Chelsea Becker
Connection: Chelsea was recommended by Melissa Levenson who I profiled a few weeks back and after reaching out to her she graciously accepted to be part of the iivy q&a. Chelsea is a mom of two, a business owner, and brings us a wealth of information from getting your best sleep to how to land a job in a field where you have no experience. Most of her clientele are female influencers so from one female lead community to another, I’m so excited to have Chelsea here!
Name: Chelsea Becker
Location: San Diego, CA
Self-Description: Business owner (which comes with a million titles), California girl, beach & sports lover, mom, friend, and usually down for anything!
Profession: Founder of Becker Editorial
Words to live by: Follow your gut
On health & wellness
What is something you changed in your life, that changed your life for the better? I started listening to 'sleep' meditations before bed (Calm app) and it helps me wind down on the nights my mind is going a million miles an hour. I started doing this post-partum when I was having a hard time sleeping in between feeds in the night and never stopped. I swear I get my best sleep on nights I prioritize it.
What advice, inspiration, or motivation can you share to encourage someone to take care of their body, mind, or soul? Quality of life as we age! I love that there's been a shift in the health industry to focus on not only living longer but the quality of life as we age. I've started lifting heavy weights because of this and have tried to cut down on sugar and certain ingredients, focus on flexibility, etc. For me, it helps to think long-term and to take actions that can help fend off future diseases where we can & try to be active as long as possible.
What’s your favorite thing to do with your friends? Grab a leisurely meal, take a girl's weekend, workout, or lay on a beach together.
On business
Tell us about your business / role: I'm the founder of Becker Editorial, which I started about nine years ago. We essentially handle all BTS content and strategy for influencers and brands including affiliate growth, project management, social and content planning, email marketing, websites, and a lot of other fun stuff.
Were you always interested in this line of work or did you fall into it? Kind of! When I graduated college, the influencer world wasn't even a thing, but I was an avid follower of blogs and that world from the start. Same with magazines - I've always been obsessed with editorial. I actually worked in sports content (my other passion) for the first 5 years of my career and then made the pivot into fashion/female lifestyle content once the digital landscape changed. My college degree has nothing to do with either of my career choices, but both were very intentional once I graduated and followed my passions - as cliché as that is.
What is your favorite part of your work? Client relations. Over the years, I've become close friends with countless clients and that will always mean the most to me. In terms of actual tasks, the projects that combine creative + strategy will always get me excited, like the early stages of a rebrand or new website or product launch.
What advice would you give someone who is looking to get into the same industry? Pretty much the same advice I'd give for any industry that you don't need a specific degree for. Learn the industry on the side and verse yourself with the landscape, tools, and platforms. I wrote this blog post for a client's site years ago and I think the advice on jumping into any industry is still helpful!
On motherhood
What advice would you give to a new mom going through it for the first time? Few things: 1. Find a couple of opinions you trust and who parent in a way you see yourself doing, and go to them with questions. I found it overwhelming with everyone trying to give me different advice, so having a few go-to people is key. 2. If you want to sleep again soon, and want your kids to be great sleepers, invest in Taking Cara Babies or some sort of plan - this was life-changing for us! 3. It truly takes a community so don't be afraid to ask for help, to switch to bottles, to skip breast-feeding or to do whatever is going to support your mental health. Your baby will be OK! <3
Did motherhood come naturally to you, or did it take time to find your rhythm? The taking care of kids part came naturally to me because I grew up babysitting, etc, but actual parenthood was whiplash for me. I definitely struggled when giving up my pre-baby independence those first few months.
Is there anything you'd want to say to women who are currently pregnant for the first time? I struggle with this because I hated being pregnant (was sick up until delivery with both boys), so while it's a 'congrats!!!' to most people, I also always like to check in on how expecting moms are truly doing. I think our society puts so much pressure on pregnancy being this beautiful, incredible thing that you can't be fully honest about, and while it certainly is the GREATEST blessing, it's not a positive experience for many women. My 'congrats' is usually followed by questions that check in on their state - and provide any advice I can for those who are struggling with life pregnant. To those struggling with sickness, body image, pain, mental health, whatever, know that your doctor has options that can help, and one day, you will feel like yourself again. Eat the bagels, take the naps, skip the events, and try to give yourself soooo much grace throughout the process.
What is something you would tell a mom to start doing now to have as a keepsake later? I'm honesty horrible at this!! I do try to video my kids doing memorable things (the way they say something, them telling me stories, playing a sport, whatever) Photos are one thing, but being able to watch our kids in action in the past is truly a gift.
The full list of favorable mentions are linked below with a brief description.
What do you never leave the house without? My Lux Unfiltered Lip Serum. What is the best type of gift to give, or a go-to one for you? Always a spa treatment! Usually a massage or facial. Something someone doesn't usually treat themselves to, at least not often enough. Artist/Album Recommendation: When working, it's always some sort of classical or piano playlist because I can't focus with lyrics. When not working, I've been loving Kacey Musgrave's Deeper Well album and all things Sabrina Carpenter! Podcast Recommendation: Well with Arielle Lorre for beauty/wellness/health advice and Smartless when you want to laugh and not take things too seriously. Book Recommendation: This is hard! I love books so much. If you haven't read Essentialism by Greg McKeown, that's a bible for me and something I read each year. It always helps simplify my life and get me back to what's essential in so many areas of my life. For fiction, a couple of my favorite books are The Nightingale for something more serious and the Magnolia Parks series for something fun. Wellness Product: Arrae Bloat pills and my Bon Charge sauna blanket (so relaxing, especially when reading a book). Skincare Product: Anything by ClearStem! They use non-comedogenic ingredients which has been a game-changer for my acne-prone skin. Their Bounceback Serum aka botox in a bottle tops the list. Also love my Bon Charge red light face mask. Beauty Recommendation: Lux Unfiltered beauty balms and NYX brow glue that's less than $10. Recipe: Rachael's Good Eats 15-Minute Crispy Chicken -- we eat this every single Monday in our house. Both of my picky kids love it and it's great for leftovers. Baby/Toddler Recommendation: These Aloh sanitizing hand wipes live in every crevice of our lives! I love that they don't smell like sanitizer and don't completely strip your skin or your toddlers. Kids Clothing Brand Recommendation: Zara is my go-to because boys ruin every item of clothing. I also love Rylee + Cru for special events. Favorite store in another town, state or country: Cedar Kids in Solana Beach (San Diego) has the cutest kids clothes you'll ever find. Small Business Recommendation: Lux Unfiltered. I'm biased because the founder is a client & friend but truly, all of her products are 10/10 for me.
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