How Sydney Florist Emily Michele Smith Schedules Sleep Around 4am Market Runs

Waking up early is not always fun. Whether it's forcing yourself out of bed for a gym session or racing to do your makeup before a breakfast meeting, mornings can be tough for all of us. But we're guessing most people would call 6 am early. Imagine trying to live the life of a florist, and having to rise well before the sun — often at 3.30 am — just to get the job done.

With this week being Sleep Awareness Week, we at Bed Threads are committed to prioritising sleep as a form of self-care and are turning to some of our favourite women in business to share what helps them on their way. And who better to talk through how to deal with crazy morning routines than Emily Michele Smith, the founder of Sydney-based floral studio Boutierre Girls.

Having started Boutierre Girls five years ago, Emily has essentially had an erratic sleep schedule for half a decade. Here, we ask her how she copes with her ever-changing routine, her tips for winding down at night, and what motivates her to get out of bed in the morning.

Can you tell us a bit about your sleep routine? What time do you usually go to bed and wake up?

My sleep routine is all over the shop. It's really difficult to have a consistent bedtime and wake up time pending on what days I have market and what time I start and finish work. I can start as early as 3.30-4 am and finish as late as midnight to 2 am, depending on what events we have on. Some nights I get 2 hours of sleep and other days I'll have 20 hours of sleep coming off a big event week. I grab sleep where I can!

How do you prioritise sleep when you have a crazy schedule?

I try and keep 2-3 days aside for bed days/email days. I try and get to bed as early as possible. I am able to look over my schedule a week or so in advance and can plan in advance when I will be able to get some decent sleep. Sounds pretty crazy scheduling in sleep times. Crazy schedules are really, really hard, and I feel like self-care is often the first thing to go out the window when we are busy.

Do you have any routines or rituals that help get you into 'relax mode' after a particularly busy period?

I love watching an episode of something on Netflix or Stan before bed and spending an hour stretching in front of the TV. After my evening skincare routine, I like to put on a face mask and hair treatment/spend some time making myself feel better/look alive. My nighttime routine is the one time I have a consistent few hours to look after myself. And I always stick to it whether it starts at 5 pm or 11 pm. Mornings are always very early and hectic.

Do you have any products you swear by—sleep or beauty-wise you won’t go a night without?

I use my Dr. Dennis Gross LED face mask every night. I use it for 12 mins on the red setting and 3 mins on the blue setting. I really like having a consistent routine before bed so my body knows its time to wind down. It's perfect because I can lie there with my eyes shut and focus on my breathing for 20 mins before its lights out.

I also love to use my This Works Deep Pillow Spray.

How do you get up to work early after a bad night's sleep? Do you have any tips or tricks?

A lot of willpower and no choice haha. It's really hard, and some days I don't know how I do it, but we do it because we have to.

I use the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta wipes in the morning on the way to market. This wakes me up and saves me 10 minutes in the morning. It's an amazing chemical exfoliant and works wonders.

I also have a honey soy tea that the girls and I are obsessed with. It's my morning pick me up. I get it from the markets and no one else makes it the same.

How do you make time for yourself in the mornings?

I don't. Morning time is non-existent when you are a florist, which is why I love using my face wipes as my morning routine on the go! I'll often grab breakfast with some of my florist girlfriends at market which I always look forward to.

On non-market mornings, I'm usually up by 6.30 am. I try really hard not to sleep in because it makes market mornings even more difficult. I love having all my washing, vacuuming and house jobs all done by 9 am.

It's so nice having the rest of the day for emails and being able to relax/work in a clean house.

For more from Emily, follow her @boutierre_girls

Loved this? Read The Secret to Waking Up Energised Every Day, According to Nadia Fairfax