daily routine – Misryoum profiles Claudia Romo Edelman’s disciplined morning, focus on “big rocks,” and how she balances nonprofit leadership with building a Mexican spirit brand.
Waking up on purpose can be a business strategy, and that’s exactly how Claudia Romo Edelman begins her day.
Misryoum reached out to describe the routine of the New York–based philanthropist and founder of Sotol Romo. a Mexican spirit brand rooted in northern desert traditions.. Her day starts with what she calls a steady rhythm: she wakes at the same time every morning. then listens to podcasts while getting ready. using that quiet window to stay informed before work takes over.. For Edelman. “big rocks” also guide the mental order of the day. a framework she uses to prioritize the highest-impact tasks first.
After that early briefing, movement is treated as a non-negotiable foundation.. She exercises on a regular schedule that mixes yoga. pilates. and weight training. and she avoids breakfast. planning her mornings around consistency rather than impulse.. The result is a routine built for stamina and clarity, not just productivity.
Insight: In leadership roles that sit at the intersection of social impact and business building. small daily anchors like information intake and planned movement can reduce decision fatigue.. When time is later consumed by meetings and stakeholder updates, that early structure often helps leaders stay sharper.
By the time work begins, she turns her attention to execution.. Around the start of her desk time. she checks her “big rocks” before diving into emails or scheduled discussions. aiming to protect the time needed for priorities that truly move projects forward.. Her working life is calendar-driven as well. including time blocks that prevent her schedule from expanding to fill every available gap.
Midday brings a different kind of strategy: she tries to make business lunches part of her week. leaning on the city’s variety of restaurants while keeping conversations connected to work.. Later. she also builds in a predictable low-energy period in the afternoon. choosing to avoid critical decisions during that window and instead take walks or have light conversations to reset.
Insight: This is less about strict time management and more about recognizing human limits. When leaders plan around energy swings, they tend to make fewer costly mistakes and spend peak mental hours on the choices that matter most.
Her afternoons and evenings are shaped by the demands of launching and developing Sotol Romo, alongside her nonprofit work.. Meetings occupy much of her remaining time. and she prefers well-structured sessions over unstructured ones. reflecting a decision-making mindset shaped by years in high-pressure international environments.. She also records and interviews frequently. viewing one-on-one education and persuasion as part of how the brand and mission connect with the public.
When the formal workday ends, she shifts focus to balance.. She keeps evenings intentional with cultural activities, time with friends, and weekly couple moments with her husband.. At night. she revisits tasks that couldn’t fit earlier in the day. while also working to improve sleep habits by setting clearer boundaries for her phone and bedtime.
Insight: The common thread across philanthropy and brand building is attention. By separating information time, deep-priority time, and recovery time, Edelman demonstrates how routine can support both purpose-driven leadership and the steady work required to grow a company.