Meet Elena Shelton

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elena Shelton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elena, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I believe that having a flexible work-life balance is essential for a dynamic life. I’m always juggling various roles, but one of the cornerstones of my work is as a Birth Doula, which I’ve been doing for the past decade. As a Doula, I engage with expecting families from early pregnancy onwards, offering personalized birth preparation and then continuous on-call support starting at three weeks before their due date until after delivery. Despite the challenges and sacrifices of on-call work and needing to be ready to support my clients at a moment’s notice, it has profoundly shaped my understanding of work life balance.

I’ve learned that doing my job well means I need to be actively taking care of myself and my body in a balanced way on a regular basis. It becomes fun for me to feel so flexible and unfazed when it’s time to attend a birth feeling like my cup is full and I can provide the presence and support necessary for my birth clients. I always make sure to build in routines where I can like daily morning runs, regular meals, meditation, connected time with people I love, and getting outside as much as possible. Most of all, work life balance for me is about maintaining a sense of humor. No one can do it perfectly. When I’m called into work at a moment’s notice, I try to laugh at my plans getting derailed for such a beautiful reason, and I feel grateful that I’ve put in the time to feel resilient enough to show up for my clients when I’m needed most.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Despite sometimes yearning for the stability of a 9-5 job, I’ve created a purposeful, deeply fulfilling work life that offers me the flexibility to travel and the energy to be present for the people I care about. I work as a Birth and Postpartum Doula, a Childbirth Educator, and an Integrative Nutritionist specializing in Hormone Health. I am also a musician, and released my first full length album in February 2023. As a Birth Doula and Educator, I have the honor of being present throughout the pregnancy and birth stages for new families. As a Postpartum Doula I support families by coming to their homes and providing care, guidance, and nourishing meals during the tender newborn phase. In my role as a nutritionist, I offer one-on-one sessions focused on helping women balance their hormones in relation to fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum. This work fills me to the brim every single day with the tenderness and humanity of it. I feel immense gratitude for the opportunity to be present so often during these intimate life transitions, which feels like my deepest calling. Despite the variation in my work, the common thread is that I aim to provide connected, bio-individual, and emotional support to everyone I work with.

Everything I offer is interconnected and I’ve found that the key to making it all work is that I’m at a stage in my career where I get to design my work life depending on what else I have going on. I’ll have parts of the year that I open my books to be on-call for births, and parts of the year where I can focus more on my virtual 1:1 nutrition clients, especially if I’m traveling more. Since releasing my album, I’ve also been performing every couple of months and I always make sure to dedicate time to writing and recording music, which fuels my creativity and balances my service-oriented work.

Finding the right balance wasn’t always easy, and my schedule is constantly evolving. However, I’ve reached a sweet spot where I have plenty of work and the freedom to choose what to focus on. This intuitive approach to managing my business is what I’m most proud of in my career.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Although I was born in LA, I’m currently living in Santa Barbara- which I’m assuming is close enough?

To do:

Hike Cold Springs Trail: It’s the best trail in town, especially with its incredible swimming holes in the spring and early summer!

Visit Mesa Lane Beach: It’s stunning every time you go.

Drive (or bike!) up to the top of Gibraltar Road: The view is always worth it.

Kayak or paddle board in the Santa Barbara Harbor: Seeing Santa Barbara from the ocean is my favorite way to view the city.

Check out Galavant SB: Before planning your next visit to Santa Barbara, look up Galavant! It’s run by a fantastic couple who organize amazing outdoor concerts featuring talented musicians and delicious local food. @galavantsb

Food and Drink:

Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market: Held on Tuesdays and Saturdays, this market offers the most delicious produce, local products, and beautiful flowers. It’s a must-visit.

Arigato: The best sushi in SB.

Bettina: Offers the most delicious pizza and cocktails.

Topa Topa: My favorite brewery located in the funk zone.

The Apiary: The most delicious handcrafted mead and cider on the planet.

Cold Springs Tavern: While technically about 25 minutes north of Santa Barbara, this tavern is a hidden gem. It feels like stepping back in time. Try the tri-tip sandwich!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout is most definitely to my parents- they live a life so abundantly full of community, creativity, connection and have shown my sister and I so much about what it means to live a beautiful life doing what you love. Both of my parents are artists. My dad, Jeff Shelton, is a renowned architect( he’s actually been featured himself on Shoutout LA a couple years ago!) and my mom, Karin Shelton, is an incredible painter. They pour their hearts into their respective crafts, with a deep love and dedication that is truly inspiring. Witnessing their creativity and innovative approaches to their businesses, while always staying true to their passion, has been incredibly motivating for me. In my own career journey, as I navigate different aspects of my own business, I’ve learned from them the importance of never losing sight of your core values. My parents have always prioritized quality family time and nurturing community above all else. They’ve shown me that our greatest wealth is the people in our lives, and I am always building my own life around this value.

Website: https://www.elenaaliceshelton.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaaliceshelton/

Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/77I4TQoNyxIPEfU0Isorj5

Image Credits
Chelsea Call Gabriella Sonabend Mattie Shelton