Spool Marketing’s Katie Kierna on the importance of ‘playing the long game’

How do you protect yourself for the demands of the job?

PR and comms can be unforgiving disciplines as busy schedules and relentless pace can lead to exhaustion and burnout. That’s why, according to PR pro Katie Kierna, it’s essential to take the long view.

Kierna is a senior vice president at Spool Marketing and Communications in Chicago, and recently shared with us about her work for our ongoing “Day in the Life” series. Here’s what she had to say about finding balance in 2022:

1. What’s your favorite part of your morning routine?

Kierna: I recently changed up my morning routine once I gave up coffee (which sounds like an insane thing to do, especially for a former coffee addict like myself!). I’ve started drinking a brand called MUD/WTR, a coffee alternative made with organic ingredients and adaptogenic mushrooms, and I’ve found that it gives me more consistent energy without the afternoon crash that I’d get with coffee.

I give myself time in the morning to enjoy the ritual of making and drinking a nice, hot beverage, while I plan out my schedule and review my meetings for the day, go through my inbox, prioritize hot items and just take a moment before jumping straight into everything.