Master Class

Mindfulness by Om & the City's Jules Acree

02/18/2021

Quick question: What does self-care mean to you? For some, it may be as simple as putting on a sheet mask every so often. For others, it’s journaling every night. But for most, this quick question doesn’t always come along with a quick answer. The world of wellness, with all of its information and products and tips, can be overwhelming. And its intent is to do the exact opposite—to de-stress and center you. So how do you find your methods to better self-care without getting lost along the way?

We checked in with Jules Acree, creator of Om & the City, a digital platform for intentional living, on how she found her way to wellness and her holistic approach to leading a more fulfilled and joyful life. Her journey is an inspiring one, and one that we can all relate to—and that’s exactly what makes her approach feel simple and attainable…starting today. Read on for her tips on a successful morning routine, her top 3 superfoods, and what intentional living means to her.

Q&A

What inspired Om & the City?
Before I found myself immersed in the wellness + mindful decluttering movement, I had the hardest time letting go. I held onto past heartbreak, toxic relationships, and self-defeating patterns. That emotional clutter translated into real physical mess. The more hurt I felt, the more “stuff” I wanted and thought I needed in order to feel happier. Looking back, I was trying to fill a void that could never be satisfied by external or material things. It was something I needed to face and conquer internally.
With therapy + a growing mindfulness practice, I healed from my eating disorder and kicked my depression to the curb. I turned to my yoga mat instead of my wallet. I found love again through writing, and in January 2014, Om & the City was born.
Little by little, I began clearing the clutter—mentally, physically, and spiritually—and it empowered me to re-align my actions with my values. Through adopting a more minimalist mindset and intentional lifestyle, I have reclaimed my power (and even wrote a guidebook on it called Simplify & Thrive).
I’m so honored I get to wake up and create meaningful video content on living an uncluttered + intentional life. It’s very soul fulfilling creating + connecting with this beautiful online community.

Lumi Abstract-Geo Print Dress

What’s your approach to clean eating?
I just try to eat the rainbow! I do have quite a few food allergies and intolerances which guide my everyday decisions, but ultimately, I eat what makes me feel good. There are a lot of voices out there telling you what to eat/what not to eat, and I think it’s important we learn how to tune into our own bodies and not fear food. Everyone is so different, and what foods make me feel good may not be the same foods that make you feel good.

Tips for intentional living?
To me, intentional living is all about living less by default and more by your own design. When we create a little more space between our thoughts and actions, we get to learn more about what we actually want and value in life. We are so used to things happening instantly—we can learn anything, buy anything, stream anything with a click of a button. While there are so many incredible things to come from this, the constant noise and external influences can make it challenging to tune into your own voice. Intentional living is about being the gatekeeper of your own time, energy, and space.

It’s Sunday night—how do you recharge and reset for the week?
My ideal Sunday evening is a home cooked meal like some Korean comfort food (I’m half-Korean). I love winding down with my husband without our phones—sitting outside on our lil’ patio watching the sun go down. I like to reset my living space, write out my to-do list for the next day, plan out my calendar from time blocking tasks to my workouts for the week. To wind down, I enjoy reading, some good ol’ skincare, and a warm cup of magnesium tea and maybe some CBD oil! We have technology boundaries, so we avoid bringing our phones into bed and keep them charged across the room. Here’s a deeper glance in to my mindful evening routine.

Lumi Abstract-Geo Print Dress

The List

Mindfulness Tips
1. Find your breath when you feel overwhelmed (here’s how I manage stress)
2. Do one thing at a time—monotasking > multitasking
3. Express gratitude & cultivate an abundance mindset by working with what you have vs what you don’t have

Meditation apps
1. Insight Timer (check out my mediations here)
2. Headspace
3. Calm

Wellness Resources
1. Essentialism by Greg McKeown
2. The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim
3. @MorganHarperNichols for beautiful daily doses of mindfulness

Super Foods
These are the things I consume regularly, depending on what’s in season!
1. Matcha, of course! (Learn more about it here)
2. Organic leafy greens like spinach, kale, and bok choy (see our garden here)
3. Organic dark berries

Morning Routine
1. Start your day without your phone, so you can tune into your OWN thoughts first.
2. Ask yourself, “what do I need today?”—every day is different!
3. Do something that brings you joy—whether that’s getting outside for a walk, making a morning matcha, or meditating… carve out some time for YOU.

Nighttime Rituals
1. Skincare is clutch
2. Phone boundaries (no social media, emails, texts etc. after 9pm)
3. Reading or watching a K-Drama!