By Rachael Thompson Wellness 01.01.2024

How The Daily Aus Co-Founder Stays Calm With a Job That Never Switches Off

Work is never over for Zara Seidler, co-founder of Australia’s largest youth news service – here’s how she manages stress and stays motivated.

Welcome to Bedtime Stories, an interview series where we ask inspiring individuals to share their nighttime and morning routines, and sleep secrets. For this instalment, Zara Seidler shares the rituals that help support her life as the co-founder of The Daily Aus.

Fast-paced, demanding, and unpredictable; working as a journalist in a newsroom can be... a lot. And if your title is co-founder, the stakes are even higher. For Zara Seidler, co-founder of The Daily Aus,it’s a role she’s handled masterfully, cementing her as a driving force of change in the Australian media landscape.

The Daily Aus is Australia's leading social-first news service. Alongside co-founder Sam Koslowski and their team, Zara communicates the news in a digestible and engaging way to make content accessible to all, particularly young Australians. From carousel posts that break down hard-hitting news into a digestible format to a daily podcast that will crown you 'the smart friend in your group chat', they put in the hard yards to keep us in the loop.

And if you're one of many Australians who has ever felt overwhelmed by the news cycle and a bit lost with everything that’s going on (you're not alone!), their newly released book No Silly Questions is yet another helpful tool to help you confidently be a part of the important conversations.

Because of Zara's demanding daily work life, we wanted to find out what self-care means to her, how she mentally switches off, and what her evening routine looks like to set her up for busy days.

Hi Zara! Welcome to Bedtime Stories. Can you walk us through your bedtime routine?

My bedtime routine is a short and efficient one; brush teeth, put on moisturiser, and BAM, into my favourite place – bed. I’m guilty of a good ol’ in-bed TikTok scroll, but I'm hoping I can break that cycle soon!

What sleep or beauty products do you swear by that you won’t go a night without?

I’ve never really been a beauty gal (and yet, I wonder why my skin hates me?!). For me, I can’t go a night without really comfy PJ’s. There’s nothing better than showering, putting on something comfy and cocooning yourself in freshly washed sheets!

What is your solution for those nights you simply can’t nod off to sleep?

Reading a really engaging fiction book that lets my mind wander. It’s such a nice way to end the day and allows me to get off my phone.

What time does your alarm go off in the morning? Can you walk us through your morning routine?

My alarm goes off at 6 am, but because I’m not a great sleeper, I’ll usually be awake before the alarm. In the mornings I’ll usually grab my phone and check the news straight away, before chatting to my colleague Billi about our daily newsletter that goes out at 7 am. If I can get a walk in with my girlfriends in the morning, it always sets me up for a better day.

What does self-care mean to you and how do you practise it?

Self-care for me means being kind to myself, and recognising the stage of life I’m in, and appreciating the highs and lows that come with it. I work a lot, and self-care means knowing when enough is enough, and when to lean out.

Do you have any strategies for managing stress or maintaining a calm mindset?

Again, I’m still working on this but taking a step back and gathering a sense of perspective is the best way for me to de-stress. An old boss in politics once said to me ‘we’re not saving lives’ and honestly telling myself that is the best way for me to ground myself in reality when things get stressful.

How are you able to mentally and physically switch off from work?

I work in news, which is ever-present, so I don’t know that I ever necessarily “switch off” from work. That said, I genuinely love the news and I love what I do so I don’t feel like it’s a burden. Putting my phone away for short periods of time is always a really good way to break that circuit though.

Do you have any specific strategies to help you stay focused and motivated throughout the workday?

Being surrounded by my team every single day helps me stay motivated because they’ve all got incredible ideas, passion and drive.

What are your favourite things to do when you have downtime?

I am an absolute sucker for a massage. I am obsessed.

Can you share a little bit about your new book No Silly Questions?

No Silly Questions is the book I wish I had been given when I was younger! It is a little pocket guide to understanding the world around you – things like how our political and economic systems work, what climate change is and how technology is changing our world. We hope it will empower readers to feel like they can take part in important conversations and feel confident, whether they’re walking into a date, a work event or a voting booth.

For more from Zara follow her @zaraseidler @thedailyaus

Take a tour of Zara's peaceful mid-century apartment.

Grab your copy of 'No Silly Questions' at Booktopia.