Why don’t you introduce yourself and tell our readers a bit about you and your platforms?

I’m Olivia. I dream about helping people uncover both the beauty and the messiness of everyday life. I don’t have it all together—and I don’t expect I ever will. Sharing is at the center of everything I do. As the industry has shifted from influencing, to digitally creating, to creating alone, it’s fostering community that I’ve always pursued. While this has been a focus throughout my career, I felt most connected to my community when I stopped drinking at the beginning of 2022. Since then, my epiphanies, reflections, and countless mocktail recipes have helped others navigate their own sober-curious journeys. And as we begin to embrace all the many relationships a person can have with alcohol, I’m grateful to have a voice in shifting the conversation. You can find my recipes and daily musings on Instagram, Tiktok and Pinterest with handle, @olivianoceda.

Let’s start from the beginning! Tell us a little about your journey that led you to where you are now.

Like all beautiful things, my first Instagram account, Olive Eats, began in bed at one in the morning. I’d been through heartbreak, was fresh out of college, and thought “clean eating” was my key to a happy life – this was 2016. Despite my fears, hesitancy, and the fact that no one has called me Olive in my life, EVER, the account grew. I left home to attend graduate school where I received my Master’s Degree in Speech & Language Pathology. My account took a backseat during this time. However, upon graduating, I knew it was time to revisit what I had left with a renewed sense of what I wanted to share. What started as an account sharing healthy meals became a journal to share all things – my deepest thoughts, fears, and recipes that are good for the soul. I began to question my relationship with alcohol in the beginning of 2022 and the nonalcoholic/low alcohol recipes I’ve shared since have been a resource for many people who feel the same way. Now, I live in San Francisco with my partner in a beautiful little Victorian apartment and spend my days creating recipes and going on walks by the water.

What inspires you? How have your passions and interests changed over the course of your career?

I am inspired by the five senses. I know it sounds silly to say, but it’s true. I am inspired by nature, colors, and books I read. I am inspired by the taste of a drink, the smell of a meal, and the home of a friend. I am inspired by watching people live their lives authentically. With age, I have become more interested in living a simpler and cozier life that feels good. I think that translates into my work. Right now, I am specifically inspired by my peers who create incredible food and drinks – it encourages me to try new flavor combinations and ways of filming, which is so important in an ever-fluctuating career like mine.

What would you consider to be the foundational pillars of healthy/intentional living?

I truly believe that there is one overarching foundational pillar that equates to a healthy and intentional life – living your life as authentically as possible, whatever that looks like for you. In other words, doing the best you can with what you have. Make sure you are always prioritizing sleep and nutrition (drinking enough water and eating enough food). I think what can so easily get lost in the wellness world is that we need very little to live a beautiful and healthy life.

What are some simple ways that we can incorporate these into our daily lives without it feeling overwhelming?

Setting small goals for yourself every week can be a great way to incorporate healthy habits into your lifestyle. For example, you could focus on getting eight hours of sleep for three nights a week for a month. Then, next month, go for five nights! My advice is to sit with yourself for a few weeks and consistently write down what feels right to you. What is your body craving for movement? Food? Friendships? Get honest about what you really want and start to live it.

Do you have any daily rituals that help keep you grounded?

I enjoy waking up early in the morning and spending some time sitting on my big, cozy, green chair. Listening to jazz as the sun rises is one of my most special rituals. My small-but-mighty skincare routine and drinking a lot of water are also important to me. But, the ritual that has changed my life is my morning walk. I take the same route every morning – sometimes I’ll listen to an audiobook, enjoy a podcast, or call my best friend. Regardless, my morning walk is the one thing that gets me out of bed every day!

Can you elaborate a bit more on your choice to pursue a sober-curious lifestyle? Do you have any advice to those who may be interested in learning more for themselves?

In the beginning of 2022, I made the very unconscious decision to stop drinking alcohol. About a month in, I realized that I hadn’t had a drink in 30 days. I also realized that I felt really, really good. That realization sparked an awareness about alcohol and the role it played in my life. I started to question my drinking habits, my social circles, and my hobbies. Slowly, I started to become much more clear about what I wanted from life. I came to understand that alcohol was not one of those things. For anyone who is not struggling with an addiction to alcohol or is feeling skeptical about their relationship with alcohol, I urge you to take a step back and ask yourself questions. What role does alcohol play in my life? Do I feel the need to have a drink every time I go out? Do all of my social activities include drinking? How do I feel the day after I drink alcohol? Once you’ve taken the time to answer those questions, you may find that alcohol has a stronger impact on your life than you’d like. Start slow! Maybe stop drinking alcohol on weeknights and see how that feels or choose to have a nonalcoholic drink in place of a cocktail. It’s all about staying intentional, self-aware, and taking those baby steps.

What are some of your favorite places for a good mocktail in the Bay Area?

Che-Fico, easily! They make an incredible mocktail and are always changing things up.

Buddy Wine Bar also has a great nonalcoholic spritz!

La Arcana, a wine bar in the Mission District, serves a nonalcoholic wine that I love!

What are you looking forward to most in this New Year?

I’m looking forward to living simply. I’m still figuring out what that will look like for me, but I’m excited to skip the chaos and lean into an uncomplicated lifestyle. If and when I figure it out, I’ll let you know!

How do you make intentional changes to your lifestyle without getting caught up in the “turn-your-life-upside-down” narrative often pushed around the start of the year?

I do my best to block out all of the noise. In the beginning of the year, I do an intentional check in with everyone in my life and everyone I follow online. If someone/something doesn’t feel like it’s serving me, I kindly unfollow. I find that reducing the amount of noise in my life allows me to see things more clearly. Stay confident in your choices and always remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Our human minds aren’t programmed to shift quickly. Give yourself grace and enjoy the time it takes to make a change.

What’s next for you and your platform? How do you hope to see the impact of your work take form?

I’m really not sure what’s next, but I’m excited about the future. I have so many ideas and goals that I hope to accomplish! A dream of mine would be launching a product to enjoy your drinks from… hint, hint!

One of the ways that I’m able to see the impact of what I’m doing is through the testimonials people share about adjusting their relationship with alcohol. I love to see people make decisions that work for them. I truly hope that my work continues to reach the people who need it and hope that it inspires people to live a more intentional life.