Self-care started off as a trendy term–now, it’s a lady boss’ best friend. Taking care of ourselves both physically and mentally is how we’re able to take on our busy days, follow our dreams, and conquer our mile-long to-do lists. To inspire you to recharge daily, we’re launching a new segment, focused on all things self-care. You’ll hear how successful women refuel, from their best habits to biggest indulgences. Today, celebrated Certified Holistic Health coach Jamie Mendell tells us what she does to feel like her best self, from her social media habits to what she drinks first thing in the morning. Find all of her relaxation inspiration below.
What are some bad habits you’ve cut out of your daily routine?

  1. I drink less coffee these days – I try to not drink it on weekdays, but I still love it on the weekends. That’s my little compromise with myself. I could tell that drinking coffee would make me jittery, dry out my skin, and make me sweat. I knew it was stressing out my body, so I slowly started reducing how often I have it.
  2. I try to be really intentional with social media. When I catch myself mindlessly scrolling, I often ask myself, “Jamie, is this really what you want to be doing right now?” It brings consciousness back to the moment. Sometimes I decide that yes, I do want to be doing it, and other times I realize that I do not want to, and so I put my phone down.
  3. I’ve cut out the need to always respond to everyone, immediately. I used to feel so much guilt if I didn’t respond to an email or a text, but I realized I was driving myself crazy trying to perfectly respond, all the time. Now, I cut myself way more slack, and pay attention to what will work for ME instead of always trying to make sure I never let anyone else down.

Good habits you’ve added to your daily routine?

  1. 1. I drink hot water with lemon or dandelion tea first thing in the morning. Both are great for your digestive tract and your liver, and I love starting the day by giving my body some love.
  2. 2. I’ve switched to pasture-raised eggs, grass-fed beef and organic chicken. I’ve learned a lot lately about how the quality of what we eat matters so much, so I go the extra mile to buy high quality animal products. They have less antibiotics, hormones, and toxins, and way more nutrients. 
  3. 3. I have switched from using plastic to glass wherever possible (ie. my tupperware). Not only is it better for the environment, but plastics can cause a lot of hormonal issues for women, so I’ve tried to slowly make the switch.

How do you take care of yourself throughout the day?
I am pretty diligent about planning my week and knowing what I need during any given week. As an introvert, it’s important that I don’t overextend myself, so I will usually only plan one night out a week with friends or at an event. The other nights I like to be at home relaxing with my fiancé. I am most productive in the mornings, so I try to attack my biggest tasks and projects in the morning, and then do things in the afternoon that require less brain power. Sitting at a computer in one place for more than 3 hours is not really my jam, so I try to switch things up by going to a coffee shop or my co-working space, going for a walk, calling a friend, or moving to a different part of the house to do work. I think balance is all about knowing yourself and staying in tune with yourself on a day-to-day basis (because you are ALWAYS changing!) and having the courage to give yourself what your intuition is telling you that you need.   


Are there any activities or hobbies you do to help you de-stress and relax?
Yes! So many! I think it’s so important to have your go-to de-stressors, because we are all stressed a lot of the time. At the end of every work day, I take a hot shower, get into sweats, put on jazz music (Ella Fitzgerald is my current favorite) and slowly cook dinner. This routine helps me step out of the “CEO” hat, and into my softer, more feminine hat. I also think this is so important for my relationship – I do all of this before my fiancé comes home, and it helps me switch modes and be a great partner to him after a long day. During the day, I also love just getting outside, even if it’s just for a few minutes. It sounds so cliché, but some fresh air really does help.
How many hours of sleep do you get a night? Is there anything you’d improve about your sleep schedule?
I aim to get 8 hours each night, but sometimes it’s closer to 7 (and the very occasional 6). I thrive on 7-8 hours, and I am kind of a baby with my sleep – I really need it! The one thing I would change is that I would ideally go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier – my ideal schedule would be sleeping from 10pm-6am because I absolutely LOVE early mornings – they make me so giddy! However, because of my fiancé’s hours, we don’t end up eating dinner until 8/8:30, so a 10pm bedtime is quite unrealistic right now. I’m sure at some point that will change, but for now I value quality time with him at the end of the day over needing to get my ideal sleep schedule. I think it’s important to recognize that we are always in “seasons” in our lives, and seasons keep changing. Right now, I am not in the “season” for my early mornings, but I know it will change down the road.
Do you have a favorite wellness trend?
Hmmm…I would say “clean beauty.” I really believe in the idea that we need to clean up what we are putting on our skin (makeup, skincare, etc.). Our skin literally absorbs everything into our bodies, and the US barely regulates what is allowed in our cosmetics. I’ve cleaned up all of my makeup and skincare products and love knowing that I’m not giving my body any extra chemicals to deal with.
What is your favorite healthy food? How do you incorporate it into your diet?
I really do love vegetables. I always have, even when I was little. I eat tons of sautéed leafy greens – they’re so easy to buy and prepare. I will always grab kale, spinach, swiss chard, or bok choy at the store, and sauté them in some coconut oil, olive oil or butter, with some salt and pepper. It’s the simplest way to get SO many nutrients all at once. I also roast vegetables all the time – carrots, cauliflower, beets, literally whatever I have on hand. In SF it’s often a bit chilly, so I find myself eating less salads and more cooked vegetables!