Wellness Secrets for Working from Home w/ Julie Marxen

[00:00:10] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
Well, hello there! Welcome back to the Happy Healthy Hustle Podcast, where we explore the intersection of health, happiness, and productivity. I’m your host, Dr. Christiane Schroeter, and I’m super excited to be here with you today.

Today, we have a wonderful guest on the show. I’ll first introduce her, and then we’ll jump into a conversation about the importance of taking care of ourselves.

Today’s guest is Julie Marxen. She’s a Workplace Financial Consultant with a large financial services firm and has been in the industry for 10 years. She provides educational workshops and individual consultations for 403(b) clients and their employees to help them understand their retirement and investment needs.

[00:00:54] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
Julie is a Certified Financial Planner certificant. She is an investment advisor representative, registered securities representative, and licensed insurance representative. And I’m super excited she’s here. Welcome, Julie.

[00:01:08] Julie Marxen:
Thank you, Dr. Christiane. So happy to be here and really honored. So thank you.

[00:01:16] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
Of course! Now we know how busy you are with work, and the focus of this show is really emphasizing women in wellness.

[00:01:26] Julie Marxen:
Yeah.

[00:01:26] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
So let’s jump in. What do you feel is your superpower when it comes to staying well? Because it certainly sounds like you have a super busy job.

[00:01:39] Julie Marxen:
Yes, I do have a super busy job. However, a huge advantage of my job is that I get to work from home, and I get to utilize wonderful technology to meet and work with many different people—participants, employees, investors. That’s a wonderful thing.

If I’m going to call it a superpower, I’d say I’m extremely organized. I write everything down, and I really try to make sure my day is planned out well in advance—just so that I can carve out time for myself, amidst all the responsibilities of work and being a mom.

I have two daughters: a four-year-old and an almost two-year-old. So the job doesn’t stop when I shut my computer—then it’s mom mode.

[00:02:39] Julie Marxen:
I keep my day extremely organized. One thing I do in particular—and I’m pretty religious about it—is run very early in the morning. Usually around 5:30 AM, before the girls are awake and before my husband is up. Running is such a release for me. It gives me confidence, helps me think more clearly, and gives me more energy throughout the day. That’s highly needed when you’re working full time and then pivoting to be a mom to toddlers.

Running is my guiding light.

[00:03:29] Julie Marxen:
I’ve been running for decades, so it’s something I really value. I integrate it into my schedule—I literally put it on my calendar. Luckily, my husband is extremely supportive and allows me to have that me-time.

[00:03:47] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
That sounds amazing! So you’ve found that running really centers you and kickstarts your day. I love that. We all have one sport that resonates with us, and it sounds like running is yours. Plus, it doesn’t require any fancy equipment at home!

[00:04:11] Julie Marxen:
Exactly! You just need a good pair of shoes, and it’s not a huge cost outlay. That’s the great thing. It’s very cost-effective. And being in finance, I’m always looking for ways to be cost-effective and efficient.

[00:04:26] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
I love that. Your kids are in childcare during the day, right? So after your run, your day at home really starts?

[00:04:39] Julie Marxen:
It’s busy! As soon as I get home from my run, I grab coffee, make breakfast for my girls before they’re up. My husband and I also try to have 5, 10—if we can—15 minutes of time together in the early morning before the girls wake up. That’s a great bonding time for us, because once the kids are up, we don’t really get to talk—it’s all about getting them ready and out the door.

[00:05:26] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
I love that. So your superpower includes me-time and couple-time. You mentioned even 5–10 minutes makes a difference—it builds trust and bonding. So all of that’s done before the kids even wake up?

[00:05:56] Julie Marxen:
Yes, exactly! And I think it’s working—we’re celebrating our 10-year wedding anniversary tomorrow!

[00:06:06] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
That’s definitely a superpower! Taking care of yourself, connecting with your husband—that’s beautiful. Let’s talk about challenges. I’m sure things aren’t always smooth. Can you share one challenge and how you’ve worked through it?

[00:06:38] Julie Marxen:
One challenge I’ve been facing, especially since becoming a mom, is being present. I’ve noticed I’m always thinking about the next thing: What do I need to do? What do I need to prepare for?

I’m always mentally in “what’s next?” mode instead of stepping back, taking a breath, and appreciating the day.

[00:07:48] Julie Marxen:
It’s hard, especially working from home. I put pressure on myself: I should be working, cleaning, doing laundry, cooking dinner—on top of my job. But I’m learning to be more present and grateful just to be here.

I’ve been trying to integrate meditation. My employer actually offers a wellness resource called Midday Mindfulness. You can join a Zoom room for a guided meditation with a licensed therapist. It’s an amazing feature.

[00:08:42] Julie Marxen:
I started in January. I was at a work trip in Florida, and one of the breakout sessions was a guided meditation. I joined, and it was so empowering. It was 30 minutes, and I felt like a new person afterward.

And I found out—they’ve been offering these sessions virtually for years! I thought, “How did I not know this was available?!”

[00:09:35] Julie Marxen:
Now I join the midday session when I can. It gives me a minute to breathe and helps me reflect: I have a great job, beautiful children, and a wonderful husband. It grounds me.

[00:09:57] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
It sounds like you’re on the right path to becoming more present. Meditation can feel intimidating at first, but you found a simple way in. How long are these sessions?

[00:10:25] Julie Marxen:
About 15 minutes. They have others throughout the day too. I like the midday one—it’s short and sweet. And honestly, you don’t need a ton of time to feel present. Even a few minutes can shift your energy.

[00:10:55] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
That’s beautiful. So you have your morning run, time with your husband, and your midday meditation. You’re sprinkling little nuggets of joy into your day. You mentioned your husband—who else do you consider an important supporter in your life?

[00:11:29] Julie Marxen:
Definitely my husband—he gives me the time and space I need. But also my parents. I live about 20 minutes away from them, and they’re my biggest cheerleaders.

They encourage me emotionally and also step in to help. Just last week, my youngest had to stay home from daycare, and I still had a full work schedule. My mom came over to help, and it made all the difference.

[00:12:55] Julie Marxen:
I’m really lucky. I know not everyone has that kind of support.

[00:12:59] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
Absolutely. Having family nearby who can step in when needed is such a gift. And what I love is that your wellness routine is actually simple and accessible. So what’s your biggest recommendation for other working women at home trying to manage it all?

[00:13:41] Julie Marxen:
Take it one day at a time. If you try to tackle everything at once—your week, your month—you’ll get overwhelmed. I’ve been there.

One day, one step, one breath at a time. That mindset really helps manage anxiety. You don’t have to do it all. And you definitely don’t have to do it perfectly.

[00:14:28] Julie Marxen:
And lean on others. It’s okay to ask for help.

[00:14:33] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
So true. Asking for help is something we can all improve on—communicating our needs clearly.

Thank you so much, Julie. I loved this conversation. You really value small steps, which is also what my Petite Practice™ program emphasizes.

[00:15:24] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
Whether it’s a 5-minute stretch, a healthy snack, or a brief meditation, our bodies appreciate the little things.

Thanks again for being here, Julie!

[00:15:37] Julie Marxen:
Thank you, Dr. Christiane. So happy to be here.

[00:15:40] Dr. Christiane Schroeter:
Before you head off, just a few quick announcements for my Happy Healthy Hustlers:
I’ve got free eBooks, checklists, and healthy habit tools on my website. You can download them to support your wellness routine.

Let’s also connect on Instagram @doctor.christiane — feel free to DM me anytime!