I’m the CEO of a mocktail company. I embrace the art of puttering and balance the ‘yucky’ part of business with creativity.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Laura Taylor, the 54-year-old founder and CEO of Mingle Mocktails, based in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

My goal was always to be a working woman — to wear power suits, have a corner office, and be financially independent. I did a pretty good job achieving that.

My last corporate role was at Tableau Software, but I struggled with alcohol and, quite frankly, drank too much. In that work-hard, play-hard environment, alcohol became a crutch.

When I quit drinking in 2015, I became very sensitive to how hard it was to navigate social and work situations without it. I started making my own mocktails and realized how much better they made me feel.

I started researching the space and sensed that the ‘better-for-you’ trend was coming for alcohol. Once I had that idea, I couldn’t let it go.

I launched Mingle Mocktails two years later, and haven’t looked back. Here’s what a day in my life is like.

2 a.m. — reading and shopping

I often wake up around 2 or 3 a.m. I read on my Kindle for a bit and occasionally buy something on Amazon I probably don’t need — recently, a pencil holder because I decided my desk needed an update.

Then I’ll finally go back to sleep.

6:30 a.m. — attend to the dogs

I’ve always been a morning person. When I get up, the dogs come first. My husband and I have been married for almost 30 years. Our kids are grown, so our two dogs get my full attention in the morning.

I let them out, make some tea (my go-tos are Bigelow French Vanilla Chai or Lavender Chamomile), and ease into the day slowly.

Over the last year, I’ve really embraced what I call the art of puttering. That early window is the only time in my day that feels completely open.

I’ll take 15 minutes to sit with my tea and read from a daily prayer journal or meditate for a few minutes using the Insight Timer app. I don’t always remember what I read or thought about, but the ritual matters.

Then I walk the dogs for about half an hour. Getting outside is essential for my mental freedom. Once that’s done, I shower, and then it’s go time.

8 a.m. — work begins

Most of my work is done in my home office. I’ve learned to check my calendar the night before so I’m prepared for the next day’s commitments.

My days are a mix of investor updates, sample programs, warehouse calls, performance reviews, and production forecasting. We’ve grown quickly, and we’ve run out of product several times in the last year, so production forecasting is a huge component of my day.

If that goes wrong, it’s a full fire drill — of affected customers and logistics. I’ve learned the hard way that cutting things too close isn’t worth it.

11 a.m. — creative tasks

I try to balance what I call the “yucky stuff,” like budgeting and financials, with the work I really enjoy, like supply chain and operations. I like order, spreadsheets, and planning things.

Once I get through the tasks I resist, I reward myself with creative work. I have an incredible marketing team, and that’s where I get the most joy: talking about new product lines, like Mingle Mood, our functional beverage line, packaging, merch, or silly things like Valentine’s Day stickers.

Some of it may not move the needle, but it keeps me energized.

12:30 p.m. — lunch and back to work

Lunch doesn’t always happen. Some days I’ll have a bowl of watermelon. Most days, I forage — a handful of almonds, or whatever’s in the fridge.

I don’t batch emails or follow a rigid productivity system. I prefer to respond throughout the day.

I’ve read about people who empty their inboxes every night, and I admire them from afar. For me, work and life are blurred in a way that feels healthy.

3 p.m. — checking in with family

My husband runs sales and finance alongside me, while I oversee marketing and operations, and my son oversees operations and logistics.

Working with them has taught me something important: my son is the only person who will truly call me out.

If I’m too harsh in a meeting, he’ll tell me. I don’t always like hearing it, but I value it deeply. Having someone you trust enough to tell you the truth keeps you grounded.

6:30 p.m. — wrapping up work and dinner

I usually wrap up work around 6:30 p.m., but not always. Sometimes my reward is something simple, like going to T.J. Maxx to look for desk accessories. Other nights, I’ll work a little longer.

The nature of our different roles in the company has made my husband the cook in our household, which works perfectly, because I consider cooking a waste of time.

I’m happy with a frozen dinner if it means I can get back to work. He, on the other hand, loves grilling, and I’m very supportive of that arrangement.

7:30 p.m. — winding down

If there’s one thing I protect fiercely, it’s rest. I prioritize walks, naps, and downtime over social commitments.

I’ll go out one night on the weekend and keep the other night quiet. Sunday evenings are for puttering again — resetting the house and my mind before the week starts.

After dinner, I almost always have a lime Popsicle. They’re non-negotiable. To wind down, I watch shows like Below Deck. It’s pure fluff, and that’s exactly what I need.

10:45 p.m. — Bedtime

I read every night before bed — always fiction, always on my Kindle. I go through books quickly, sometimes two a week. Romance, murder mysteries, relationship dramas, whatever keeps me turning the pages.

I’m always on my phone, but I’ve made peace with that. If something isn’t urgent, I won’t respond immediately. I take the information in and move on. That mindset has actually reduced tension between my work and personal life.