Mandy Moore's Definition of Wellness Goes Way Beyond Meditation and Supplements
Over the course of one week in mid-October, two people advised me to spend time listening to my body. One was my therapist; the other was Mandy Moore.
The This Is Us star has partnered with herbal and dietary supplement brand Nature's Way, so I was expecting to talk vitamins and supplements — which Moore does take, her favorite being the Alive! Women's Energy Multivitamin — but instead, this A-list, award-winning, been-famous-for-decades star gave me the same grounded advice I've been hearing in my own conversations about mental health. "At a base level, self-care for me really comes down to listening," she says. "If you're tuned in to your body, it encourages you."
That directive means just what it says: Notice what your body is trying to tell you. Goosebumps on your arm may be a sign of fear; anxiety can feel like a tightness in the chest; exhaustion could look like slumping in the shoulders. Moore carries stress in her upper back, she says. "I'll be driving, and I'll notice my shoulders are all the way up underneath my ears. That's when I know I have to take 10 minutes and meditate."
Moore discovered meditation less than a year ago, when allergies and digestive issues sent her to a functional-medicine doctor. In addition to medical recommendations, her doctor suggested meditating every day for 15 minutes. "I had never had a doctor recommend something like that before, but it is a total game-changer," she says. "It's the perfect reset. I take some time either in my trailer at lunch or when I get home from work, and it's really helped me physically and mentally rest and recalibrate." She's tried all the major meditation apps and settled on a preference for guided meditation. "I like someone reminding me to focus back on my breathing."
Her daily meditation is key, but Moore has an expansive definition of what exactly constitutes wellness. "Wellness is more than just what I'm putting on my plate. It's about how much sleep I'm getting. It's about making sure that I'm setting aside time for my friends and family and having as much of a work/life balance as possible. It's making sure that I take time to meditate or exercise or just get outside and walk my dog." She's a "big believer" in therapy, and makes sure to take time for sessions.
Wellness also means having realistic expectations for herself. You know those famously successful people who start every morning at 4 a.m.? Moore is not one of them. Her morning routine follows three very relatable principles: water, coffee, and packing up her bag for the day. "I'm not one of those people who immediately jump up when my alarm goes off. When I have to get up, I run and start coffee, but I will have a big glass of water first — to stay hydrated before I dehydrate myself with coffee — and then get myself up and running for the day with my supplements. Then, I make a plan of attack for the day, make sure I have all of my stuff in my bag for work, and jump in the shower."
Moore has been in the spotlight for 20 years, long before self-care became a buzzword and meditation guidance was available on your phone for free. I asked her what wellness advice she'd give her younger self, and it's the same practice she's trying to follow now: Listen to your body. "I've always been fairly good at taking care of myself, but I never took great pains to really listen to what my body needs," she says. "I'd like my younger self to adhere to the wisdom I'm using these days."
More on Mandy Moore:
Mandy Moore Shared Photos of Her Very '90s Homecoming Dance Hairstyle
Mandy Moore Says Her "This Is Us" Makeup "Wreaks Havoc" on Her Skin
Now, here's how to use makeup to help you look more awake:
You can follow Allure on Instagram and Twitter, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.
Originally Appeared on Allure
