Dr. Tasha Holland-Kornegay is an entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker. She began her latest business, Wellness in Real Life (WIRL), after a battle with burnout encouraged her to help other health professionals cope with their high-stress careers.

As a Licensed Mental Health Clinician, Dr. Holland-Kornegay has a background in counseling and is the founder and owner of Our Treatment Center, PLLC. Her life as a health professional and a businesswoman are linked together by her passion for helping others.

What is your backstory? What do you do for a living?

I come from a mental health background. After I received my Ph.D. in Counseling, I became a Licensed Mental Health Clinician and held positions for some great organizations, like public schools and non-profits. Eventually, I established my own healthcare practice and got to work with some incredible health professionals. I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and that, combined with my own experience with burnout, led me to WIRL.

How did you start your remote work journey?

I got involved with remote work how most people do – by being busy! My husband (the co-founder) and I knew that our passion project WIRL would benefit from an innovative employment model. So, we kept our employees remote and have enjoyed the versatility ever since. As a mom, wife, and businesswoman, I appreciate the flexibility that work-from-home provides, and advances in technology have made managing remote teams a breeze.

What have you learned working from home? 

Technology is letting me build a business from home, even during a pandemic – that's astonishing. Being able to work without worrying about commutes, office space, and employee equipment gives small businesses a big advantage, but it has its downsides too. I've felt firsthand how my personal and professional lives have blurred into one.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted almost every part of the economy and our daily lives. What challenges have you encountered both personally and professionally? How have you weathered these challenges?

I briefly mentioned my struggles with work-life balance earlier. This definitely takes a toll on me professionally and personally. One of the neglected components of wellness is how you interact with your community and friends, and during a pandemic that's challenging to do. Work is a bit less bright when I can't shake hands, have office parties, and grab a bite to eat with my team. At the same time, there are a lot of unique ways that we can mend this gap. Video conferencing and other means of streamlining communication play a big part here. As a people person, a video chat with clients or team members it's never quite the same at sitting down with them – but it's much better than sending emails back and forth.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has created an increased sense of fear, depression, and isolation. How have you been able to get through pandemic-related anxiety and stress issues?

Facing the burnout episode that inspired WIRL taught me a lot about my limits. Even though I've spent years helping my patients explore their own issues and accept themselves, I'm still my biggest patient! I've always loved finding new ways to implement wellness in my life so I can be the best mom and businesswoman possible. COVID-19 has certainly put me to the test, but giving myself the mission to help those who are fighting on the frontlines of the pandemic is all the motivation I need.

What are your best mental health tips?

There's a difference between what you think you need to do and what's good for you. We tend to see items on our to-do lists as necessary and equally important. But the reality is, some of our activities and projects mean a lot more to us than others, even if they don't yet have a tangible return. Finding ways to focus on projects that matter most is a great way to put yourself first and to do something gratifying.

Before the pandemic hit, you may have worked in an office or corporate setting, but what do you foresee happening now? How do you see companies allowing employees to work?

While a lot of new trends have begun since the pandemic hit, there's no guarantee that they'll continue after it passes. Watching businesses transition to a remote workforce is exciting, but we can't be certain that it will stick. Once social distancing isn't necessary, I wonder how office layout and work culture will change.

Before the pandemic hit, you may have worked in an office or corporate setting, but what do you foresee happening now? How do you see companies allowing employees to work? 

While a lot of new trends have begun since the pandemic hit, there's no guarantee that they'll continue after it passes. Watching businesses transition to a remote workforce is exciting, but we can't be certain that it will stick. Once social distancing isn't necessary, I wonder how office layout and work culture will change.

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 Do you believe that remote work is the future? 

I believe some level of remote work is the future – giving employees the option to choose a number of at-home workdays and on-site workdays feels like the next big step forward. This will give everyone the chance to balance out their weeks and keep themselves in good shape to work hard. I think if we give employees freedom, they come back more productive than ever.

How do you think COVID will shape the future of business? 

As I mentioned earlier, I think the trends we see now will fade as the pandemic passes. However, it's hard to believe that anything will go back to normal. The pandemic has completely changed office culture, and we're going to see remanents of that for a long time. 

Do you have any advice for any aspiring remote workers/digital nomad/entrepreneurs?

Plan ahead, and make sure you're a self-starter. Keep in mind that remote work puts a lot of accountability on just you. If you aren't up for that, then the time might not be right. 

How can readers get in touch with you? 

Your readers can reach my team and me at Wellnessirl.com or @wellnessinreallife_ 

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The Blue Ocean Life Nation Interview Series is an innovative interview series that asks the tough questions to some of the boldest innovators and brightest minds in the evolving world of remote work, entrepreneurship, the health and wellness industries, and more. Want to tell us more about yourself or your cause in one of our interviews? Send us a message