Ruby Riethmuller needed to stop complaining and start doing. 

This was the message that spurred the 20-something-year-old founder on to launch her mental health organisation, Womn-Kind. 

“It was during Covid,” she recalled. “I was complaining about the mental health system –which was becoming quite a common rant that I was having –and one of my friends was like, ‘Ruby either do something about it or stop talking like you could. Because we both know that you can’.”

A few years out from high school, Ruby recognised how many teenagers felt isolated by their shared mental health struggles. 

“We often struggle through things on our own because we’re worried about stigma,” she said. “And so, Womn-Kind was born to try and make the journey of adolescence a little easier for people”. 

Today, Womn-kind has reached over 35,000 young people from 37 countries, with more than half based in regional, rural and remote communities. Through the app and digital tools, teens can access mental health support wherever they are. Ruby also travels the country bringing workshops directly to  schools and communities. 

And, this young founder is just getting started. She hopes to soon launch Womn-Kind’s brother organisation, for young men and boys. 

“Seeing [Womn-Kind] at scale is just so exciting … I feel like the world is our oyster,” she said. 

Here, Ruby pulls back the curtain and reveals the secret to how she does it all by walking us through a typical day in her life. Noting that, of course no two days are ever the same for this young entrepreneur.

A day in the life…

Note: the script below is based on an edited version of a conversation with Ruby. 

7:30am – wake

I usually start work at eight so I get up around 7:30am. 

The morning is when I feel most productive. One of my business coaches has got me into productivity planning, so I fill out this sheet where I identify what I’m capable of – three tasks that I’ll definitely do and then extra things that I would love to get done. So, the first 10-15 minutes of my day is about setting my intentions and imposing a bit of structure. 

I don’t eat straight away. I usually have a health protein shake and – it’s so random –two Brazil nuts as well. I saw once that, apparently, these are good for your brain. Now I just have them every day, along with a date as well. That’s my ritual.

8am – work starts 

I usually finish and start the day by doing community engagement … emails or replying to stuff on the Womn-Kind app. And then I spend a few hours working on a project or task that requires my focus and creativity. 

11:30 am – lunch 

I have lunch, and then try to block out meetings for a few hours in the middle of the day.

One of these meetings is usually with a mentor or one of my [business] coaches. Being such a small team and not having someone to directly report to, they really help with accountability and generating ideas. I also check in with the Womn-Kind national youth leadership panel at least once a day to get their feedback on whatever we’re working on. 

3pm – a gym break 

I walk to the gym, which takes about 20 minutes so I listen to a podcast –usually Diary of a CEO. 

When I get to the gym I do the stair machine and I usually also try and do a yoga class. I love yin yoga, because it’s not heaps of quick movements. Something that I’m really trying to do more of this year is give myself time to think on a deeper level. I find that yoga really helps with that.

5pm – back to the grind

I do another hour and a half of work and then cook dinner. I eat around 7 pm.

7:30pm – social time 

I always block out 7:30-8:30pm to work on socials. It’s a big chunk of the day but I just think people forget how time-consuming they are. 

8:30pm down tools 

After 8:30pm I make a really conscious effort to put my phone and laptop down. In an ideal world I would read but I feel like, at the end of the day, my brain is so over it that I’ll usually just watch something – at the moment I’m watching Bridgerton and that JFK Jr show [Love Story] on Disney+, which is so good.

I usually write in my gratitude journal and then I do quite an in-depth Korean skincare nighttime routine. That’s just how I love to switch off.