Charles Esther
Running a company is a high-stress job, often stretching into nights and weekends.
To stay grounded, today’s top CEOs are finding creative ways to manage stress — from early-morning walks and forest hikes to yoga classes and even curated social media scrolling.
Their routines reveal how balance and mental clarity are essential to strong leadership.
Megan Gluth’s Yoga Practice Keeps Her Focused as a CEO
Megan Gluth, CEO of Catalynt Solutions, doesn’t just run a company — she teaches yoga at least once a week near her Seattle-area home.
Her company supplies chemicals used in various everyday products, from soda to shampoo.
Despite the demands of her corporate role, Gluth finds balance on the yoga mat.
She jokes that people find it funny she has a “part-time job” as a yoga instructor.
But this side gig has become her anchor, especially as she navigates tough decisions, like cutting back on investments due to tariff uncertainties or negotiating price hikes with clients.
As a mother of two young kids, Gluth’s days can be chaotic — which is why she also practices daily meditation.
For her, yoga and mindfulness help maintain a mindset of “responding rather than reacting” — a philosophy she believes is crucial for leading a team of 55 employees.
Keith Lambert: Moving Through Stress One Step at a Time
Keith Lambert wears two CEO hats — leading both Oxidizers, which provides pollution-control equipment, and InCheq, a task management firm.
To manage his workload, Lambert sticks to a morning routine that begins as early as 3:30 a.m.
Once he’s up, he’s moving.
If the weather is right, he takes phone calls while walking around his neighborhood near Chicago.
Walking, he says, helps him stay calm and mentally sharp.
Beyond staying active, Lambert finds peace through daily scripture reading and spending time with his wife, son, and their beloved dog — a whoodle (wheaten terrier-poodle mix).
He believes in maintaining a well-rounded life to avoid burnout.
Michelle Volberg Finds Peace in the Forest
Michelle Volberg, founder and CEO of the startup Twill, swears by “forest bathing” — the Japanese practice of immersing oneself in nature to restore well-being.
A couple of times a week, she heads into the woods near her home outside New York City for a 45-minute hike with her husband.
With patchy cell reception, she’s often able to unplug completely.
The quiet helps her think strategically, and even when she’s on her phone, she’s jotting down ideas for her company, which connects tech workers with job referrals.
Volberg also relies on a network of fellow women founders in a Slack group called VC Backed Moms.
Through candid conversations, she gains valuable perspectives that help her lead with confidence.
Kyle Hanslovan’s ‘Purposeful Scrolling’ and Fitness Routine
Kyle Hanslovan, cofounder and CEO of cybersecurity firm Huntress, has turned social media into a stress-relief tool — but with intention.
He calls it “purposeful scrolling.”
Each morning, Hanslovan spends about an hour in bed browsing Instagram for personal updates, LinkedIn for business insights, and X (formerly Twitter) for diverse opinions.
He curates his feeds carefully to avoid negativity and boost mental stimulation.
Sometimes, inspiring quotes make it into his all-hands meetings.
In addition to social media, Hanslovan keeps a home gym where he exercises three to five times per week.
As a U.S. Air Force veteran, he values fitness — especially getting his heart rate up to 170 bpm with his phone far away.
He considers this disconnection vital to staying sharp.
Conclusion
These CEOs show that stress management isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Whether it’s through yoga, forest hikes, early morning routines, or even mindful scrolling, what matters most is finding practices that promote clarity, balance, and resilience.
In times of economic uncertainty and constant demands, self-care isn’t just personal — it’s professional.
