Meet Jasmine Mathew | Recreation Therapist & CEO/Founder of Jasmine’s Beat

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jasmine Mathew and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jasmine, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance is crucial in giving 100% of yourself without depleting 100% of yourself. It’s funny because I’ve even had an argument with my husband about how women can multitask better than men. His response was “Not really, because you wouldn’t be 100% attentive to all of your tasks.” While it’s easy to stand my ground and say “No, I am woman, hear me roar”, after much thought, I have to say he is right. We can handle more on our plate and remember our to-do lists, in my opinion. However, burn-out would be inevitable. I feel that, for myself, I had no problem adding to my “plate” additional items and not necessarily keeping healthy habits alive throughout, while I was single and had no additional people to care for. I worked 1 full-time job and 2 part-time jobs, stayed up all night long with friends, getting mixed sleep patterns, signing up for more committee chair positions at work, made sure to check in with family, and did not care about what I ate, all at the same time. The moment of clarity, or a priority check, started after getting married and starting a family. It didn’t happen immediately all at once either. It has taken several years of re-prioritizing what my goals were for each year, month and day. It’s still a work in progress. I attempted to do part-time work while I had tiny babies for a very short period of time and realized it wasn’t right, both emotionally and financially. Emotionally, I was a wreck for not being able to have an accomplishment in society 100% and not being enough of a mom with my children’s development. Financially, daycare would’ve eaten up my paycheck. I also knew so many moms who rocked the working and mom thing. So, I stopped pursuing a business venture and dissolved my LLC, which caused so much self-doubt and depression at that time and I spoke to no one about it. Over the years, I’ve come to realize there is a time for everything and there is a “person” for everything. After figuring out when and where in my life I could start a business on my own terms, and having my “people” cheering me on, it has been a successful adventure in balance. I’ve prioritized my family above all things still. However, I am at a point in my life where I can show my children that you can be the mom that sets the phone down and reads a story to their child, while also setting aside “work time” so “Mommy does some AWESOME things for her job”. Anything I do to inspire my children or others to be their best in their lives is the proof that balance works. I don’t have any regrets in setting aside time for each priority in my life, including mental health, which is VITAL to giving us energy in putting 100% of ourselves to each goal. It’s just not talked about enough. It’s also why I became a Recreation Therapist. We help others find their flow, despite whatever circumstance they are in. Do what gives you life and energy, and you will produce infinitely.Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a Recreation Therapist with a passion for dance. One of things I am excited about is that I can always learn more about dance to adapt choreography for my students. I am also a mom of 3 kids, one of whom requires extra accommodations, so I can relate to some of the parents of students I teach. It is definitely not easy, especially during the pandemic. While we usually have an influx of volunteers to assist every class, I have been doing classes both virtually and in-person on my own and the lesson learned is to take everything in stride. Everyone has processed this tough time in the world differently but with some amount of difficulty as well. I would love the world to know there is a place for students who have special needs to let loose, have creative juices flow, and learn dance, among other skills, on their own terms. That place is “Jasmine’s Beat.”Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, as a therapist, we always assess who we are talking to first. So, it all depends on their interests. Frisco is great in that it has a small town feel to it, but it is only a 30 minute drive to Dallas to see more big city items. In Frisco, we definitely can start with Summer Moon coffee and/or Detour Doughnuts and coffee. Both have such unique offerings, and you can still feel light on your feet! The National Soccer Hall of Fame, Heritage Museum, Videogame Museum, are all great spots to check out indoors. Babe’s Chicken, La Hacienda Ranch and Hutchins BBQ are staples to eat at for visitors! Nearby, the Allen Outlets have every store you can think of to go shopping. In Plano, there is high-end shopping and restaurants through Legacy and Legacy West. Dallas has the Zoo, Perot museum, and family-friendly Klyde Warren Park, along with great bars and restaurants to end the night.Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to Next Step Dance in Frisco, TX and North Texas Performing Arts for opening your doors to my family and my business partnership! Shoutout to all the other fellow Recreation Therapists who strive to continue to educate and empower others about what we can do for the world!

Website: www.jasminesbeat.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jasminesbeat

Linkedin: Jasmine Mathew, CTRS

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jasminesbeat

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jasminesbeat

Youtube: Jasmine Mathew-Jasmine’s Beat

Image Credits
Krista Robey Photography