Welcome to The Vital Life where we spotlight Vital Proteins® employees. This week, Performance Influencer Marketing Coordinator Zack Astran gives us a look inside his remote workday.
Lively: Thanks for sharing your day with us! To kick things off, can you tell us about what you do at Vital Proteins and what you enjoy about your role?
Zack Astran: Here at Vital, I am one of our Vital Performance™ Influencer Marketing Coordinators. Managing influencer and athlete contracts as well as negotiating with new potential athletes is only about half of what I do! These days, I work closely with our Performance Social Media Manager to plan out all content for Performance social accounts, as well as strategically plan campaigns on a social front to drive awareness and traffic. One of the many things I love about Vital is the ability to wear many hats. Working with athletes, influencers, social media and helping lead our Vital Run Club – I certainly wear many hats on a daily basis.
L: Walk us through your morning routine – how has it changed (or not) since staying home?
ZA: Typically my day usually starts around 5:00-6:00 a.m. I'm training for an Iron Man triathlon at the moment so my first workout of the day has to be easy before work so that I can fit in an afternoon session as well! After my morning session, I typically take my pup for a walk and get to making breakfast.
Smoothies and eggs are my go-to (with collagen, of course), so my smoothies usually consist of veggies, frozen fruit, Collagen Peptides, bananas and almond butter. Since working from home, I've actually had more time to focus on things that are important to me outside of work!
L: Where have you been getting inspiration for projects or tasks you might be working on throughout the day?
ZA: The type of projects that I work on a daily basis change quite frequently, but typically following along with competitor brands as well as popular lifestyle brands provides inspiration on how to activate our community of influencers and athletes. Lifestyle brands such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armour and many more, pump out amazing content and activate their athletes and influencers in creative ways.
They inspire us to create even more dynamic and engaging content on a daily basis. Additionally, I like to brainstorm and center my content ideas around important sports moments that align with the Vital Performance™.
L: Lunchtime! What's your plan?
ZA: I usually walk my dog again to start! Australian Cattle Dogs and Australian Shepards are energetic breeds, so she requires quite a bit of exercise. Once I get back, I usually take 5 minutes to meditate before making a salad for lunch. Depending on the day, I sometimes like to get a lunchtime workout in as well.
I always find that I can focus much better in the second half of the day if I take some time and get my heart rate up! I usually try to stay offline during lunch, but answer emails and slacks as they come in while I enjoy lunch!
L: You're hitting your mid-afternoon slump. How do you re-energize your afternoon?
ZA: It really depends on the day, but I always find a quick walk around the block or a workout does wonders. I don't drink caffeine, so I usually hit a bit of a lull in the afternoon, so getting away from the desk and getting some fresh air always helps me refocus for the second half of the day! Taking care of your mental health is the most important thing for me. Getting away from the desk and outside into the warm L.A. air refreshes my mind to continue throughout the rest of the day.
L: How have you been practicing #wellnessfromhome these days?
ZA: One of the many ways that I have been practicing #WellnessFromHome is by meditating on a daily basis. Here at Vital, we move incredibly fast as a company, so taking a second to pause and reflect on one's personal life is important to provide balance within the workplace.
It's easy to get caught sitting at a desk all day staring at a computer screen, so I take walks throughout the day to get fresh air, clear the mind, move my body and take care of myself. Additionally, I love to hike. Getting out in nature is an easy way to cleanse the mind and become present. Getting a good sweat in while soaking in the fresh air does wonders for my productivity in training as well as the office!
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Rapid-Fire Questions
Favorite Podcast? Pardon My Take
Favorite Workout? Long bike rides on the Pacific Coast Highway
Binge-worthy Show? Couples Therapy
Favorite Vital Proteins Product? Vital Performance™ Protein! I use it in my smoothies in the morning occasionally and in the afternoon as a snack, mixed with water or milk.
