Actress DeWanda Wise's Secrets to Staying Fit and Focused

“I have no intention of burning myself out or doing this for only five years. My goal is to be like Cicely Tyson. I fully intend to be working at 95, so I give myself the wisdom of that peace and understanding”- DaWanda Wise DaWanda Wise is an American actress, producer, and writer that knows a thing or two about the importance of balance amidst high demand. Through her numerous roles in film and theater, DaWanda has impacted Hollywood with the high performances and dedication that earned her a nomination for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series.

Some of her most notable portrayals are Nola Darling from Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It and Clara from the series, Underground Railroad. She also served as co-producer and co-writer for the thriller The Weekend. Despite her demanding schedule, DaWanda continues to implement what she values the most, health and wellness.

Managing health and wellness can be a tall task for those with even less demanding schedules as the Hollywood star. Luckily, DaWanda has shared the way she secures balance in her life.

Since tying the know in 2009, DaWanda and her husband Alano Miller have followed a vegan diet. In an interview with Essence, she shared that her vegan lifestyle reflects her values and desire to live a more compassionate life by reducing harm to animals. “When you start to take away things that you’re so used to like salt and sugar and start to realize there are other seasonings in the world that exist outside of that, it bring so much flavor and joy,” her husband shared of their diet to Men’s Health.

The discipline and commitment to this area is what seems to be the foundation for her methods and practices concerning physical, mental, and emotional health. The good news is that you don’t have to be a star on the silver screen to implement similar methods and practices for your life.

One of the steps to maintaining energy and wellness is to create a tailored system or routine to support it. DaWanda established a personalized routine in areas of nutrition, mental and emotional well-being, physical exercise, and work/life balance. A typical day for the actress starts with an early morning workout, followed by a caffeine hit before heading to work. To end her day, she usually opts for a good book.

“Sleep is very important to me,” she told Essence. “All those people who romanticize not sleeping, that’s not me. I work 41 days straight. I can’t get sick.” This shouldn’t come as a surprise as the CDC recommends seven or more hours of sleep a night for adults. So, don’t feel bad for getting that beauty rest.

DaWanda is a shining example of the saying “Where there is a will, there is a way”. The techniques and practices that she uses to maintain energy and wellness can be applied to the everyday person.