Meet Next Level's Employees: Inge

Introducing Inge: a pillar in Next Level’s customer service, both from the lively streets of Zwolle and now, the tranquil scenes of Portugal. Inge's passion extends beyond her two and a half years with Next Level, embracing a profound connection with plant medicine, stemming from her ongoing study in Herbalism. Her narrative isn’t just about excellent service or her favourite products; it's a tapestry of personal transformation. From her days in a physical shop in Zwolle to her newfound serenity in Portugal, Inge's story intertwines her professional evolution with a deep-rooted love for nature and the healing magic of plants. Dive into this exclusive interview and journey with Inge as she unveils her life's chapters, her top product recommendations, and her dream realized in the heart of Portugal. 

Introduce yourself and tell us about your role at Next Level!

My name is Inge and I am 46. About two and a half years ago I started working at Next Level’s customer service. At that time I was working night shifts at a care home as well. Even though the two combined pretty well, I was very happy when I was offered a full-time job at Next Level. I just started a 4-year study of Herbalism and I love how plant medicine can aid us humans, so it felt like a perfect match. I got the chance to work in the physical shop in the centre of Zwolle and having direct contact with customers and give them personal advice was a pleasure. Other than that I worked at order picking and occasionally edit articles. It all changed when I decided to sell my house and start a new life in Portugal. Now I work remotely for customer service only, so back to where I started!

Could you share your top 3 favourite products from Next Level?

Our Grow Kits

I’ve always been fascinated by nature and growing things. Setting up a grow kit and watching the psychedelic mushrooms develop really gives me joy. Apart from the magical experience of just growing them, they have given me a few exceptional journeys with some valuable insight. I especially love drinking a cup of mushroom tea outside by a nice warming fire and connecting with nature. However, I mainly use the mushrooms to microdose every now and then. When life doesn’t feel balanced for whatever reason, I feel that microdosing for a short period helps me to feel aligned again. It just gives you that little reset to get back into the flow and rhythm of life.

Mulungu CBD Extract

This year has been a year of major change for me. It was overwhelming at times and I had to deal with a lot of restlessness and tension. I found it harder and harder to relax at night, despite meditation, evening walks and yoga. This is because there was too much to do and think about. Having a good night's sleep became more and more important. I experienced major benefits when I started using the CBD Mulungu extract. It calmed my nerves and made sure I felt less anxiety, but most of all, helped me have uninterrupted sleep.

Sagrada Madre Incense

I love the effect that scent can have on the brain. I use it to alter my mood, evoke memories or as part of a ritual. I love this incense line! It’s hand-rolled natural incense without the use of chemicals and I really notice the difference compared to incense which is produced with chemicals. I am a massive fan of the Dragon’s Blood, Copal and Sandalwood, depending on the mood and effect I wish to establish. But to be honest, I like them all.

What’s an interesting story or an aspect of your life that you would like to share with the readers?

For two months now I have lived in the centre of Portugal. It has been my dream since I was a child to live in a rural area surrounded by nature. To grow my own food and just live a more quiet life away from noise and too much stimulus. But as often happens, it all moved to the background and I just got caught up in life. Ten years ago I bought my first home in Zwolle, saying I wanted to live in a city for ten years and then move to a little farm. Because buying land became impossible for me in the Netherlands, I decided to travel through Portugal last year and see if I could relocate there. And there I found the home of my dreams, with the right amount of land to create a little paradise.