Hailee Steinfeld is a Sagittarius, which means her birthday is in a few days — December 11th. She’s turning 26, but she’s already accomplished so much on her bucket list. She is a Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated actress, multi-platinum recording artist and producer. But she has some big wellness goals to tackle in the new year.
Work-life balance has always been key for Steinfeld. In addition to recording new music, she is very keen on maintaining her physical and mental health and spending time with friends and family. But the Multihyphenate knows that balance looks different for everyone. “It could be something completely different for you than it was for me, and that’s the beauty of self-care and wellness,” says Steinfeld in an exclusive interview with POPSUGAR. “It’s totally relative to the person.”
Ahead, Steinfeld shares her favorite wellness rituals (hint: they involve dogs), what she’s been cooking lately (we’re waiting for a dinner party invite), and the inspiration behind her hit music video for her new single, “Coast.” “
This interview has been edited and shortened for clarity.
POPSUGAR: I’d like to learn about the wellness rituals you can’t live without. How do you like to start the day?
Hailey Steinfeld: Oh, spending time in nature never lets me down. It relieves stress almost instantly, calms my mind, and somehow lifts my spirits. And this all happens while I’m waiting for my dogs to go to the bathroom. But this is how I start my day.
PS: Nothing like a pause in the dog toilet to get you out of bed. I just spent some time in the woods and it really helped. Are you a big outdoor person? Are you a hiker or more of a leisure walker?
HS: I mean all of the above. It’s actually funny that you asked and mentioned the hiking because a non-California friend of mine who doesn’t live here recently came into town and asked if we wanted to go hiking and I said, “Oh my god, that sounds amazing. I’d love to. The weather was great just a few weeks ago. And I said, “I’m actually so embarrassed, I’m not very knowledgeable about hiking trails around here.” And they had a list of about eight, so I have a list to investigate. But we did a hike to the Hollywood sign which I can’t believe I was born and raised in Southern California and have never done this hike before. So I crossed that off my bucket list.
PS: Speaking of bucket lists, are you a resolution person? Any wellness-specific goals for the new year?
HS: Oh yes, person with big intentions. I love starting the new year with clear, firm resolutions. And I feel like I’ve really gotten to a point in my life in the past few years where I understand what it means to take care of myself — or I think I’ve found ways that make sense to me . And so I feel like I really want to continue with one thing that I’ve been kind of trying to do for the past year, which is cooking for myself. I’ve realized how much control you have over what you put into your body when you make it yourself and are aware of the preparation, and it’s also incredibly therapeutic. And I say cook for myself because next year I plan to cook for other people because that’s a whole different thing in itself. I’ll be there.
PS: Small steps. Is there something that you prefer to cook just for yourself right now?
HS: I love peppers, especially yellow and red ones. And I’ll take a yellow pepper and a red pepper, I’ll cut them in half, and I’ll add either ground turkey or tofu with some black beans. It’s like a taco in a pepper – some veggies and protein. I either cooked the peppers or I leave them raw. I’m just experimenting around. But that’s something I loved.
PS: That sounds a lot healthier than the tacos I eat, so very impressive.
HS: Listen, not every night – we gotta mix in the real tacos!
PS: Of course! Go to “Coast”, your new music video has just been released. That is so exciting! As a wellness reporter, I couldn’t help but notice all the wellness language that was built in: the inhale and exhale, the energy flow, even the full moon reference. Can you talk a bit about the inspiration behind the song?
HS: Yes absolutely. So “Coast” was one of the first songs that came together as I set out on this new album [music] Project. And it was so important to me – especially when it came to deciding what the first song should be – to know that it would represent and set the tone for what was to come. It was so important to me that this song makes the listener feel good. This song is really about being free and letting go and losing all your inhibitions and just going with the flow and trusting your energy and breathing in, not forgetting to take those deep breaths and just live your life, it not to be taken too seriously. And that was and still is the headspace I’m in and was in when I wrote this song. And making the video yourself is a fun visual escape. And this is “coast”.
PS: I totally felt that when I watched it, so that’s really cool. I also saw a Core water bottle in the music video and know the brand was a big partner in promoting the song.
HS: The partnership with hydration of the core was so amazing and such an amazing message and reminder to myself that there is so much power and so much meaning in finding your balance. And that can take shape in many different ways, which I’ve also learned.
PS: Don’t hate me, but I have to accept the pun a bit: what is your goal unroll Activity?
HS: I’d love it if it could nap, but I’m not that good at it. I love driving around and listening to music. I feel like driving is where I test music. I don’t know, it has something to do with driving, specifically listening to music, either across the canyon, down to the beach, or on PCH [Pacific Coast Highway]. I feel like there’s something quite, I don’t know, maybe a nostalgic feeling about it. But also movie nights; Of course, a little bingeing never hurt anyone. I love that. What else? I mean hanging out with my dogs. I love just chilling with them. you entertain me
PS: Do they even help you feel grounded? I know that’s how I feel about my golden retriever when she’s not acting up.
HS: My brother has a gold and I love a gold! But yes, definitely. Being solely responsible for making sure they are always okay can somewhat divert my focus from something I’m either stressed about or most likely overthinking in general. And I can put it in them and they make me happy right away. So yeah, I definitely feel like they keep me grounded. I have to take care of them and make sure they are okay. yes i love her so much
PS We’ve been focusing on what’s new in your music career, but as you know you’re also an incredible actor, starring in projects ranging from Hawkeye to Dickinson to True Grit (aged 13! ) played iconic characters. . I’m curious, of all your roles, which character do you feel most connected to?
HS: wow I don’t know that there is necessarily one I have more to do with than another. I feel like I’ve connected very strongly with every role I’ve played in a way that’s different than the last or the next. I’m so thankful for the opportunity I’ve had to play them in the moments of my life because I’ve been able to grow with and through them and discover more about myself. What I have in common with the characters is that they are all strong willed and outspoken and have their points of view and will stop at nothing to get what they think they either want or need or deserve.
Image Source: Courtesy of Hailey Steinfeld x Core; Photography by Jason Bettman