There’s a growing interest in the English countryside aesthetic. Maybe it’s the impact of farmhouse-core or the resurgence of Harry Styles, but the girls on my feeds are donning wellies and adding the Yorkshire Dales to their vacation bucket lists. While I’m used to seeing Francophile or romantic Italian content on my feed (see: The French Sunday or Italian Girl aesthetic), it feels jarring to be inundated with content about England for one specific reason: I grew up there.
Growing up in the North of England was the furthest thing from glamorous. Life was as provincial there as anywhere else—walking to school, taking the bus into the city center on the weekends—with a few more medieval abbeys dotted around town and a lot more rain. When my family moved to New York City in my early teens, I quickly transformed into a city kid. Now I live in LA and have similarly adapted to the LA girl lifestyle (I’m talking full Erewhon-core). So when I moved back to England last year, I felt like the Californian Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap.
Finding myself in the countryside, the biggest adjustment was keeping up with my wellness routines without the easy access to the wellness amenities I had grown used to. But, surprisingly, leaning into English-girl wellness helped me go back to basics, connecting to the why behind my habits. I realized that while I love the convenience and aesthetic of LA wellness culture, wellness doesn’t have to be expensive to be meaningful. In fact, by stripping away the hyper-consumerist aspects of my routine, I developed more intuitive and sustainable habits. Here are seven wellness habits I picked up while living in the English Countryside that not only transformed my health, but are so good, I’m bringing them back with me to LA.
“By stripping away the hyper-consumerist aspects of my routine, I developed more intuitive and sustainable habits.”
1. Keep It Simple
Despite their reputation for being posh and somewhat stuffy, the Brits are actually alarmingly unpretentious. They hate things that are unfussy, and they’re ten toes down on tradition. I learned to embrace the English simplicity–even in my wellness. There was no Erewhon or chain health food store to stock up on my favorite healthy snacks and beverages. I lived in a city with double the national average of protected buildings (their attitude even extends to the architecture, where historic buildings can’t be modified to update the amenities), so I couldn’t count on any fitness studios or sauna or cold plunges opening up near me.
After a while, I realized that simplifying my routine was an opportunity to audit my routine. Which habits did I actually value, and which ones looked better on Pinterest than in real life? I ended up simplifying my skincare routine (from 10 steps to three or four), my supplement stack (I only needed a multivitamin or a probiotic, if even that), and even my food (more on that, later). By keeping my routine simple, I was actually able to be more consistent with the things I kept in. After all, research shows that it’s the simple, small wins that help build more sustainable, lasting healthy habits.
2. Eat a Savory Protein-Rich Breakfast
In the US, we love a pancake stack, yogurt bowl, or fruit smoothie, but you wouldn’t find these sweet treats for breakfast in the UK. However, a traditional English breakfast isn’t what I would think of as “healthy:” A fry-up generally consists of bacon, sausages, fried eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, maybe fried bread, and—the pièce de résistance–a generous dose of baked beans. However, when you look at the foundation, it’s made up of a lot of protein and vegetables, plus the beans bring extra fiber–all things we don’t get enough of in the Standard American Diet (especially for breakfast).
According to research, eating a high-protein and high-fiber breakfast can stabilize your glucose levels all day, leading to sustained energy and reduced cravings. Starting your day with protein and fiber has also been shown to increase concentration and cognitive function, and benefit gut health. While I didn’t eat the full English breakfast every day (I saved the baked beans for the weekend; it’s generally a Sunday morning thing anyway), I did appreciate the protein-and-veggie-forward approach to the first meal of the day. Even after being back home, I’ve stuck with a high-protein savory breakfast, rather than the pastries, cereals, or smoothies I had grown used to in the States. Even if you’re already used to eggs and toast for breakfast, consider adding in veggies and maybe even beans for added fiber and phytonutrients.
READ: 15 High-Protein Breakfast Ideas for Healthy Hormones, Metabolism, and Energy
3. Opt for Tea Over Coffee
The jokes and memes are true: tea in England is no joke. Any time I’d go to someone’s home, to an event, or duck in somewhere from the rain, somebody would offer me a cuppa. Americans are known for having a “Don’t talk to me before my coffee” vibe, but the Brits aren’t as dependent on coffee or caffeine in general. Don’t get me wrong, there is no shortage of coffee shops and aficionados, but the overwhelming drink of choice is tea, and it’s a daily ritual that is taken very seriously.
Though I love my LA matcha lattes, switching over to different teas throughout each day gave me surprising benefits. Instead of drinking creamy lattes, I found myself cycling through lemon & ginger, peppermint, and camomile teas. Research has shown that certain herbal teas can help boost your immune system, fight off inflammation, and more. Drinking non-caffeinated teas is also a good hack for staying hydrated in a way that is more enjoyable (and easier on your digestion) than plain ice water. Whether it’s an afternoon pause or something to sip on throughout all day, “putting the kettle on” is definitely a cozy ritual I will be keeping, even back in LA.
4. Have a Third Place–and Indulge Intuitively
Almost every night with friends in England ended with a trip to the pub. At first, pub culture felt strange—getting a drink with friends in the US is less frequent and often reserved for weekends. I soon realized that pubs served as third spaces (a location that isn’t your home (first place) or work/school (second place) that you go to regularly) rather than just opportunities to drink. Especially in the English Countryside, the pubs are more like regular points of reconnection with your friends and communities after a workday. Watching English girls, I realized they felt less pressure to partake in drinking every time they were at the pub because they understood the value was in the social aspect of the night: gathering with friends and investing in community.
I felt like I became much more intentional about when to indulge in a full pint, when I felt more like a half pint, and when to opt out and get soda water instead, while still participating in a pub night. I got really comfortable sitting at the pub without a drink instead of feeling pressure, because the purpose of frequenting the pubs really felt like a casual connection in our day-to-day lives, rather than a “night out” like we think of it in the US.
READ: Studies Show “Third Places” Increase Happiness—Here’s How to Actually Find One
5. Eat Seasonally and Locally
In California, I take produce for granted; I can have a juicy strawberry any time of the year. But on the damp and isolated British Isles, access to good produce isn’t as abundant. So I had to learn what was in season to make sure I was getting the most flavorful fruits and vegetables at the time. Yes, I enjoyed the summer strawberries while they lasted, but I then learned to love local fall apples, lean into cabbage dishes instead of my usual kale salads, and finally understood why English dishes are often full of leeks and turnips.
Eating seasonally is just a way of life for most of the world, but even in the US it is also good for the environment, your budget, and your health (the increase in dietary variety is good for gut health and gives you access to the most nutrient-dense food available). Eating seasonally also kept me eating locally. When you eat locally, your food has a shorter journey from the farm to you, making it fresher and tastier. While it might be easier to find local and seasonal options in the UK, even in the US I try to keep most of my food local by shopping at farmers’ markets and delis that source delicious, fresh produce instead of bigger supermarkets.
READ: You Should Be Eating In-Season Produce—Here’s Why, and How To Make It Easier
6. Get Out in the Fresh Air
I now understand the heroines of Victorian-era novels being sent to the countryside or the seaside to convalesce in the fresh air. In LA, it’s a daily occurrence to check the air index quality and be filled with dread, so I didn’t take the fresh air for granted. Research consistently shows that spending time outside in fresh air can lower stress hormones, boost mood, and improve focus. Being outdoors also supports physical health, from enhancing immune function to helping regulate sleep by syncing your body with natural light cycles.
And because the daylight hours are so limited in the winter in the English Countryside, I was forced to get out of bed and enjoy the sun and fresh air early instead of lying in bed with my curtains closed. Getting sunlight so soon after waking is also a mood-boosting hack, proven to help regulate cortisol by syncing your circadian rhythms. The difference between the mornings I spent bed-rotting and the mornings I got outside was dramatic. I was way more creative, got through work a lot faster, and I was even more social, thanks to a better mood and more energy. Even as I’m back in LA where the days are longer and there is no shortage of sunshine, I make it a point to get outside first thing in the morning.
7. Walk—A Lot
Los Angeles (and much of the United States) is built for cars. The English countryside is built for walking. Whether it’s through parks, around public lands (of which there are a lot), or just through the quaint towns, walking isn’t just easy; it’s encouraged, and an effortless part of everyday life. Beyond walking for convenience or utility, British people are known to “ramble,” which is a term for a casual walk. More relaxed than a hike, this national pastime encourages people to walk for leisure (one of the Blue Zone secrets for optimal longevity).
My exercise “routine” in the English countryside looked much different than my regular exercise routine back home. Rather than dreading a workout class or rushing to make a strict studio cutoff time, I found myself looking forward to my daily walks, even walking as soon as I got out of bed (see above). Movement became something that was exciting, not stressful. And I found that it was just as–if not more–effective. After getting 10k steps or more in the countryside, I felt way more fit than when I was just doing studio classes and averaging 2k steps a day. I even started to crave longer and longer walks thanks to the tranquility it brought me. Sometimes I would tell myself I was just walking to a cafe, but end up taking the long way or stopping by a park to take a couple of laps. Since returning to LA, I have been determined to keep my step count as high, though I do miss the abundant green spaces and paved paths specifically for ambling walkers with nowhere to go.
READ: What Actually Happens When You Walk 10,000 Steps a Day
Langa Chinyoka
Langa is a Los Angeles-based writer. Her work has appeared in British Vogue, The Paris Review, Highsnobiety, Eyeswoon, Camille Styles, The Good Trade, and more.
Feature graphic images credited to: Katrina Seekamp | Dupe, Dakota Spencer | Dupe, Brittany McIntyre | Dupe, Spencer Wirkkala | Dupe, Melissa Romee | Dupe, Rozemarijn Kunst | Dupe