Women In Wellness: Erica Diamond of Bliss Essential On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Constantly Checking Email & Social Media. Americans check their phone on average once every 12 minutes — burying their heads in their phones 80 times a day, according to research. See if you can create two-three “check in” email blocks — mid morning and late afternoon dedicating a set amount of time to read and respond. If someone has to wait a few hours for an email response, the world won’t stop turning, so BREATHE.
As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Erica Diamond.
Teaching busy women how to prioritize self-care, Erica Diamond is a Certified Life Coach and Certified Yoga & Meditation Teacher, TV Correspondent, Founder of Bliss Essential oils, Author, Speaker, Course Creator, Podcast Host, and Founder of the award-winning women’s empowerment brand EricaDiamond.com®
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
How far back would you like me to go? (laughs). After bombing my GMATS and not getting into MBA School, I built my first company from scratch in 1999 at 24 years old.
After enjoying seven years of entrepreneurship (Top 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur Award, Profit Hot 50 Award One of Canada’s Emerging Growth Companies), I sold my company in 2006 to Canada’s Largest Bag Retail Chain to raise my young boys. I was on the brink of burnout (cue the discovery of yoga and meditation), and I got as they say, “an offer I couldn’t refuse.” So, I sold my business and stayed home to mother my boys, go to mommy and me groups, volunteer at school and be present as a stay-at-home mom.
Fast forward to September 2009, with one son in grade school, and the other son in preschool, I started to get the entrepreneurial itch again, thinking “It’s time to create something again, but what will it be?” I knew I was too entrepreneurial to work for anyone else. Sitting on the fence with what I wanted to do, I imagined that if I was on the fence — an intelligent mom and savvy business woman — there were probably others who were sitting on the fence too, in many aspects of their lives as well: how to raise their kids, how to keep the passion alive in a marriage, how to manage a career and parenthood, how to know when to quit your job and try something new, how to juggle friendships, how to stay in good health, how to find “me-time,” etc.
I envisioned a hub where bright, dynamic, modern, women and moms could be inspired, empowered, educated, entertained and learn something new in their life. I started writing, and it took off immediately. Using all my coaching, self-care and entrepreneurial passion, women globally connected with the concept of being “stuck and on the fence,” unsure of where to go.
That was the birth of WomenOnTheFence.com (now EricaDiamond.com)
The rest is history, truthfully. From there it went to writing a book for women, to a weekly lifestyle and parenting correspondent job on Global News, to getting certified in life coaching, yoga and meditation, to a podcast, to a self-care course for women Busy To Bliss, to now, the birth of Bliss Essential, the highest quality and purest therapeutic grade essential oils on the market.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
I want to focus less on the story and more on the lesson. The story is just details, but the learnings, ahhh, they’re what matters most.
After a few twists and turns along the way, after a few setbacks and failures, I have learned some big lessons.
When you put yourself out there, when you risk, it doesn’t always go according to plan. But I have more respect for those who TRY than those who stay safe and do nothing. It takes BALLS to risk.
Don’t you find that it’s always the ones who don’t risk, or who haven’t taken a chance and fallen yet, who are the most guilty of “judgey” behavior? After working with people for two decades, I can tell you, it’s the people who are out there risking, falling or failing, and then trying to get back up, who judge others the least.
Anyone who risks, is humbled by life. And they are never as quick to judge. So I am a supporter of ANYONE WHO TRIES. Trying is everything to me.
My biggest lesson you ask is best illustrated in my favorite quote, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.” — Theodore Roosevelt
Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
A mistake I made early on was trying to do everything myself and thinking I was the best person to do them too. I thought, “I know the ins and outs of this company so I should just do it myself to ensure it’s done properly.”
Well, THAT worked out well! NOT!
I have since learned to always play to my strengths. I think women should play to their own strengths and outsource their weaknesses. Doing what I do best and leaving what I do worst, literally, to someone else, is what has made my business grow and evolve.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
I try really hard. I think if you visit EricaDiamond.com, you will see just how hard I try. I also show up every single day to teach busy women how to prioritize self-care so that they can experience less stress, more calm and greater joy in their everyday lives. I do this in all my platforms: social media, my blog, Global TV, my podcast, my digital course, our essential oils. It is my life’s mission, purpose and passion. I am definitely in flow right now.
If I can teach one woman how to better care for her mind and body, the ripple effects are massive. It spirals out, and affects everyone in her personal and professional entourage. When a woman cares for herself and can derail burnout, her kids get a more present mom, her partner gets a more loving and patient partner, her colleagues get a more productive team member. I can go on and on.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
If you look at a person’s daily routines and actions, you’ll likely be able to tell a lot about their health, wealth, and happiness.
Habits are key to your successes and well-being and happiness in life.
I’ll say that again for the people in the back!
Your habits are key to your success and well-being and happiness in life.
Which means, everything I often speak about when it comes to changing your life and forming new habits (it takes 21 days to form a new habit and 66 days for it to start to become more automatic), it all works, but only if you consistently stick with them.
In essence, our life is as good as our habits. The “little” things you do each day are the difference between producing positive results, no results, and even negative results. Habits dictate your well-being, your happiness, your emotions, your career, your finances — habits are everything.
The key to creating lasting change is repetition. It can’t be a one off that you do occasionally. Transformation is created when we are disciplined and couple that with the power of repetition. What you do sometimes won’t create lasting change. What you do most of the time will. Simply put, our habits become our lifestyle.
So, let’s discuss habits then as we discuss “lifestyle tweaks.” What are 5 habits that are actually draining your energy, and what kind of lifestyle tweaks can you make now?
1. Constantly Checking Email & Social Media
Americans check their phone on average once every 12 minutes — burying their heads in their phones 80 times a day, according to research.
See if you can create two-three “check in” email blocks — mid morning and late afternoon dedicating a set amount of time to read and respond. If someone has to wait a few hours for an email response, the world won’t stop turning, so BREATHE.
Same goes for social media. Create check in times, and SET A TIMER (20 minuets is fair) so you don’t get sucked into the SM vortex!
2. Complaining
Did you know that the average person complains anywhere from 15 to 30 times in a single day?
I know, it’s been COVID for eighteen months. It’s easy to complain.
Instead of complaining, try and focus your attention and energy on problem SOLVING, rather than problem creating. For example, instead of complaining how exhausted you are, try and get to bed earlier and learn how to start saying no (comes with learning about boundaries, and more on that below). Instead of telling people how overweight you feel, try and make the effort to start making some time for a movement regime.
Every time you’re about to speak and it feels likes a whine or complaint is about to come out, stop, and think again about what and how you could better say that thought. In fact, think: is there any point to saying that at all? I mean, is there really a point to complain about something you have zero control over, like the weather or the bad traffic? It’s futile when you think about it. We can’t complain about what we can’t control.
3. Taking Things Personally
This one is easier said than done, I hear you. But here’s the thing: taking things personally can be our biggest energy suck. It can literally change our entire mood by riding off of someone’s else’s vibe and then feeling like YOU’VE done something wrong. You then can start to feel resentful or like you’ve offended someone, when most of the time it wasn’t even about you at all.
We’ve been living through a global pandemic — the world is walking around more on edge, more pissed off these days. Chances are, their mood towards you HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
What you can do? Remember, it’s most like likely about them and not you. Stop taking things so personally. As I say often, you do you, boo. Most people are dealing with their own shit right now, so please take people’s moods these days with a grain of salt.
4. Not Getting Enough Sleep
“All the kale in the world won’t help if you’re exhausted.”
Sleeping can be your number one productivity and energy booster. Getting enough shut-eye time is the foundation of a life of happiness and well-being.
During sleep, your brain repairs and you boost your immune system. We know the studies on lack of sleep: risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, stroke and depression.
What’s the optimal amount of sleep? In a sleep study done by The American Cancer society, the findings were those who live the longest sleep 7–8 hours per evening.
I have spoken about the 4 pillars of well-being: Diet, Exercise, Sleep and Stress Management. Nurturing all the other pillars will help with sleep, obviously. If you move your body and exercise, eat well, have a stress management toolbox, you will sleep better.
A FEW QUICK SLEEP HACKS:
*Having an evening ritual or routine helps: nighttime bath or lavender tea, watch or read, journal or listen to an inspiring podcast
*Unplugging at least 60 minutes before bed
*Charging phones out of the bedroom
* Worry List: place a pad and pen on your nightstand. If you wake up in the middle of the night and your mind is racing, get it out of your head and onto paper to deal with tomorrow.
5. Constantly Pleasing Others & Forgetting Yourself
Living your life according to other people’s standards is a sure recipe for UNhappiness.
Now stay with me here.
We’re going to have a little chit chat on self-esteem and boundaries as it pertains to pleasing others.
Good self-esteem makes it possible for you to impose clear boundaries– it lets you say nowhen you want to say no, and cures the disease to please others.
You with me on that?
When you have good self-esteem, you are usually good at preserving your boundaries (ex: you don’t answer you boss’s call at 9PM, you know you are worthy of rest). You let the lines between work and play become clear: you are able to separate the two and become more present in your life. Life becomes more balanced, and people stop stepping all over of you.
If you have low self-esteem, you’re usually not so good at creating and setting boundaries. If you have low self-esteem, you become the yes girl and the people-pleaser. You might notice an invasion of work into your personal life, you might be feeling burned out and like balance is impossible to achieve.
Only pleasing others and forgetting yourself is a true energy drain.
The answer? Building your self-esteem muscle, each day. When you feel good about yourself, you will start pleasing yourself. You will realize you are worth it. You will feel deserving of happiness. You will start to feel more energized as you start to care for yourself.
Self-care is the answer to so much.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
- The law of 10,000 hours is real — you will get better as you practice. So practice, practice, practice.
- That tenacity and resilience are the greatest traits you could possess. It’s not how far down you fall, it’s how quickly you’re able to get back up. I don’t cry over spilt milk anymore, I dust myself off, and try again.
- That when you marry these four things and they intersect, that’s when the magic happens for you: What you love, What you’re good at, What the world needs now and What you can get paid for.
- That family is, was and will always be my number one priority. I have never strayed a minute from this rule. Not a minute. I have given up fruitful opportunities because it has always been family first for me. When that isn’t your first priority, wonky things can happen.
- That not everyone wants to see you win. That’s cool. You do you, you find your community, love them hard, and don’t be afraid to be YOURSELF! You know that you will always be in integrity if you are always your authentic self.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
Mental health for sure. Through self-care coaching, yoga, meditation and teaching about the use of essential oils, I am literally teaching you how to rewire your brain for more calm and joy. Mental health is at the helm of everything I do.
What is the best way our readers can follow you online?
Visit our website first, EricaDiamond.com, grab a beverage of your choice and dive into 11 years of articles and content. I am also on social everyday, so come visit and say hi! I’m @EricaDiamond on Instagram and Twitter and Facebook.com/EricaDiamondOfficial on Facebook.
Thank you for these fantastic insights!
Women In Wellness: Erica Diamond of Bliss Essential On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.