Healthy Chicks in the Community Series: Meet Jess Lynch of Digital Accountability Buddy WishRoute
In the blink of an eye, September is here, and that means it’s time for this month’s feature on Healthy Chicks in the Community, a monthly series highlighting rockstar Girl Bosses doing their thang in the wellness world.
I’m all about supporting other women-owned businesses, so I was thrilled to connect with WishRoute, an “accountability buddy” providing tools to help you build healthy habits around exercise, nutrition, and mindfulness. The founder Jess reached out when they were kicking things off to see if I wanted to include my Spark Your Bliss cards in their surprise member packages, and it was a heck yes from me!
On this month’s series, I got to chat with Jess to discuss the importance of having accountability when it comes to shifting behavior, her knack for experimenting with healthy deserts, and why Katrina Lake of Stich Fix is her #1 role model in biz.
NAME:
Jess Lynch
DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS/LINE OF WORK:
I founded WishRoute on the belief that people lack the accountability they need to follow through with their wellness goals. We all have lots of robot driven health & wellness apps on our phones, but we aren’t emotionally connected, so when our self-motivation runs out, we stop using them! WishRoute is different – we’re your text message based accountability buddy.
Real people on the WishRoute team encourage you to mindfully make sustainable changes to your exercise or eating routine, acting as your supportive accountability buddy along the way. We text you a personalized tip or suggestion in the morning and check-in each evening on what you’re working on for accountability. When you respond, you’re texting with your WishRoute team, not robots!
As you follow through with your daily goals, you’ll earn surprise gifts in the mail – including Healthy Chicks affirmation cards! If you want to sign-up, join the waitlist at wishroute.com and email us at hello@wishroute.com that you’re with Healthy Chicks and we’ll move you to the top 😉
WHERE YOU LIVE:
Boston, MA
HOW YOU SERVE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH YOUR WORK:
I believe everyone deserves access to the support and inspiration they need to move their life forward — and no one needs to do it alone! We’re making personal support accessible, offering WishRoute at a very affordable price point. We serve the community by helping each person we support move their life forward, building momentum and confidence along the way.
NUMBER ONE PASSION OUTSIDE THE JOB:
Walking around Boston with my husband and trying every new fitness class in the city!
INTENTIONS/GOALS YOU HAVE FOR YOURSELF IN THE NEXT 3 YEARS:
1. Make WishRoute available and accessible to everyone coast to coast, lifting up our WishRouters, employees and partners along the way.
2. Continue to prioritize my relationship with my amazing husband, Conor. He’s my biggest supporter, cheerleader, and advisor. Healthy relationships take intentionally setting aside quality time to be together and I want to continue doing that!
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’D TELL YOUR CHILDHOOD SELF:
Things have a way of working out, success isn’t linear and the definition changes often. The most important thing is trusting your intuition and being true to yourself. The easiest path to success is fully embracing your own magic.
FOODS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL ALIVE & BRING THE MOST JOY:
Coconut based ice cream — my favorite is Fomu!
SONG THAT MOVES YOU:
Beautiful every time by Lee Brice; it was the first dance song at my wedding!
THREE FAB THINGS ABOUT YOU:
1. I’m always experimenting with healthier desserts in the kitchen — some flop but others rock! Some of my favorite recipes are:
2. I’m the go-to person for getting un-stuck! Whether it be a business challenge, conflict with a friend or getting into a healthy routine, I’m the person to turn to! I’m a great listener and am good at re-framing situations to help people look at things differently
3. My smile! I believe smiling is well worth the wrinkles and makes me and other people feel good!
FAVORITE BODY PART & WHY:
Legs! They are long and strong and remind me of how lucky I am to be in good health.
I GET MY INSPIRATION FROM:
My brother. He’s battling neurological Lyme, focusing every day on taking steps forward and prioritizing his health. When things feel hard for me, I remember what he’s persevering through and it keeps things in perspective and helps me focus on what matters.
EXERCISE THAT MAKES YOU SHINE:
I love variety and mixing it up! Favorites right now are Bailey Brown, Kick it by Eliza, and Barre Groove studio Boston founded by the amazing Alanna Perry.
SOMETHING IN YOUR “WELLNESS TOOLBOX” YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT:
Nuun hydration tablets and Insight meditation app – I use the free timer every morning!
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Starting WishRoute! It was a scary thing to go “all in” and pursue this venture but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m grateful for the growth opportunities this journey brings every day.
FEMALE LEADER YOU LOOK UP TO:
Katrina Lake, the youngest female founder ever to take a company public and CEO of Stitch Fix. She’s done an incredible job of combining personal support and technology to create something truly special and inspired which is what we aim to do at WishRoute.
IF YOU COULD PICK ONE PERSON TO HAVE DINNER WITH, WHO WOULD IT BE & WHAT WOULD YOU MAKE THEM:
Katrina Lake! I’d make her a Smoothie bowl 🙂
GO-TO MANTRA OR INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE:
“I will not let my fear of failure stop me from having the opportunity to succeed.”
MESSAGE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHER HEALTHY CHICKS:
If you have ideas and ambitions, the most important thing is to experiment and START. Break it down into the first smallest step possible and take it. Be hungry for feedback, adjust and iterate, and continue moving forward.
