By: ERIN MICHELLE NEWBERG
As the founder of Chenessa, Health Optimization Coach Celia Chen operates at the nexus of health, science, and innovation. She is a strategic advisor and investor for brands like Levels and Joi Women’s Wellness, and as a CMO, she brings cutting-edge wellness products to market. Here’s a glimpse into her day.
7:00 AM I wake up, use my tongue scraper and drink a full glass of water with electrolytes. And I make it a point to try to not touch my phone. As my morning routine is locked, I enjoy matcha with collagen and take my supplements like BodyBio PC Oil and Wonderfeel NMN while sitting on my terrace.
7:25 AM I spend at least five minutes journaling which offers me help while finding some direction for the day. Then, I’ll check and respond to any urgent emails.
8:15 AM I’ll make a quick protein-rich breakfast like soft scramble with smoked salmon. And if it’s Wednesday, I head to the farmers market in Santa Monica. It’s my favorite thing to do. I buy seasonal flowers, fruit and vegetables for the week. It’s also the morning when the chefs go so it’s a total scene. Today I saw Evan Funke from Felix Trattoria and Richard Christiansen from Flamingo Estate—together!
10:00 AM I head to Hume in Venice, which is my gym that looks more like a Zen spa. I lift very heavy weights with my trainer Kolton because I learned that strength training is critically important for women over 40 to build muscle and protect bones. I can now deadlift 135 pounds!
11:45 AM I prepare a light lunch of grilled chicken over salad—which generally comes from the Santa Monica Farmers Market. And I try to squeeze in at least six colorful plants in every meal. Yes, herbs count! Because I lift, it’s important to get your protein in after resistance training to build muscle.
12:30 PM I’m launching a course about optimizing body composition in midlife so I’m building that content. As a wellness marketer, I’ve always had to synthesize complex topics into bite-sized storytelling that entertains as it educates.
2:00 PM I’ll do some private coaching sessions in the afternoon and because I work with a few female executives based in New York who like to connect at the end of their workdays, I accommodate their East Coast schedules. Everyone is struggling with balance so my focus is to optimize their day as best I can.
5:00 PM I have a weekly call with Renee Labbe, my Creative Director who’s helping me shape the identity of In the Pink, my Substack. What started as a newsletter to share my own experiments in biohacking has grown into a curious, thoughtful community. One of the best surprises has been connecting with so many founders and editors on the platform.
6:30 PM One of my brand partners is in Hawaii, so similarly to my East Coast calls, I find that I’m working across time zones lately. We are currently planning a regenerative wellness dinner for the LA community this fall. It all reminds me of my luxury event planning days in New York, but with less champagne.
7:15 PM Living by the beach, I don’t go out as much so I cook at home on most nights. I feel spoiled in LA when it comes to produce so I’m usually in the kitchen creating blood sugar friendly recipes for my clients, which conveniently doubles as dinner for me!
8:00 PM I’m a night owl so I sometimes get a creative spark in the evenings—hence a notebook in every room of the house for my random scribblings. This is the magic hour when it flows from my mind to the paper.
10:30 PM I wish I could get off my phone earlier but I’m probably still online. I do have a good wind down routine of skincare, flossing, supplements like magnesium, GABA, L-theanine, and progesterone—which all support sleep.
11:00 PM I’ll read a few pages of a book that I’ll never finish. I am obsessed with mouth tape and my silk eye mask—I sleep so much better. Allegedly. According to my Oura ring.