Hi friends! I'm here to tell you why I shifted the focus of the pod from style and fashion to habits, rituals, routines and overall wellbeing. I still am and always will be obsessed with personal style and love sharing memories through what we were wearing when _____________. However, I know from personal experience that the foundation of life is made up of our habits and how we choose to spend our time. I switched up the questions I'm asking my guests because I am honestly curious about how other people's habits shape their lives (and I find that when I'm interested in knowing something, others are also interested). I also know that when I make the effort to put together a great outfit, it shows in the way I carry myself. It changes my attitude, my mood and my energy. So basically it’s all related. While I answered these questions on my first episode of the second season, I am leaving them here too for posterity. If you feel like answering them too, please share with me!
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU DO EVERYDAY/DAILY TO SUPPORT YOUR WELLBEING IN EACH CATEGORY?:
PHYSICAL: walk, walk, walk and stretching and rebounding 2x a week
EMOTIONAL: meaningful conversations/connecting with friends/family, journaling
MENTAL: reading, writing, making art, designing, creating, cleaning my spaces
SPIRITUAL: meditation, mantra, nature, daydreaming
HOW DO YOU DEFINE ROUTINE VS RITUAL and HOW DO YOU ADD RITUAL INTO YOUR ROUTINE?
I would say that my routine consists of the things that I do regularly and that I have to do/get to do. Ritual has more of a spiritual and intentional feel. I add ritual into my routine as much as possible: the way I make my coffee and lemon water each morning and bring it into bed with me to journal, my meditation practice, lighting candles and Japanese incense and sitting at my altar, walking to the same beach time after time and collecting sea glass, at the end of the day, washing my face, putting on my serum and getting in bed to write and read. All of these acts are intentional, designed by me turn the mundane into the magical.
DOES THE WAY YOU DRESS DICTATE YOUR MOOD? DO YOU CORRELATE YOUR OUTFIT WITH YOUR STATE OF MIND? In other words do you associate your appearance with your mindset?
As I already expressed above, I believe very strongly in the connection between how you feel and how you look. I don’t mean to say that looks are everything because I am a person that loves to go deep and looks can be deceiving. I know firsthand that when you don’t do the internal work, you cannot cover up your shit with Chanel and diamonds. BUT…. I do notice that when I feel my best self, I really love my outfit. And when I’ve made an effort to dress in a way that feels really authentic, it shows in my mood. When I am in pieces that feel good and I’ve styled them in my own personal way, I can show up with a more creative mindset. Again, it’s all connected.
WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE OR ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION YOU WISH YOU COULD TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
That no one else knows what the hell they are doing either, that we are all just figuring it out as we go. I used to always look around and think everyone else had a grand plan, a step by step guide they were following to get to this magical place called “the top” and I wasn’t in on the secret. But this is just NOT TRUE. In fact it is the OPPOSITE of true. And when I figured that out, it made me feel so much less alone. There is no falling behind, we are all on our own journeys and exactly where we are supposed be.
WHAT IS ONE HABIT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO YOUR LIFE? WHY?
I actually can’t remember what I said on the pod about this, but right now, I would say, daily organizing. Meaning: putting things away as I go, getting rid of things that are no longer needed on a regular basis so the clutter doesn’t build up.
WHAT IS ONE HABIT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BREAK? WHY? AND HOW WILL YOU DO IT?
This one is easy for me to answer and NOT easy for me to do: STOP MINDLESSLY LOOKING AT MY PHONE 100X A DAY. The only way for me to break this habit is by being very aware of what I am doing. It helps when I put my phone in another room but realistically my phone is near me or in my hand or pocket more than not. So bringing awareness to when I open it and what I look at is a good start.
PLEASE SHARE A HABIT OR SOMETHING YOU USED TO DO DAILY THAT YOU NO LONGER DO. Can be a negative habit you broke or a positive habit you would like to bring back.
YOGA, I miss it as a practice. I have started going again on Friday mornings and I would love to add another class to my week and start to add in a home practice, even if it’s only 5 minutes a day. Start small, be consistent, it’s the best way to make a habit stick.
DO YOU HAVE A NAME FOR YOUR STYLE? EXPLAIN.
SEXY TOMBOY, it basically means if I’m wearing a miniskirt, I’ll throw on a cool vintage sweatshirt and penny loafers, if I’m wearing old jeans, I’ll add a tight little t-shirt and heels, think a mash up of a 13 year old California boy from the 70’s and 90’s supermodel.
FINISH THE SENTENCE:
WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, I OPEN MY EYES AND want to go back to sleep. I love sleep and need at least 8 hours.
I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO the winter, I hope it snows a lot.
THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I EVER RECEIVED WAS “you start by starting” which essentially means just do one little thing each day that gets you closer to what you want. Don’t look at the mountain, put one foot in front of the other.
WHEN I NEED TO FEEL SAFE AND SECURE THE ONE THING I DO IS get in my bed, preferably with dog and a really good book.
A LIFELONG HABIT I HAVE ALWAYS HAD IS reading. I am happiest when I am laying in the sun poolside or on the beach in a cute bikini with a book and my family close by.
As always, I love to hear from you and if you have any questions you'd like me to answer on my next solo episode of the podcast, please send them to me!
XO,
Hilary Star
