Good morning!

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to spend a day working as an herbalist and coach, today is your day.

Self-Reflection

When I first started planning this post, I have to be honest – my first thought had a lot to do with imposter syndrome, and I am actively working to shift away from it. So, I do some self-reflection to work through those limiting beliefs.

The first, most important step: notice without judgment.
Second step: take a single action that empowers me to defuse those beliefs.
Third step: do the thing – do it scared, do it shitty (As Clutterbug would say).

I’ve spent years in a cycle of wanting more for and from myself, building up motivation and momentum toward that goal, bumping into something that fills me with doubt, letting the doubt knock me all the way down, and then beating myself up for letting it happen. I would have to nurse my wounds – the very wounds I’d given myself! – and start all over again.

We’re not doing that anymore. So, here I am writing a blog post about a day in my life.

Morning Routine

Family First

During the week, I wake up around 6:00am, and the first two hours I’m awake are entirely devoted to getting my children ready for school. Husband goes to work very early, so he is usually out of the house already – but he packs all the snacks every day, so I don’t have to worry about that. Mostly, I am arguing with my 6-year-old about fashion and weather-appropriate choices, and reminding my 10-year-old to brush her hair and apply deodorant.

On weekend mornings, it’s a lot less hectic, and I’m able to sleep in a bit. I still devote the earliest part of my morning to getting the kids fed and cared for, and then I can get started on my stuff.

The first thing that I put into my body is water and a lot of it. I take my supplements and whip up a quick breakfast while my pups sniff around and explore the backyard. Once everyone is fed and hydrated, we head out for a walk in the neighborhood. Biscuit likes to sniff and check things out, so I try to let her take her time, but Mikey wants to move. He is so strong and pulls quite a bit – he’s younger than Biscuit and hasn’t gone through as much training as she has. (We’re working on that)

Physical

It’s really important to me that I exercise every day; not only is it good for my body, but it also does wonders for my brain and improves almost everything I do the rest of the day. I just turned 43, but 6 years ago, I went into radiation-induced menopause, which really put my body and brain through the wringer. I’ve always loved to exercise, particularly weight training, and now it’s more important than ever. The last few months I’ve been doing a program that combines weight training and mobility; it’s the perfect combination of building strength and flexibility while keeping my brain engaged – highly recommend!

Spiritual

After everyone gets their exercise, it’s time for my spiritual practice. I brew tea with herbs from my garden, light candles, and sit down with my tarot cards. I’ll choose a spread, pull the cards, and journal my interpretation. It’s an excellent, grounding practice to start each day. The cards never disappoint, and by journaling my interpretations, my practice deepens, my understanding of the cards grows, and I grease my creative wheels by free-writing what it all means to me.

Afternoon

Different Kinds of Work

Once I start writing, it’s easy to transition into my work, which often involves lots of writing. I will spend some time researching the plants or practices I’m going to write about that day and dig in. Similar to how my tarot practice deepens through journaling, my connection to the plants deepens through research and education about them.

There is always something to do in or for the garden, regardless of the season.
Dreaming and planning in the Winter.
Starting seeds and working the ground in the Spring.
Watering and tending in the Summer.
Harvesting and collecting seeds in the Autumn.

I work with clients both virtually and in person. I might be on the road, working in someone’s garden, or visiting nurseries. Otherwise, I’m coaching clients to guide them through their current challenge or help them achieve their specific goal. It’s such a privilege to watch them turn dreams into reality, and it inspires me to keep working to be better every day.

I also work with my husband in his business, so I usually spend some time collaborating with him and taking care of those tasks throughout the day.

After School

My kids are very responsible and quite independent, so they do their backpack chores once they arrive home, eat the remainder of their snacks, and start homework.

If I have projects that the kids can help with, I try to save them for after school. It’s wonderful and fun to work with the kids; they learn so much about the earth, wildlife, and their own health when they work with plants. My kids understand that plant medicine is no different from pharmaceuticals in that it deserves respect and adult supervision. They are learning which plants they can pick to eat, which to use as perfume, and how to use others for bug bites or cuts.

Evening

I wish we could say we make dinner from scratch every night, but that would be a totally unrealistic goal for us right now. And a big part of my practice of self-acceptance is setting realistic goals so I can feel good about myself and rack up meaningful wins! The kids have activities that run late a couple of nights each week, and we absolutely order pizza for dinner and take it easy on ourselves. The other nights, when it’s feasible, we make healthy, whole-food meals.

Food as Medicine

I firmly believe that food is medicine. If you’ve read any of my posts about herbalism and health, you’ll know that even a simple salad can be a form of medicine. When we approach food with intention, it’s quite simple to prepare meals that nourish us wholly.

Growing my own food gives me control over how it is cared for at every stage of growth. I don’t use chemical fertilizers or pesticides at all, I take great care in building healthy soil, and I’m very careful to follow good harvesting and storage practices.

Adding herbs to meals with intention not only seasons my food, increasing its flavors and textures, but also serves as another way to administer plant medicine. Hot sauce, salad dressing, brine, broth, tea, syrup, and flour blends can all be medicine.

When I use quality ingredients to make a homemade salad dressing, I’m serving my family plant medicine. Olive oil, vinegar, raw honey, salt, black pepper, thyme, rosemary, and garlic. That’s an elixir! No, really – it’s called an oxymel, an ancient sweet and sour herbal tonic traditionally used for wellness and flavor. The mix of honey, vinegar, and plants supports digestion, immunity, and soothes coughs.

Maybe you’re thinking, “What do you mean, your kids eat salad!?”, and that’s a story for another day.

Sleep

Good sleep hygiene is the foundation of all health. If we don’t sleep, our bodies and minds suffer. Sleep deprivation impairs cognitive function, raises the risk for accidents, chronic disease, weakened immunity, and severe mood changes. A significant portion of Americans are sleep-deprived, and quite frankly, it shows.

When symptoms of menopause first started, I was also post-partum, and that was a wild time. I was utterly exhausted, but the insomnia and hot flashes constantly interrupted my sleep. There had never been a time in my life in which plant medicine was more imperative or powerful; if I hadn’t been a believer before that, I would have been one afterwards.

These days, I love getting ready for bed. I brew a relaxing tea blend or make a lavender latte, get washed up and moisturize, and turn off all the screens. Occasionally, I’ll smoke an herbal blend; one of my friends gave me a blend of mugwort, red raspberry leaf, catnip, passionflower, chamomile, lavender, and LOVE – it is magical. I like to read or listen to a soothing sound bath right before I go to sleep. Sometimes, if I get too caught up in my book, that can do the opposite of what’s intended, so I have to choose carefully. (I’m looking at you, Alix Harrow) Often, I keep an herbal pouch filled with soothing, delicious smells under my pillow, which helps me drift right off to sleep.

Final Thoughts

At its heart, a day in the life of an herbalist and health coach isn’t about perfection, productivity, or living some unattainably magical lifestyle. It’s about weaving small moments of connection — to plants, to self, to rhythm — through the ordinary edges of the day.

Some days are full of creativity and tea blends and inspired conversations.
Some days are quiet, earthy, and slow.
Most are a blend of both, held together by intention, curiosity, and the simple desire to feel well in our own bodies.

My hope is that this little window into my daily rhythm reminds you that your own wellness practice doesn’t need to be elaborate. It can be one cup of tea, one deep breath, one small ritual that helps you return to yourself.

Whether you’re tending a budding interest in herbalism or building your own nourishing routine, you belong in this world of gentle, plant-rooted care. And I’m grateful to walk this path with you.

A Ritual for You

As you think about your own day, where might you welcome a small moment of plant-rooted ritual — a cup of tea, a breath of calm, or a pause to reconnect with yourself?

Love you to your roots,

Elizabeth