#37: Sofia Anna Dolin
"Allow yourself the state of hibernation. Don’t force actions when your body craves rest."
Sofia is a writer and fashion researcher with a focus on gender stereotypes and the body. She’s in the process of relaunching her blog/newsletter, but has been posting some interesting dispatches on IG… We met at an Abibas film screening in 2023.
At a glance…
Location: London
Big 3: Leo/Sagittarius/Scorpio
What does health, or being healthy, mean to you?
Being aware of how I feel mentally and physically, and acting based on my current state.
How would you describe your current lifestyle?
Tough.
I feel it’s important (for me) to mention that the last two to three years have been very stressful. War, experiencing the turmoil of having my home bombed while my family was still there, relocating multiple times, finishing one dissertation, studying hard to get a scholarship, moving again, and writing another dissertation. That’s not even half the story, but it's enough to understand that I’m mentally and physically exhausted.
Since I was mostly immersed in my academic work for the past few years, I had the luxury (a bit thoughtless of me) of not worrying about having a full-time job, thanks to my scholarship. But now, I’m working in a café for the first time in my life, and at the beginning, I was shocked that my body doesn’t belong to me for eight to nine hours a day. I’m trying to find a balance (I don’t like this word) between my current job, looking for a new one, my personal life, and my creative/professional pursuits. I’ve had a few burnouts (couldn’t move once, my body was in total pain) and now I’m experimenting with routines, noticing when I’m high-functioning, and when I’m not. I’m also maintaining a balanced diet (lots of greens, a variety of fruits and vegetables, nuts, proteins), and observing my reactions to see what works best for me (during the day, if I eat salad, protein, and fruit, I feel energy to work, but if I eat pasta, I feel sleepy, basic things, etc).
How do you start and end your days?
Wake up at 5:30-6am, drink warm water with lemon, then stretch and meditate. Before breakfast, I eat a slice of cucumber or a celery stick to soften the "sugar bomb" of oats with goji berries, a mix of seeds, and fruit (my favourite option is oats made with almond milk, pears, and coconut cream instead of butter). After that, I have a glass of water with ascorbic acid (vitamin C), zinc, vitamin D3, optional Omega-3, and complex B. Recently, I’ve also started taking lion’s mane.
If I have time, I write or work on small tasks like sending emails for 20-30 minutes. Then, I try to leave the house as early as possible — first, to avoid the rush of people on the tube (on my way to work, I like to have a seat and read or edit my texts), and secondly, so I can enjoy a nice 20-minute walk through Hyde Park, starting at the Italian Gardens and heading towards Kensington Gardens. I observe people walking their dogs, who run happily. I think about kinaesthesia and the human ability to feel movement when you see it. I look at the strong trees and ochre leaves, breathe in the cool air, and eat a crisp Cox apple. Recently, the sun was so bright and beautifully reflected in the pond, where people were jogging. I had extra time, so I left my heavy backpack, put on my headphones, played Mikey Enwright and danced for five minutes. If I start the day by doing what I love, it’s easier for me to get through the shift, especially when I feel that I don’t belong to myself.
“I think about kinaesthesia and the human ability to feel movement when you see it. I look at the strong trees and ochre leaves, breathe in the cool air, and eat a crisp Cox apple.”
In the evening, I come home and head straight to the kitchen to cook dinner (lately, I’ve been roasting vegetables) and prepare lunch for the next day. If not, I’ll get a £5 meal deal (I once got a compliment from a cashier on my “healthy choice” at Waitrose). I just buy a mixed salad, fruit, and either a smoothie or kefir, and I like the idea of having something for the next day. Usually, I’m so tired that I go straight to bed after I get home. I use the Sleep Cycle app as my alarm (I like the selection of sounds and how it softly wakes me over 30 minutes with gradually increasing volume). However, I have a bad habit of using screens before sleep, often reading on my laptop until VERY late. Although I still don’t get enough sleep, it’s much better than it used to be since I used to struggle with insomnia.
All week, I look forward to Saturday when I go to the farmers' market. If it’s sunny and the skies are blue, I allow myself a strong black coffee (I don’t usually drink coffee because it can make me anxious or too wired, but here I give myself permission). I hop and jump on my way, hugging trees and kissing flowers while listening to ethereal music. I usually buy fruit and vegetables, and sometimes I treat myself to freshly squeezed juice made from apple, beetroot, carrot, and ginger. I also laugh at the prices of organic bread and tomatoes.
Was there a specific moment in life that made you change your approach to health, or become more conscious generally?
Generally, I’ve always considered myself healthy. Growing up, I was never a fan of sweets or junk food. I’m pretty boring — I prefer dark chocolate and hardly ever salt my food, since I get enough salt from vegetables and olive oil. I’m not sure where this comes from, considering my parents don’t exactly follow the healthiest diets. Still, I’ve inherited some good habits! When my dad was a child, he would throw away the borscht my grandmother cooked, slice some white bread, put butter on it, and enjoy it while reading The Book of Tasty and Healthy Food (1939). Similarly, I enjoy making salads and reading about the benefits of ingredients on Healthline (I only use the website for that — it’s quick and easy). I feel actively healthier at these moments!
Now that I’m 30, I feel like I’m at a turning point where I have a chance to reframe some of my thinking (especially my inner critic!) and behaviour patterns while it’s still easier to adjust them. I constantly feel like I’m on unstable ground, with the expectation of another major change approaching, so I need to figure out a flexible, supportive routine. I’m also trying to be aware of the content I consume. Lately, I spend less time on Instagram (I’ve set up a daily limit) and I’m trying not to scroll through the feed or stories, but rather choose what I want to see.
While writing my dissertation, I realised that, as a researcher who explores fashion using a multisensory approach (see anthropologist Sarah Pink), I am my own instrument. Both physically and mentally, I have to be highly aware of my sensations. This requires clarity and, therefore, a certain lifestyle. It also means consuming less coffee, smoking, and alcohol. I’m changing my attitude toward the latter because I don’t like how even one beer can leave me feeling depressed afterward. In my opinion, alcohol is evil due to its awful effects on the brain and sleep, as well as its destructive social impact. Still, I love good wine and can’t imagine saying ‘No’ to a glass of Amarone or Primitivo.
“…suddenly, after nine hours of monotony, I jump up and start dancing in my room, moving, smelling my perfume, and trying on my silk and cotton dresses.”
What’s your relationship to self-healing? At what point in dealing with a symptom do you see a doctor?
I usually think I should see a doctor when I can't identify the source of pain or when a problem becomes visible, like a reaction on my skin, especially when something feels new or unfamiliar. I believe that the body and mind are connected, and maintaining a clear mind is crucial when you're unwell (which, in some cases, is difficult, I understand). Our bodies can give us signals when we need something. Recently, out of nowhere, I suddenly started intensely thinking about pomegranate juice, which made me realise that I might be lacking certain vitamins.
Last year, when I felt anxious, I was recommended to take herbal supplements, Jia Wei Xiao Yao San. I think it helped regulate my mood a bit.
I feel that, at this moment, with my quite hectic and intense week, self-healing for me is about reconnecting with myself. Sometimes, I engage in self-reflection and dig deep within myself. I read a lot of texts from different fields to expand my mind and feel intellectually excited, which helps me rest. Sometimes I listen to music and lie down. I couldn’t even wiggle my hips, but suddenly, after nine hours of monotony, I jump up and start dancing in my room, moving, smelling my perfume, and trying on my silk and cotton dresses. Wearing clothing with a soft texture against your skin is a form of self-care. Resting in a cashmere jumper feels great, and I sleep so much better in pima cotton T-shirts (well, I believe so). I also enjoy some nudity time in my room, I love the feeling of having no layers between my skin and the air. On sunny days, it’s nice to lie on freshly changed sheets on my bed. Rays shine through the window and start warming different parts of my body.
With the changing seasons, these days I’m afraid of getting sick, so I prepare a mix of garlic, ginger, lemon, and honey, which I eat before bed. I think of it more as self-defense rather than self-healing.
Do you have a “perfect meal”?
Soups. I can eat two or three portions in a row! My great-grandmother used to say that stones could fall from the sky, but a child must have soup every day—and that’s something I grew up with. If I’m feeling under the weather, I like to go to Thai restaurants and enjoy a bowl of Tom Yum. When I have the flu, I turn to chicken broth (Jewish Penicillin).
Where do you look to for advice?
Myself. My mom. My older and experienced mentor-friend.
When I need a fresh perspective on things and would like to feel connection to universe and stars, I turn to neuroscientist Nadia Pavlovskaya, who runs guilt-free astrology for people who don’t believe in astrology. I love the combination of science and astrology in her practice. Years ago, she did my natal chart, and it helped me understand the contradictions within myself (my sun vs my rising, for example), giving me a way to respect all those opposing parts.
“I guide myself by the feelings I want to experience. What should I do, how to move, what words to pronounce if I want to feel open, strong, or magical?”
I also reflect on my therapy sessions (which I can not afford right now). I was lucky to meet my therapist who practices the Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor (PBSP) method, which was originally developed by choreographers Albert Pesso and Diane Boyden-Pesso to help dancers overcome emotional blocks. Her methods aligned closely with both my personal and intellectual interests. It felt like something unlocked in me, but I also realised how much deeper I wanted to dig into this newly opened space within myself. It was enough to get me back on my feet, but I see the great potential in continuing this therapy.
I love dance. It’s beautiful how the human body can attain new knowledge through movement, knowledge that you can’t quite put into words yet. In London, I went to an Orishas dance class. There was one movement where, by taking two steps back, you’re kind of moving forward at the same time. As in life, it’s something I need to remind myself of when I feel stuck or lost.
Do you have any guiding principles?
I guide myself by the feelings I want to experience. What should I do, how to move, what words to pronounce if I want to feel open, strong, or magical? I listen to my body and intuition, reflecting on what I consume, who I socialise with, and where I invest my resources — whether that’s energy, time, or money. When I feel very low, I remind myself that is not forever, that time passes, it will be better.
What advice would you give to your past self?
Oh, I don’t know! Stop trying to be liked be everyone. Create, sing, do what you want.
What advice would you give to the person reading this?
Mmm. I love this line from Mary Oliver's poem “Wild Geese”:
You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.
Remember the animalistic part of yourself. Reconnect with your biological nature and instincts. Allow yourself the state of hibernation. Don’t force actions when your body craves rest. Roll around like a dog or growl when you feel like it. Fulfill your physiological needs — just as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, of course.
What would you like to see or create more of in the world?
Love and deeper understanding.
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