How Your Self-Care Routine Serves the Greater Good

Meet Racheal Daley, founder of Golden Flourish—the holistic wellness community that's bringing self-care to the millennial woman.

By Anna Jornlid

We’re living in a time where the world is in turmoil with political instability, natural disasters, and levels of stress higher than they’ve been in a decade. To navigate it all, self-care can be a calming port in the storm. For health coach Racheal Daley, who launched wellness center Golden Flourish in 2015, self-care is not only the key to creating our own well-being but a collective well-being as well.

What began as a center for health and wellness coaching, her company Golden Flourish also offers a series of teas—inspired by her Jamaican ancestors’ herbal remedies—and soon, she’ll be launching self-care classes in an effort to make self-care more accessible for millennial women. Here, she opens up about how to make self-care more attainable, and how social media fits into the wellness equation.

What was the vision behind Golden Flourish

During a transitional phase in my life, post-undergrad, I discovered I was often giving to others and neglecting giving myself care. I went to school for teaching but realized I didn’t necessarily want to work in a classroom. Around that time, I found a herbal shop in Brooklyn with an apprenticeship program which I ended up joining. I really enjoyed smelling, tasting, learning about the herbs, and being in that space. I kept thinking, Why do I love this so much? and then I realized it’s always been in my family.

After completing the apprenticeship program and observing my conversations with other millennial friends and family, I realized that we were all experiencing similar things. In 2015, I decided it was time for me to start Golden Flourish to support others in creating a space for more self-care in their lives.

What does self-care mean to you?

Self-care means doing the things you love that nourish your being and body. It is anything you need it to be; things you’re already doing that bring you joy and fitting them into your day.

For me, the first step is drinking tea. Tea is very dear to my heart; I was introduced to it by my grandmother and family in Jamaica, and I wanted to bring back the herbal remedies from my ancestors and incorporate it into simple self-care. It’s something with many benefits that doesn’t take long to do. Just the process of brewing an actual cup of tea, taking in the aromas, and then drinking it and the after-effects of what that tea can do for you.

We live in a time where self-care is seen as a luxury—everyone is expected to always be online, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to turn off. How can practicing self-care become more accessible?

Self-care doesn’t have to be hard. It can be something as simple as a longer shower, a cup of tea, taking a walk, a dance break, or anything that probably already fits into your day. Social media has created a picture of what self-care “should” look like, but to be honest, it’s the opposite. Self-care is an individualized thing, so what our favorite influencer or celebrity is sharing as their favorite self-care practice may not fit you, or your lifestyle. Self-care is about making it what you need at any given time for you.

"Self-care means doing the things you love that nourish your being and body."

Speaking of social media, is using it purely detrimental, or can it have a positive effect on our relationship to self-care?

On the one hand, there are influencers and people living these affluent lifestyles, making you think, This person’s doing this, but I don’t have the time to do that—why am I not able to do that? It creates a habit of comparing yourself and beating yourself up, which is not helpful. On the other hand, it can be helpful in making connections, and there’s this other cohort of people sharing genuine content saying, “All right, this is what my wellness looks likeit might not be like yours, but you can try it.” We can make wellness our own, and use some of those tips and tricks from that favorite influencer, and not have it be harmful.

On your Instagram, you’re very candid about the challenges of being an entrepreneur, which is inspiring to people who want to start their own company. In what ways has your entrepreneurial journey been different from what you expected?

Most of us who decide to step into entrepreneurship believe that you just jump right into business; that maybe after year one, you are able to change so many lives with your products or services and make all the sales—but that is just not a reality. To navigate it all, I’ve had to go back to the drawing board and see how I can make the most of what tools and finances I already have access to as a minority business owner. I bootstrapped Golden Flourish from the start, using funds from jobs I’ve had on the side, asking family and friends for support, or signing up for grants. It’s about taking what you do have and making with it what you can. There have been times I felt like quitting, but I take a step back and come back with fresh eyes, once I remember my purpose.

Why is now the time for Golden Flourish to exist?

We are in a time where the collective understands the importance of our health and well-being, so what better time to remind us that self-care has existed within us from generations before us? We can trace back our heritage and rekindle the flame of well-being that our ancestors have already passed down.

What is the biggest misconception is about you or your industry?

What you mentioned earlier, that self-care is a luxury, is one of the biggest misconceptions; that you have to do self-care a certain way for it to make sense or be effective.

"Social media has created a picture of what self-care 'should' look like, but it’s the opposite."

If you were starting the business today, what would you do differently?

I would find a way to sit down with a mentor who knows the ropes of entrepreneurship and could help me create a clear plan, especially in the beginning. I would also seek out ways to receive funding in order to make the impact that I see for millennial women as it pertains to self-care. While I am always seeking out ways to receive funding, I feel that being a woman of color puts me behind the curve and limits my access to funding. I think part of it is that I don’t have access to certain funding opportunities, and the other part of it is the size of my business—I’ll typically apply to opportunities and not hear back, or get the response that my business isn’t ready for funding yet for whatever reason. It doesn’t stop me, though, I keep pushing and seek out ways to continue to share my business and do my own research.

What is something business-related you’ve had to compromise on?

I’ve had to navigate finding a balance between good quality and good cost. For example, my products are sourced from reputable organic herbal companies, like Mountain Rose Herbs and Starwest Botanicals. It probably means spending a few extra dollars, but for me, it’s worth it, because I think going above and beyond in business means to provide the most excellent experience for customers and clients.

How do you invest in women around you?

When possible, I shop from other women that I know or have come across, as well as investing time to share their businesses with others.

How do you invest in yourself?

At the moment, it’s weekly acupuncture sessions, therapy, and meditation.

What productivity tool would you be lost without?

When it comes to everyday life and business-related things, I’d have to say my calendar. When it comes to self-care, I would say the Insight Timer app; it has been my go-to for simple meditations.