Hailee Steinfeld Knows How to Overcome the Quarter-Life Crisis Mentality

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Hailee Steinfeld is not immune to saving 5-minute morning routine videos on TikTok. Despite being arguably one of the most booked and busy young talents in Hollywood (I defer to her many successful film and TV projects, chart-topping music hits, and the casual Academy Award nomination that she nabbed at 14 years old to defend said argument), this A-lister still strives for a healthy work-life balance and improvements to her daily routine.

For her partnership with Core Hydration, Hailee participated in the brand's "Where Balance Begins" panel in NYC this month, where she opened up how she tries to look after herself and find a semblance of balance during unpredictable, pivotal moments. Following the panel discussion, the star sat down with Cosmopolitan to chat about navigating the daunting quarter-life crisis mentality, hilarious self-care hacks that simply didn't work for her, and how she's (literally) investing in her own betterment these days.

I'm turning 25 this year, which I'm really nervous about full disclosure. You’ve had such early success, so I'm curious about how reaching that milestone went for someone who has achieved so much at a young age. What about approaching that stage of life surprised you?

When I was turning 25. I kind of feel like I had a turning point. I started hearing everyone say—and maybe they were saying this beforehand but I was only just now becoming aware of it—, “Oh, you know, it's all downhill from there.” You start to hear these rumblings in the wings. I've never been one to be affected by that. But when you hear something a number of times, you convince yourself and you start to believe it.

I've only ever been excited about getting older and becoming more and more myself. I actually had the best 25th birthday party. I am like the last-minute queen when it comes to planning anything for myself because I try and convince myself I don't want to do it, and I'm bummed that I'm not doing it until like four days before then I'm like scrambling to to figure it out. It was just my closest friends and family, and it was a night I will never forget. I just realized that this is life at its best. I'm coming into my own. I'm feeling more and more confident in who I am in my work and in my personal life. There's so much pressure to be young and accomplished. There's a lot of pressure on just being young in general these days. I guess I was just excited in knowing that I'm only going to work on becoming more and more confident, and I know that will come easier as I get older, hopefully.

And getting older, you gain more perspective on what matters and what doesn't. During today’s panel, you shared that as an act of self-care, you’ve maintained journals throughout your life. I'm so curious if there's anything you've gone back and read that you’ve thought, “Now that I'm few years away from this, this was just a hilarious crisis”?

Oh my God. Literally every possible thing. I remember I was in private schools for a while, where I had a school uniform, and then I went to public school where I could pick what I was wearing. That was a crisis in and of itself. I read a whole five pages on that.

But again, perspective is a real thing. There's this sort of way to go about journaling. I was listening to a podcast and somebody was talking about how when they journal, they throw it away after they've done it. I don't throw anything away, but there's that idea of not hanging onto what you once thought was everything and more, when it really was just a small moment that you got through and are well and way beyond it.

Looking back and now looking forward, perspective is everything. It's so easy to lose sight of that with everything we're constantly being fed; These highlight reels and ideals of perfection and whatnot. It's so hard not to get wrapped up in that.

I love the idea of throwing things away, I feel like holding on gives it power.

I know! I kind of got inspired by that ‘cause I hold on to the dumbest stuff. I'm not a hoarder, don’t worry. [laughs] But I do feel like I will be happy that I saved it at some point down the line. Why or for whom or for what, I don't know yet. But I do like that idea of shedding the past and continuing to look onward and upwards.

I'll get on that level one day. I'm really curious about your personal wellness evolution. Have there been any “life hacks” you've tried out and feel deserve more hype? I dunk my face in ice in the morning, and I feel like no one talks about it.

You like it! You did it? Okay, I just did that, and I was in pain. I will show you, I have a video! Please, please, I did it with a friend. It literally was because I'd been hearing about it.

You have to try it for like, five days!

How long are you in there?

30 seconds, so that's not exactly a long amount of time.

No, that's a long time. I had a headache! I was like, "This is brain-dead."

It works!

Oh my God. I will say I have tried. I love a 5-minute morning routine, like "Let me dive in." But I've gotten to a point where because I am moving around so constantly, I try so hard to find a routine in all of that. Sometimes I don't have that, so I find it hard. I don't think it's overrated by any means, I just don't think it's for me, solely relying on doing the same thing. I will try my hardest. But sometimes it's out of my control.

We're all about shopping at Cosmo, so I need to know: What recent buys have really bettered your overall wellness and lifestyle?

I just put together a little gym in my house, and it is the greatest thing in the world because I literally now have zero excuses. It's across from my bedroom, and it's mine. I get to go in there and be comfortable and push myself. And it's not for anybody but me.

I definitely splurged on what I have in there because I wanted it to be a place that I *wanted* to wake up and go into. I think gyms are a funny place in general. It's very easy to feel not at home. People really come in and claim their space. So being able to create my own—and it's a tiny little space! But it's got everything I need–I just love that.

How does your dad feel about that? [Writer's note: Hailee’s dad is a personal trainer, dear reader.]

Oh, he trains me every day, he’s there every day! It's the best. I love that he just happens to be my dad and we get to do this amazing work together. He has [a gym] as well, and he's like, “God, I really like it here! There's a really good vibe.”

It’s the feng shui!

Oh, it’s all in the feng shui. I’ve got cute wallpaper!

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

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