Mia Gardum
Currently studying herbalism, Mia is driven by her passion for plants and their power to optimize our well-being, both physically and mentally. Plants are an integrative part of her lifestyle, incorporating as many as possible into her daily routine to help support body, immune system and mind. Her favorite adaptogens are cordyceps for energy and astragalus to combat fatigue and stress.
In this interview, Mia shares with us her creative routines, favorite self-development books and so much more.
Actuellement étudiante en herboristerie, Mia est guidée par sa passion pour les plantes et leur pouvoir d'optimiser notre bien-être, tant physique que mental. ✨ Les plantes font partie de son mode de vie et elle en incorpore autant que possible dans sa routine quotidienne pour aider à soutenir le corps, le système immunitaire et l'esprit. Ses adaptogènes préférés sont le cordyceps pour l'énergie et l'astragale pour combattre la fatigue et le stress.
Dans cette interview, Mia partage avec nous ses routines créatives, ses livres préférés et bien plus encore.
You are currently studying herbalism; can you tell us about what drove you to these studies?
Since my late teens, I’ve been interested in wellness and how we can optimize our well-being (physically and mentally) through everyday practices – especially how we nurture our body and mind through food. I love vegetables and while researching and writing my cookbook Plantemad (Plantfood) my interest in herbs grew.
My new year’s resolution for 2021 was to gain a better understanding of how herbs work and how they affect our body on a deeper evidence-based level – and this led me to start studying herbalism.
Down the line I want to share my love for herbs with the world but right now I’m just diving headfirst into studying. I believe that learning something new just because you find it interesting/fun (and not because it’s work/school related) is one of the best things you can do for you mind.
How have herbalism changed your way of using plants in your daily life?
Plants are an integrated part of my lifestyle – it’s not just something I go to when I’m feeling ill but a way of living. My approach is to eat as many plants as possible and incorporate vegetables/herbs with healing benefits daily to support my body, immune system and mind. It’s everything from eating alkalizing greens and using lots of fresh and dried herbs in cooking to swapping my water with herb infusions daily (such an easy way to up our vitamin/mineral intake!).
Also, understanding medicinal and edible herbs and learning to identify them in nature has been such an eye opener for me. It has really brought me closer to nature. I think it’s so much fun to be able to recognize and gather herbs in the wild to use in cooking and infusions!
Do you think any improvements can be done to the way we, as a society in general, incorporate plants in our way of living?
Yes! I would love if we collectively went “back in time” to when we trusted herbs and every grandmother knew which herbs to use for different ailments and passed the knowledge on. The last century we have slowly forgotten this knowledge and substituted herbs with chemical medicine. I find this so sad!
Creativity
Who inspire you personally?
Lacy Philips is a big expander for me. I love how she has carved out her own niche in the - sometimes oversaturated - manifestation space.
Do you have a creative routine?
I do freewriting every morning. It helps open up my creative flow and I find that my words flow more freely in both my work and my own creative practice when I’ve done my “morning pages” that day.
What do you do, when you feel in a creative rut?
I used to blog full-time and have done so much writing through my life. What I’ve learned is this: the only way through is through. It sounds annoying, but my best tip for getting out of a creative rut is to create. Often, we put ourselves into a rut because we have a specific outcome in mind. When that happen, I push myself to write/create, even if I don’t feel like doing it, with zero expectations. And then something magical usually happen; suddenly I’m out of the rut!
Food & Adaptogens
What’s go-to breakfast?
I’m very intuitive with my food and it varies depending on my cycle and the seasons/weather. A few of my favourites right now are smoothies (always on a base of frozen steamed cauliflower/broccoli, banana, hempseed oil, ginger and lemon juice and then adding whatever greens/berries/powders I have around), oatmeal (oats, hemp seeds, chia seeds with a bit of coconut sugar and nuts/fruit on top) or steamed veggies with sesame oil, lemon juice and a soft-boiled egg.
How have adaptogens helped you? Which ones do you like taking?
Cordyceps are amazing! I don’t tolerate a lot of coffee very well, so I love to use cordyceps for energy. I also take an astragalus supplement every day to combat fatigue and stress.
3 cantines / cafés you love going to in Aarhus and/or Copenhagen?
La Cabra in Aarhus for their coffee and cardamom bun.
Atelier September in Copenhagen for simple but creative breakfast and lunch.
Beau Marche in Copenhagen for French bistro vibes - I go for the Salade Chèvre Chaud or tarte aux pommes.
Inner life
Do you have mantras that have helped through rough times?
“There’s enough for everyone.” I feel like having an abundance mindset is the way out of most of life’s challenges, be it personal, love life or professional.
Can you tell us about a book or movie that has been key to your personal growth journey and that you would recommend?
It’s such a cliché but The Power of Now by Eckhardt Tolle. I bought it in 2013 and I have read it cover to cover so many times, I’ve lost count. Life changing and always offering something new every time I read it.
What are you most proud of?
Following my intuition – it has led me some quite unconventional ways but I’m so thankful for it and for being brave enough to follow it.
Can you tell us about the morning and evening rituals you maintain to keep you grounded?
I’m not a person that intuitively create a lot of routine, but I find that they are very good for my mental health. Most days I do my routines, but I also allow myself to skip them if I don’t feel like it.
When I wake up, I always drink two glasses of water. No phone for the first hour upon waking up. These two are pretty constant.
Most days I do two pages of freewriting - the concept is to write non-stop until the pages are full. If you don’t know what to write, you literally write “I don’t’ know what to write” until the words start flowing. I’ve had a lot of break throughs doing this – suddenly realizing why I was feeling or reacting a certain way or getting some of my best ideas. It’s a great way to tune into your intuition.
After the freewriting I do “Future Self Journal” by @the.holistic.psychologist (there’s a free template for it on her website). It’s a great tool to follow up on the free writing and it sets me up for the day with a clear mind.
Sometimes I do 10 minutes of meditation in the mornings. My mood is always at least twice as good when I do, but some days I find it hard to get myself to sit down and do it. It’s definitely a habit I want to build as a non-negotiable in my morning routine!
In the evening I try to not look at screens after 9 pm. If I remember I wear my blue light blocking glasses from dinner until bedtime. I’m often in bed by 09.45 pm doing some reading/free style journaling. On most days I go to sleep by 10.15 pm – always with the phone on airplane mode. I have insomnia periodically so it’s important to me to have a regular schedule with my bedtimes.
Finally, who would you like to read here on our journal?
I’m very inspired by Amanda Nørgaard and her entrepreneurial journey right now. I would love to read an interview with her!
Mia Gardum a été photographiée chez elle à Aarhus au Danemark par Louise Skadhauge.
Retrouvez Mia au quotidien sur son compte @miagardum