Anna Kendrick: “Don’t Take a Healthy Lifestyle Too Seriously”
After trying a ton of diets, workouts, and various healthy lifestyle components, Anna found her own approach to maintaining her health. She would have loved to embrace meditation and go vegetarian, but it just wasn’t her path Article Contents: , Don’t be afraid to try new things strength and flexibility are more important than appearance
Breakfast is the foundation of the day
- Don’t deprive yourself of your favorite foods
- Ginger is my source of energy
- Leggings are fashion and comfort
- Emotional intelligence is an important quality
- Anna always follows her own path and has never felt so good
- “I tried meditating, but I feel like I’m doing it wrong,” Kendrick admits. “My brain starts working even harder at times like these. I didn’t eat animal products for almost two years and felt great, but I finally gave up that regimen and wasn’t upset at all.” Anna’s sincerity and ability to not take herself too seriously have earned her immense popularity: today, she has over 7 million followers on Twitter
- At 34, Anna was already performing on Broadway at the age of 12 and was nominated for a Tony Award. She made her film debut at 18, and a few years later received an Oscar nomination. She currently stars in the comedy series Love Life on HBO Max
“for a long time, my life followed a standard pattern: work, rest, then work again,” Anna shares. “There was no time left for anything else. This reality is familiar to many: you work as hard as you can, then recover to put in another maximum effort, and then need rest again because your energy is running low! Now my goal is to add a little joy and lightness to everyday life.” Don’t be afraid to try new things.
“Every time I start a new fitness routine, I think, ‘This is what I’ve been looking for!’ But soon I get carried away to the point of exhaustion, burn out, and start searching for my passion again. During this time, I’ve tried yoga, Pilates, ballet, and running. The only thing I immediately rule out is workouts where the trainer yells, ‘Hurry up, don’t break yourself, do a hundred push-ups!’—that’s definitely not for me.”
Now I’m passionate about hiking. I live in the hilly area of Los Angeles, and during the ascents and descents, I feel my mind clear. Sometimes I overanalyze, but hiking in the mountains helps me cope with any task.”
It’s important to remember that every person is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. Don’t be afraid to experiment and listen to your body—fitness should bring joy and a sense of balance, not discomfort or stress. To avoid burnout, it’s recommended to add variety to your workouts, alternating intense workouts with restorative activities, such as stretching or meditation.
Furthermore, the support of like-minded people and communication with a trainer who takes into account your characteristics and goals significantly increases motivation and helps you achieve results without unnecessary pressure.
Don’t deprive yourself of your favorite foods
“My workouts used to be focused on changing my body shape, but now the main thing is developing strength and flexibility. I had to change my perspective: training is no longer a punishment, but a pleasure, because movement improves my quality of life.”
Developing strength and flexibility helps not only improve physical fitness but also increase overall endurance, relieve muscle tension, and reduce the risk of injury. Regular exercise promotes good posture and improves coordination and balance, which is especially important as we age. Furthermore, exercise affects the nervous system, helps manage stress, and boosts mood. Include a variety of exercises in your routine—strengthening, stretching, and cardio—to maximize your body and health.
Breakfast is the foundation of the day “If I don’t eat within five minutes of waking up, my mood really plummets. Honestly, breakfast is what gets me up every morning,” Anna shares. “I usually eat the same thing: a vegan organic peanut butter and whole grain bar. It’s been discontinued, but I still have a month’s supply. I don’t know what I’ll do when it runs out! It’s not a disaster, but it’s become part of my ritual, and without it, I feel a little drained.” breakfast truly plays an important role in maintaining my energy and mood throughout the day. Experts recommend including protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates in your morning meal to ensure stable blood sugar levels and avoid hunger in the coming hours. In addition to bars, oatmeal with nuts and berries, a smoothie with greens and fruit, or whole-grain bread with avocado and tomatoes are excellent options.
It’s also important to pay attention to portion size and meal timing: breakfast should be filling, but not too heavy. If you find it difficult to eat immediately after waking up, you can start with light snacks and gradually increase your meal size. Paying attention to breakfast can improve concentration, boost productivity, and support overall health.
Ginger is my source of energy
“The phrase ‘everything in moderation’ sounds clichéd, but in my case, it’s absolutely true! When I tried to give up my favorite foods, it only led to disappointment and a bad mood,” Anna admits. “My heart belongs to macaroni and cheese. I dream of the days when I can indulge in carbs and dairy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And I’m crazy about sweets! There was a time when I was obsessed with baking and would search for the most difficult recipes to test myself: ‘Can I do it?’ I’d spend weeks and even months until I achieved the perfect result. It’s funny, but once the dessert was ready, I didn’t want to eat it anymore, and I always treated my friends and colleagues.”
Ginger is my source of energy “I always have water with lemon, ginger, and cayenne pepper in the fridge. Ginger energizes me and helps me feel stronger. On long trips without a piece of ginger, I literally get motion sickness. When I lived in Germany for almost three months, I couldn’t find ginger water in stores, so I had to buy a juicer and fresh ginger to make it myself. I’m sure ginger is what keeps me going.” leggings are fashion and comfort “I love that activewear is now acceptable not only for the gym! I can wear a sports bra and leggings outside, and it looks stylish. It’s just wonderful!” My advice to the younger generation: don’t look back and don’t go back to the low-rise jeans era—it was a terrible time, and it’s best not to repeat those mistakes.” emotional intelligence is an important quality
Leggings are fashion and comfort
Emotional intelligence includes the ability to recognize your own emotions and the emotions of others, understand their causes and consequences, and effectively manage your emotional reactions. This quality helps to build strong interpersonal relationships, improve communication, and participate in resolving conflicts in a more constructive manner.
The development of emotional intelligence helps not only in your personal life, but also in the professional sphere. People with high levels of emotional intelligence are more likely to succeed in teamwork, show more empathy, and adapt to change more easily. Today, more and more experts identify emotional intelligence as a key skill of the 21st century, which can and should be developed throughout life.
Anna Kendrick: “Don’t take healthy lifestyle too seriously”
