Finding Balance Beyond the Studio: JANE's Guide to Unplugging and Recharging in Los Angeles

Being a parent, there’s a lot of daily (pleading) mindfulness that necessitates enactment in order to stay alive. For this reason, I’d say if you can be grateful for the small things - you know, clean undergarments/socks (for both adults and kids), time to snuggle with your dog, a semi-well balanced meal, an evening walk - it’s always a win. 

I find that, like my kids, I enjoy having something tangible in hand. Whether that’s some sculpting clay, a pen and paper to sketch on, or picking some neighbourhood flowers. Being a mother has ushered me into a craft-fuelled alignment practice – a nature of the trade. 

After tackling a hectic project, multiple deadlines or a crazy day in the studio, I like to either have a simple evening at home, watching movies in bed with popcorn and the kids and dogs; or enjoy an unexpected day or night out somewhere fun, to shake things off a bit. 

 

When it comes to staying at home, I am fortunate to know and love my weird and wonderful Venice neighbours, many of whom have grown up here or have been around since the 60’s. But outside of my bubble of a home, it’s always great and almost necessary to find a new unexpected hidden gem in Los Angeles. 

This can be a restaurant, a coffee shop, a neighbourhood, a community, an art space, a hiking trail, a patch of green to lay down in the middle of the city, a great block with phenomenal architecture or handcrafted overgrown landscapes – it’s all here. And it’s often overlapping and in your face, and yet you can easily miss it if you aren’t paying attention. It's easy for LA to be disguised as a generic blur of overly bright and endless sunny blocks but there’s more to it if you dig deeper. 

 

These are the ways I unplug and recharge, and they are crucial acts that allow me to break up the routine, feed my curiosity and appreciation for small businesses and individuals pushing to change the landscape. Seeing communities support local businesses is a special honour to witness and be a part of. It helps you understand the greater landscape of this city, and gives you an intimacy of history and story. There’s never-ending stories to be uncovered here.

For years, I have followed the same daily routine. It grounds me in the mornings, gives me things to look forward to during the day, and helps me unwind in the evenings. I began taking my routine seriously in 2005, and over the years, I have refined it into a simple formula. It goes a little something like this… 

“How much time do I have?”

1. Not much: Proceed to coffee shop A or B.

2. A bit: Proceed to coffee shop C or D a little further away. 

3. Plenty: 

Are there any new places with huevos rancheros along the way? Check Google Maps for saved “want to go” green flags

Try something entirely new. Look on Google Maps for saved “want to go” green flags

No new green flags? Choose from one of my existing go-to places

Sit in the car, disappointed that more people aren't opening new places for me to try. Then run out of time and realise option #1 is the only one I have time for

1. Have I seen anything new on the way to or from work that I need to try? Mark it with a green “want to go” flag on Google Maps.

2. Is there anything on the internet that I should label on Google Maps as “want to go” for future trips to or from work?

“How much time do I have before I need to be home?”

(Same routine as my morning routine, but substitute coffee with a cookie and huevos rancheros, with a taco)

This simple routine accomplishes quite a few things. Adding “want to go” labels on Google Maps gives me a hit of dopamine throughout my day, while visiting “want to go” places during the week keeps my serotonin levels stable. The weekend is for bookending new experiences throughout my day, and clearing off some of the green flags on Google Maps in preparation for the week ahead. 

 

For me, the best way to stay grounded in the face of crazy work schedules all starts with a mindful morning routine! Those that know me very well know that I listen to Sade every morning. Every day. It’s been something I’ve been doing for over a decade and is now firmly part of my morning meditation. It eases me into the day, calming my mind and body. 

From there I like to do some sort of body movement session which may be a sunrise hike, yoga, mobility classes, or spin, followed by a quick 20 minute infrared sauna session and cold shower. Here in LA the ability to go hiking easily and there is an abundance of wellness offerings from sound baths, reiki, breath work, meditation and more. I’m usually feeling pretty invigorated after all that so this is when I spend 5 minutes with my journal. 

 

When we reach the end of a project, and everything is finalised, I like to unwind by checking out new restaurants or pop ups happening throughout the city. The LA food scene continues to evolve which means you can always find great eats in different pockets of the city. Eagle Rock, Glendale and Koreatown always have something new, as does the South Bay. I am thankful to have friends who are always down to try a new place! 

 

I used to always take calls and meetings at my desk or in my car. Nowadays, if things are really busy and I’m stretched for time, I take calls while walking around the park with my headphones on. Sometimes, I end up walking for hours. If I have a break between meetings, I just sit in the shade and watch surfing videos or soccer highlights while getting some fresh air. If I need a dopamine kick, I’ll go shopping and buy things I probably don’t need… 

After we finish a project, I try to spend time hanging out with my kids, reconnecting, if I haven’t spent enough time with them. We’ll BBQ, go swimming, followed by overpriced vegan ice cream because none of us can digest dairy. 

Something else I like to do after a project is done and dusted is to have lunch with a friend. I normally go to Honey Hi and invite someone I haven’t seen in a while so we have some time to catch up. Having a meal with a friend feels therapeutic. It reminds me I’m a person, not a robot. 

There’s a lot of natural beauty to LA. Trails, mountains, parks, beaches, and the weather is beautiful a lot of the year. I enjoy trail runs somewhere like Fryman Canyon because it’s near my house. If not a run, I’ll try to get some surfing in, especially if it's a weekday. The beach can feel like a traffic jam on the weekends, but during the week it’s mellow. 

I like to engage in anything that feels more primitive and physical, and gets me away from my phone. Whatever reconnects me to my body is good after a busy period at work. If I’m working a lot, I tend to run myself into the ground but I instantly feel better when I get my endorphins going.