevated, and boldly positioning themselves in so many spheres of influence of business and culture. The key to thriving and sustaining your influence and impact starts with sustaining you — body, mind, and spirit. For my body, I jump on the treadmill several times a week for cardio and love the convenience of my Peloton bike. For my mind, I have several declarations (power statements) specific to my goals and growth areas that speak out while doing my makeup. For my spirit, I have a go-to playlist that I listen to during my quiet time, on a hike, or between meetings. There are no absolutes in self-care. Only you can define your needs and create practices to nurture them!”

Chriselle Lim, Founder And Creative Director of Chriselle INC.

"I actually sleep a lot. I give more than 100 percent of myself every single day with everything that I do and I have to have a lot of energy, so my self-care is sleeping. What happens is, I'll put my daughter to bed around 8:30 p.m. and I just pass out with her. I always tell myself that I'll wake up in 30 minutes and get more done, but it never happens. I just wake up at 6 a.m. the next day."