Hello, beautiful soul! I’m excited to share this blog with you today, but before I do, I want to take you back to my early 20s and paint a vivid picture of what my lifestyle used to look like. It wasn’t always rainbows and butterflies; in fact, it was quite the opposite – but I had no idea at the time. I was just living my life completely unaware of how these choices affected my overall health and well-being.

Taking You Back to My Early 20’s

Picture this:

I would start my day with a quick trip to McDonald’s for breakfast, naively believing that as long as I ate something, it counted as being “healthy.” At the time, I had absolutely no understanding of what it actually meant to be healthy. Whenever I didn’t feel my best, I would turn to over-the-counter medication, seeking a quick-fix solution instead of addressing the root cause. Many of my college days were spent going in and out of the doctor’s office, seeking answers about my health, unwilling to change anything about my lifestyle.

Modeling & writing a book was my dream, but I struggled with self-confidence & my priorities were all over the place. The relationships in my life were unhealthy. My sleep routines were erratic, weekends were filled with social events, and I prioritized quantity over quality in various aspects of my life. Yoga? Never heard of it. Fad diets? Oh, I tried several. Being a conscious consumer? It wasn’t even on my radar back then. I was living a lifestyle completely out of alignment, relying on others for answers instead of doing any kind of inner work. My quality of life was suffering in a big way.

My Lifestyle Today

Fast forward to today, and my life is completely different. My quality of life is abundant. I feel so much more connected to myself & the world around me, fulfilled, and aligned. If I can take control of my health (mind, body, and soul), I know that you can do it too. I believe that with all my heart.

Through my personal healing journey, I’ve come to realize that change only happens when you’re genuinely ready for it. It took me hitting an emotional rock bottom and years of trial and error to make significant improvements in my life. Along the way, there were several stepping stones that “woke me up” & led me to the holistic lifestyle I embody today. I’m still very much on this transformative path.

Today’s blog is dedicated to highlighting the specific lifestyle changes that set me on this new awakened path. So grab your drink of choice, and let’s dive deep.

1. Buying My First Juicer

Back in 2012, I took a leap of faith and bought my very first juicer. Little did I know that this choice would completely change my perception of food. Through research and experimentation, I discovered the powerful healing properties of whole, natural foods. This was really the first time I started seeing food as medicine. Fresh juice went from being something I didn’t really enjoy (at all) to becoming an important part of my daily routine. Now, I’m obsessed with it.

At the time, I was relying heavily on medications to treat my chronic stomach inflammation, and desperately wanted a more natural way of living. Juicing became a big step towards finding the natural healing I was seeking. To this day, anytime I’m feeling off, I don’t run to walgreens to get medicine. Instead, I run to the local grocery store and buy ginger root, a ton of garlic, lemon, and a variety of herbs, fruits, and veggies to juice & make into teas. This approach has helped me tremendously, and has kept me from getting sick for years.

If you’re curious, the juicer I started out with is linked here. This is a great option for anyone just starting out. The juicer I use & love today is Nama Well.

2. Embracing the Student Mindset

For me personally, it all started with a difficult realization: the only person who could truly advocate for my own health and well-being was me. Relying solely on doctors for information about my well-being was no longer effective. This awakening sparked a deep curiosity within me, inspiring me to explore the vast realm of health and wellness on my own terms. I became determined to listen to my body, seek evidence-based information, explore unconventional approaches, and challenge prevailing notions.

Let me emphasize that my intention is not to discredit or undermine the importance of doctors. I believe that doctors play a vital role in our society, addressing our healthcare needs. However, at the time, I was so disconnected from myself that I prioritized outside opinions about my well-being over my own instincts. Making a conscious effort to reclaim control over my health, I embraced becoming a student of a healthy lifestyle and worked in harmony with healthcare professionals specializing in holistic health. This shift in perspective had a profound impact on my overall health and well-being.

Tip: Purchase books, take online courses, dive head first into as much research as you can about what you’re experiencing with your health and well-being. Stay passionately curious in the pursuit of feeling your absolute BEST.

I highly recommend reading “You Can Heal Your Life” by Louise Hay – it’s such a powerful read for anyone starting a health and healing journey.

3. From Over-the-Counter to All-Natural

Disclaimer: The following information is not medical advice. It’s important to consult with your physician or qualified healthcare provider for any questions regarding your health, medical conditions, or treatments. Before starting any new healthcare regimen, seek professional advice, and never disregard medical advice or delay seeking it based on information in this blog post.

Slowly and with intention, I made a conscious shift away from relying on over-the-counter medications and embraced all-natural, homeopathic alternatives instead. This transition involved a complete lifestyle change, thorough research, trial and error, patience, and consultations with healthcare professionals specializing in natural healing. This didn’t happen overnight. It took YEARS. Seeking guidance from qualified experts in the holistic realm is important to ensure that your choices align with your individual needs.

Remember, listening to your body is so important. Each person is unique, and what works for me may not work for you. Trust your intuition, get professional advice, and do what feels right for you.

4. Breaking Up with Sodas and Fast Food

Making the conscious choice to stop drinking sodas and eating unhealthy fast food transformed my lifestyle. I have to be honest with you though, it wasn’t a walk in the park. I was obsessed with diet coke and the convenience of grabbing a quick burger. But something inside me shifted.

When you’ve spent all of your early 20’s feeling terrible, and then you finally start feeling GOOD, the spark of those old habits simply fades away. It no longer becomes worth it.

I believe that the choices we make each day shape our lives in a powerful way. It doesn’t mean we have to be perfect; it simply means we need to be intentional about what we want. One of the biggest obstacles preventing many people from becoming their healthiest selves is knowing that something is making them sick and yet still doing it. I’ve been there too, so I don’t judge. But when we find something that genuinely makes us feel better, it’s important to stick with it and commit to positive changes. When we consciously decide to embrace positive changes in our lifestyle, we tap into the incredible power that can transform our lives. For me, saying goodbye to sodas and fast food was a massive leap forward on my journey towards better health and personal healing.

Take a moment to reflect on the choices you’re making and consider the impact they have on your well-being. Are there any habits that you’re ready to break up with? Remember, every small step counts, and you have the power to create positive change in your life.

5. Yoga + Meditation + Immersing in Nature

Starting a yoga and meditation practice profoundly transformed my life in numerous ways. Prior to practicing yoga, I felt disconnected from myself. As I’ve mentioned before, I relied heavily on others for guidance and struggled with anxiety. However, after the loss of my mother, yoga became a lifeline for me. It helped me restore a connection with myself, find stability, develop deeper self-awareness, be more intuitive, present, and live with intention. Through yoga and meditation, I’ve also discovered the remarkable link between the mind and body, and how it can ignite healing and overall vitality. I genuinely believe meditation and yoga has helped me with my health issues, just making me so much more conscious of my choices and aware of how I’m really feeling on the inside. It’s a practice that truly lights up my soul.

Immersing myself in nature whether it’s camping, going for a walk or run, going on a hike, kayaking, swimming in the ocean, being in the desert, etc – I’ve had so many incredible experiences in nature that have 100% transformed my health on a deep level.

Do you have any practices in your life that light up your soul & make you feel connected to your most authentic self? If so, I encourage you to continue embracing and nurturing them. These practices have the power to keep you aligned with your truest essence and bring you a sense of deep connection and fulfillment.

6. Hydration is Key

For years, I lived in a constant state of dehydration, unaware of the impact it had on my stomach issues. It finally hit me that I needed to change my relationship with water. Since then, prioritizing staying hydrated has had a remarkable effect on my energy levels, mood, digestion, and overall health. It’s truly incredible what a difference it can make when you’re intentional about it.

Take a moment and reflect on your own hydration habits. Are you drinking enough water? Trust me, making small improvements can make a big difference in how you feel.

7. Prioritizing Rest and Relaxation

Finally realizing the importance of self-care, I made rest and relaxation a top priority in my life. I shifted my focus from quantity to quality, opting for peaceful nights in instead of wild nights out. Writing, reading books, and prioritizing sleep became key elements of my nighttime routine.

8. Surrounding Myself with Healthy, Positive Energy

I consciously distanced myself from individuals who solely sought out partying and instead embraced friendships that uplifted my soul. Protecting my energy became non-negotiable, and I surrounded myself with people who supported and inspired me on my health and healing journey. In a lot of ways, I felt like I had to shed a lot of unhealthy “friend” layers to start living my healthiest life.

During times of grief or major life changes, it’s incredibly easy to find solace in the wrong crowd. I’ve been there, done that over and over again. If I could give advice to my younger self, I would say,

“Stop spending time with people who make you feel terrible about yourself. Distance yourself from fake friends ( deep down you know who they are). If the only time they reach out to you is to “grab drinks” it’s not a quality relationship, it’s a party relationship. Know the difference. Refrain from engaging in conversations where people speak negatively about others. It will lower your vibration. If you didn’t witness it firsthand, assume whatever you’re hearing is simply not true. Do not allow anyone into your life who gives off weird energy, seeks to take advantage of you, or bring you down. Trust your intuition about people. If it feels off, it probably is.”

It’s important to be discerning and protect your well-being. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you.

On the flip side, if you have healthy, loving relationships in your life that lift you up, that’s incredible. Hold those relationships close.

Reach out to someone in your life who has been there for you since day 1. Let them know how much you care about them and how appreciative you are.

9. Journaling

Taking the time to journal about your life, your health and well-being, your business aspirations, your dreams, and just anything that is going on in your life can help you not only process it all, but also manifest your healthiest life. I’ve had so many journal entries turn into complete manifestations. Giving birth at home was one of them!

I also believe that when you’re intentional about it and write things down, you create a visual footprint. Even if you don’t make eye contact with it everyday, it’s there to remind you of your greatness.

Write things down. Pour your heart out on paper. Visualize your highest-self and show up as her every single day. Here’s a journal prompt to get you started…

Journal Prompt: Describe a moment when you felt deeply connected to your soul’s purpose or a higher power. How can you nurture that connection and align your actions with your purpose?

If you only have 5 minutes a day to dedicate to journaling, try this.

10. Whole Food Plant-Based Living

Choosing to embrace a plant-rich/vegan diet has been a major turning point in my health and healing journey. Not only has it helped resolve my chronic health issues, but it has also had a positive impact on my entire life.

My belief in the transformative power of a plant-based lifestyle led me to create my very first eBook bundle, The Green Upgrade: How to Take Care of YOU and Feel Good Inside and Out Using Plant-Based Practices and Holistic Principles. It’s a beginner’s guide to adopting a plant-based lifestyle and embracing holistic principles. My intention for creating The Green Upgrade is to make plant-based living easy to learn, and accessible for those who are interested but unsure of where to start.

If you’re feeling drawn to learn more about the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle, I invite you to check out my eBook bundle. It’s designed to provide essential knowledge and practical tips to support your journey towards a healthier, more sustainable way of living. The best part? I help you every step of the way. With some ebooks out there, you purchase it and that’s it. When you purchase my ebook bundle, I step in and help you. I created this resource because it’s something I wish was out there when I was first started out on my own journey. If you’re ready to take that next step, click here!

11. Conscious Living

For many years of my life, I made purchasing decisions without really putting much thought into them. If I liked something, I would buy it. The same was true for food. If I saw food that looked good on the shelf, I would purchase it, never looking at the label or ingredients. However, that all changed when I went vegan and began exploring different cultures and ways of living. This shift wasn’t immediate, but rather a gradual process where I started exchanging unhealthy choices for healthier alternatives, unsustainable brands for more conscious options, and toxic products for cleaner alternatives.

One practice that has truly made a difference in my health and lifestyle is learning about a company’s “why” before making a purchase. I take the time to understand their mission, values, and environmental practices. This approach not only guides my choices but also deepens my connection to the brands I support. Opting for ethical and earth-conscious brands aligns with my values and fosters a stronger sense of connection to the world around me. I genuinely believe that these mindful purchasing decisions, no matter how small, can have a positive impact.

Tip: Make one simple swap: Start by choosing one household item and replacing it with a cleaner, more eco-friendly version. Whether it’s switching to natural cleaning products, using reusable containers, or opting for sustainable personal care items, these small changes can make a big difference for your health and the environment.

12. Exploring Plant-Medicine

This is not medical advice.

I recognize that the topic I’m about to discuss is highly controversial, but I believe it’s important to share the positive impact it had on my life. Transparency is very important to me and I’d be hiding a huge part of my journey if I didn’t include it here. Please note that I’m simply sharing my perspective and personal experience.

Making the conscious choice to explore my consciousness and commit to healing was a huge step forward in my healing journey. I truly believe it helped me with depression and severe anxiety. There was a point in my journey, particularly after witnessing my mother’s battle with cancer, where I felt extremely depressed and consumed by grief. The lifestyle changes I’ve mentioned above helped me tremendously, but exploring plant-medicine took my healing journey to a whole new level.

I believe powerful healing can happen when you’re in an extremely safe environment with a licensed professional who specializes in psychedelic therapy, and when you have a strong purpose and intention behind it. I’m so happy to see that there’s progress being made to make plant-medicine more accessible to people struggling with mental health issues. As always, it’s important to do your own research and just because I tried something and it helped me, doesn’t mean it can help you too. Discernment is KEY.

If this topic is of interest to you, visit the following websites: Johns Hopkins University, Imperial College London, New York University (NYU), and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). They often publish research findings, articles, and resources related to their studies.

Final Thoughts

Beginning a holistic health journey is a deeply personal experience. My own path was filled with challenges and self-discovery, ultimately leading me to a place of awakening, healing, and personal transformation. It’s a process that requires time, dedication, and a lot of self-reflection.

I hope that by sharing the 12 holistic lifestyle choices that have transformed my health, I’ve inspired you to carve your own path towards better health, happiness, and alignment with your true self. If you found this blog helpful, let me know in the comments below! And if you believe that someone else could benefit from reading this blog, please consider sharing it with them. Your support means the world to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today!

xo – Chelsea