Next up on our Talking Straight series is the lovely Chelsea Nabors, Co-Founder of LOLA Interiors (an artful home office collection) & Managing Director of Bullet Studios. We spoke to her a short time ago during the lockdown phase. Let's get into it!
1. What does your morning routine look like?
Every morning generally starts with me getting up and getting active before I take on the day. I’m a spin class junkie and I love starting my day off in a dark room with flashing neons and pounding music! However, since being in lockdown I’ve traded in my spin bike for long walks outside to achieve my 10K step goal each day. I never thought I’d be a walker, but I’ve started using this time to listen to self-help and educational material and have really enjoyed integrating this into my mornings! When I arrive home, I like to do a quick tidy of the house and get ready for the day which also means reviewing my to-do list over a coffee before logging on to greet my team in our daily morning huddle. It’s a simple yet effective routine that ensures the most switched-on version of myself every day.
2. What’s one health non-negotiable?
Getting active daily is my one health non-negotiable. I grew up playing competitive sport until I graduate from uni so being active coupled with a bit of healthy competition has always been a big part of my life. Whether it’s a walk, run, netball game, spin class or Pilates session doing something to support my fitness and physical health on a daily basis is paramount to my mental wellbeing and decision-making abilities. If I don’t have that daily release of pent-up energy, I feel tired, slow and anxious which can even extend to feeling down. When I physically feel good it has a positive knock-on effect in all aspects of my life!
3. What are five things you’ll always have in your fridge / pantry? Oat milk, coffee, fresh fruit, peanut butter and my beloved tasty cheese slices – quite the combination!
4. What’s your favourite form of movement? I love balancing spin with Pilates reformer. I find both of these forms of movement mentally stimulating and physically challenging in their own right. My yin and yang of movement!
5. What’s the first destination you’d like to visit once we’re allowed to travel again? First on the list would be America to see my family and friends back stateside seeing as we’re almost approaching 3 years since I was last home! However, second on my list would be Italy…there’s nothing quite like a fresh bowl of pasta and an Aperol Spritz in Italy!
6. What is one fun fact most people wouldn’t know about you? One fun fact that usually surprises people when we first me is that I am a twin! I’ve got a twin brother, Zachary, who is 9-minutes older than me, and he never misses an opportunity to tell people he’s my older brother. Sharing this fact is then quickly followed by questions around whether we can read each other’s minds. I can confirm we don’t have telepathic abilities, but I do certainly have a very special bond with my fellow wombmate!
7. Why is it important to you to be Straight Up & authentic? Have you ever struggled in the past with being your true self?
In the age of social media and overconsumption, it’s nearly impossible to scroll through your Instagram feed and not compare yourself to everyone else as we look for endless validation of self-worth. Now more than ever it’s important to disconnect from the falsehoods we observe on social media and begin to look inwards. I believe life is far too short to not embrace your true self and really get the chance to own that!
I’ve done a lot of work over the past few years to get to know myself again which has been an act of really reconnecting with my knowing. This has allowed me to break away from habits, situations and people who are no longer serving me which is incredibly empowering. When we embrace our knowing we’re embracing our most true and authentic selves.
8. The health industry is constantly adapting to external circumstances. What’s one health trend you predict will remain in 2021 & beyond? With our homes now doubling as offices, one health trend I’ve seen (and experienced) through my work are the benefits that active working has on an individual’s mental and physical wellbeing. Work from home is here to stay, however, when working from home we tend to sit for longer than we would in a traditional office, in some cases up to 10 hours a day. It’s important now, more than ever to ensure your at-home workspace is set up with things like an adjustable sit-stand desk to promote this active way of working. This is why my partner Tim and I launched our business, LOLA Interiors – an artful home office collection. We saw a gap in the market for functional yet aesthetic stand up desks that would boast all the benefits of a stand-up desk but suited your home office vibe.