Science Communicator and Model Laura Wells on Building Resilience and Effecting Change

Hi Laura! Welcome to Bedtime Stories. Can you walk us through your bedtime routine?

I love getting into bed, the feeling of lovely clean sheets and now, being pregnant, building my pregnancy pillow fort to keep me comfortable and sleeping on my side all night.

Before bed, I have a basic routine. Pee, brush, moisturise! Fresh chompers and a 3-step moisturising process for my face mean I wake up feeling pretty fresh and dewy. Nothing worse than waking in the morning to witchy breath and lizard skin!

What sleep or beauty products do you swear by that you won’t go a night without?

I lather my face in Face Theory Vitamin C serum, topped with Saya Hyaluronic moisturiser and then locked in with Weleda Skin food! Can’t go wrong with these three products. I’m not anal about it, just slap it on rub it in and you are good to go all night long.

I also have been loving a good organic Rooibos tea before bed, caffeine free and a good warm to relax before shutting off your brain for the night.

How do you create a calm and relaxing environment in your bedroom?

Natural materials, plants, and good lighting! Being surrounded by soft, sustainable materials such as linen in muted, contrasting colours is such a great way to create a calming space. The goes the same for lighting. Lamps and warm lights are your friend and immediately make a space relaxing.

And you can never go wrong with house plants. Bringing the outdoors in is a way for me to relax – nature is a great healer.

What is your solution for those nights you simply can’t nod off to sleep?

I pride myself on how good of a sleeper I am. As in I can sleep a whole eight hours and not even move, full vampire mode. But on the off chance I have a night where my brain just won’t turn off, and there have been a few of those since becoming pregnant, I’ve learnt to not reach for my phone. That’s a recipe for disaster, but instead, get up out of bed, get some water, walk around the house, sit on the lounge, do some breathing, and then hop back into bed. This usually works and I’m back off to slumber town.

What does sustainability mean to you, and why is it important?

Sustainability has become such a buzzword in the past five years. Everyone is throwing it around, quite often in an unsustainable way.

To me, sustainability is a philosophy. It’s a way to live and move consciously through the world. It considers the environment, economy, resources, humans, ethics, and morality. It's important because if we don’t balance all of these things, if there isn’t equity and equality throughout the world, then the world is not sustainable for a lot of people and ecosystems and they will be disadvantaged, sometimes to the point of extinction.

What are some sustainably-minded practices you follow on a daily basis?

Conscious consumerism is definitely a sustainably-minded practice I follow daily. Taking into consideration whether I really need an item? I consider: Where it was made? Who made it? What is it made from? How will it be disposed of? Can it be recycled? Is it a part of the circular economy? Is there a better alternative?

These are questions I ask about almost every purchase, from clothing to food, furniture to cars. To think in this way is a mindset shift, but it ultimately allows for better decision-making, a better planet, happier people, and the ability to live a little more harmoniously with the world around us rather than engage in the materialistic, disposable world many have become accustomed to.

Do you have any specific strategies to help you stay focused and motivated throughout the workday?

Offffph, I can be a huge procrastinator and get distracted by lots of little things, including, literally birds! I’ve found that having a list, when I write one, and ticking off the things that I do really does motivate me to get shit done.

Also exercising in some way during the day is a great way to break things up. It could just be a walk but it helps to start fresh when you are feeling unmotivated.

You’re a busy person, what are your favourite things to do when you have downtime?

Get outside. I love exploring and hiking, snorkelling, and adventuring. Getting into nature and being curious about the world around me is such a great way to recharge and have fun. Sharing the experiences with friends makes it all the better.