A Conversation With Danielle Copperman Founder Of Qnola And Well Being & Other Stories
Multi-hyphenate Danielle Copperman is a model, entrepreneur, author and health & wellness expert. Her blog, Well Being & Other Stories, is one of the most beautiful we’ve seen and she updates it regularly with recipes, travel tips, style advice and articles on wellbeing. As well as the blog she is the founder of Qnola a quinoa-based breakfast, made from 100% natural ingredients. We caught up with Danielle to chat about work, nutrition and how she stays active in London.
Q: We are huge fans of your blog, Well Being & Other Stories, what inspired you to start it?
A: Thank you! When I first started studying diet and nutrition my blog was somewhere I could store the things I was researching that interested me most. Somewhere down the line I started writing more with an audience in mind, as I was so inspired by what I was discovering and felt like other people needed to know. The more people showed an interest, the more I wanted to share, and eventually, in line with my own personal development, it evolved from a bit of research to natural recipes that I began to make with all kinds of new methods and ingredients I was discovering. Since then it has become a holistic wellness website covering a variety of topics from food, recipes and natural beauty, to sustainability, eco fashion, travel and mindfulness.
Q: Have you always been an advocate for a healthy lifestyle?
A: No, not at all. Growing up, I was a sugar fiend and loved junk food. I was also naturally super skinny and lanky, and I hated it. But as I got older I got more interested in healthy eating and that developed across all areas of my lifestyle. The main turning point for me was when I left home to start my career as a model and was buying and cooking my own food. That made me really want to take control of my health and how I was feeling, and I became interested in healthy living.
Q: What’s your favourite part of your job?
A:Which job?! Haha. I have about 3 full time jobs, including Qnola, modelling and writing. My favourite part of wearing so many different hats is that no day is the same. At the moment I am really enjoying the freedom that comes with being self-employed. It's not always great as you can feel a to work more and more, but at the moment I’m embracing the ability to work from home and manage my time however I wish. When I’m not on set, rushing to castings or meetings, or out and about at events I really enjoy having my own space and having time to myself. Right now, I’m managing to schedule my days in a way that is so fulfilling for me. I work from home, get various things done and then head out to yoga or Pilates (just a 5 minute walk away), or for a run. Aside form the flexibility my schedule affords me, I also love the creative freedom of the work I do. If I have an idea I don’t have to run in past other people. I really enjoy seeing things through from the initial idea, to starting the conversation, taking the necessary steps, learning something new and then experiencing the end result. It’s these little successes that keep things interesting.
Q: Has your work as a model influenced your attitude to health and wellness?
A: Yes absolutely. It totally changed the way I thought about eating and it made me really question my lifestyle choices from a young age. It hasn’t had much of a mental strain on me personally, but sometimes there can be tough experiences to deal with - being judged and compared can sometimes get to you. But I feel equipped now with meditation, mindfulness, calming songs and inspirational quotes that serve as constant reminders for me to stay grounded. I’m glad I picked up these tools early on in life because they’ve improved many areas of my life, not just my career.
Q: What are the most important elements for a balanced lifestyle?
A: Don’t overthink it, and don’t try to set too many rules. Many people like the security and structure of labelling themselves as something (e.g. vegan or gluten free), but I think the key is adaptability. We are constantly changing and need different things during different phases of our lives. I would say the main elements for me at the moment are: be adaptable, be aware, and be conscious of calorie intake. As much as as possible eat ingredients in their whole form, as nature intended, and avoid processed foods. It’s important to keep sugar to a minimum, and having a low carb diet can be beneficial from time to time. Something I’ve tried recently is regular fasting - not 24 hour fasting or juice cleanses - just daily fasting, which gives your body a proper break between meals. It's something I recommend people research. Something like the 5:2 or just keeping 12 hours a day (from dinner to breakfast) completely food-free to give your system a rest. It seems daunting but it has changed my digestion and enhanced my energy levels and concentration so much! Obviously, water: stay hydrated always. Finally, supplement with natural herbs, adaptogens and other vitamins and minerals as you need them. For me it’s about having a flexible set of guidelines to work within. I believe balance is key for happiness, so I try to stick to a routine during the week, but relax a little more on weekends.
Q: What are your favourite fitness or yoga studios in London?
A: My local studio Yogahome - I love the teachers there and it's super convenient for me. I also love Tempo Pilates for reformer classes, Equinox for boxing and barre classes, Studio Lagree for megaformer classes, Psycle for barre and circuits, and P.volve, which is an online workout I stream at home. Obsessed.
Q: What are you favourite healthy eateries in London?
A: Mmm, tough one. I love Malibu Kitchen and Kaia at the Ned, The Good Life Eatery, Juice Baby, Farmacy, Jidori, Mother (vegan), Avobar, Luminary Bakery, Glowbar, East London Juice Bar, Jolene and so many others. I tend to find something healthy on most menus, but love to find new places using sustainable, locally sourced produce and doing amazing things with them.
Q: How do you switch off from work?
A: A work in progress. I facetime my boyfriend (who lives in Sweden) and family, or I have friends over for dinner, or a sleepover. I watch something that helps me switch off. I run. I do yoga. I read. My boyfriend always jokes that when I’m doing nothing, I’m still doing so much. I never just sit still. I’m learning though. If we watch a film or something I’ll leave my phone in a different room otherwise we get distracted during the film.
Q: Where do you shop in London?
A: I don’t shop much for new things, but when I do I head to Zara, & Other Stories and Mango. More often, I shop in vintage stores and at charity shops. I enjoy it so much more and find such unique things. I make a conscious effort to go to flea markets whenever I’m abroad too. It’s just more fun finding things that not everyone is going to be wearing, and that have a story behind them. A vintage item really transforms a look like nothing from the high street can.
Q: Do you think it’s more acceptable now to wear activewear as everyday wear?
A: Yes. I am the biggest advocate for this, especially when working from home. I’m lucky because if I have meetings, they tend to be within the context of wellbeing, so it’s acceptable to wear smart leggings with some clean trainers and get away with it! It depends on the occasion, or course, but I wear leggings most days and only really change out of them on shoots or for castings. I even wear them travelling - I read somewhere recently that they can work like compression tights on planes!
Q: What is your favourite piece from Ernest Leoty?
A: I love my Ilona Bodysuit one piece! Its so chic, it'salmost too glamorous to wear to a class!
Q: How would you style our pieces for an everyday look?
A: I wear an oversized tee with a knot at the front over my Ilona. Or a jumper. And my new favourite trainers, which are all natural, eco-friendly sneakers by a brand called AllBirds.
Q: What country or culture do you think has got the right attitude when it comes to wellness?
A: Even though I’m still yet to visit I would have to say India. A lot of traditions I adore and practice myself come from there, or other Eastern countries. I think, to be honest, most countries that don’t overcomplicate things have the right attitude. I think in big Western cities, we overcomplicate things so much and are desperate to discover new and better things, but I adore the more simplistic approach of other cultures who genuinely accept how things are, and make what they can with what they’ve got.It is more natural and far more sustainable, and they honour traditions that have been around for centuries, so, it’s really more effective too.
Q: How do you stay healthy when you’re travelling without your creature comforts?
A: I take as many of them with me as I can, and make sure wherever I am I eat whatever is fresh and seasonal, and stay hydrated with plenty of water. It’s so simple. I actually often end up feeling better when I’m away from home, because I don’t depend on the same foods or my usual rituals. I also stay active, which is crucial for me. So, fresh food, water and movement. That’s really all I need.
Q: What are the three most important items in your suitcase when you travel?
Q: What’s your favourite thing about March?
A: I love the bright but crisp weather, it's so refreshing and also incredibly energising and beautiful. I also love layering up with jumpers and a coat. I try to walk as much as possible - the fresh air feels amazing at this time of year. I love this season. It’s all about transformation and letting go of the old. Its an empowering time and I think it’s one of self-development, forcing us to slow down, hone in and tune in to ourselves a little more.
Q: What would your perfect day consist of?
A:Waking around 8 or 9, starting the day with a hot drink and some meditation. Then I’d do some yoga or a workout class, answer a few emails and then spend the rest of the day with friends, family and my boyfriend, walking around, browsing some flea markets, cooking, eating and chilling. Or if we’re really being imaginative a day somewhere in the Caribbean with friends, family and my boyfriend, just being by the ocean, under the warmth of the sun. Bliss!
Q: What is the greatest piece of life advice you’ve ever received?
A: Take every day as it comes, and don’t overthink things. Also, don’t worry. Worrying helps nothing, gets you nowhere, and just makes everything worse. And finally, don’t try to solve things whilst you’re in a muddle. Sleep on it or take a breather and you’ll find things put themselves into perspective and seem much more manageable.
Q: What is the most important thing to do first thing in the morning and last thing at night?
A: Drink 1-2 glasses of water. I have slightly less before bed, but in the morning, 2 glasses of water before doing anything else is something I recently started doing and it has completely changed my system, both in terms of digestion but also alertness. Also, texting or facetiming my boyfriend.
Q: If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?
A: I’d like to be doing more charity work, and I’d like to travel more to help other less fortunate communities around the world.
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