The Founder of This Clean Skincare Line Makes the Most of Waking Up at 5 A.M.

What's the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning? A well-rounded morning routine sets the tone for the day and gets you prepped—both mentally and physically—before diving into a packed schedule filled with emails, chores, happy hours, workouts, and more. Our series Morning Person profiles those who have mastered the art of the morning routine.

Tune in every Monday and Friday morning here and on our Instagram to learn exactly how the pros get it all done before the sun comes up, from their go-to breakfasts to their a.m. workouts.

As the founder of Primally Pure, a line of nontoxic skincare and personal-care products, Bethany McDaniel has, you could say, mastered the art of self-care. The groundwork she sets for the day starts with the hour in the morning she uses for personal and spiritual growth before her kids wake up and her work priorities begin.

Keep reading to see how she starts a typical workday morning. 

These days, it’s more important than ever for me to take time each morning to feel centered mentally, spiritually, and physically. Without doing so, I find that I’m quicker to react from a place of stress to situations that arise throughout the day (rather than being proactive and interacting with others from a place of calm intentionality).

5 A.M. 

I usually go to sleep around 9 p.m. and naturally wake up around 5 a.m. each morning without an alarm. I usually have a little over an hour until my two daughters wake up (June, 3 years, and Rosie, 14 months) and try to make the most of this time to myself.

I spend about 10 minutes in prayer followed by 10 minutes of meditation. I then take 20 minutes or so to plan my day using this planner. In addition to helping me to feel organized going into the workday, it also prompts me to answer questions like "Who could I surprise with a note, gift, or sign of appreciation today?”

If time allows, I’ll spend whatever time I have left reading a book on personal growth. Right now, I’m reading Essentialism by Greg McKeown.

6:15 A.M. 

By now, one or both of my kiddos is usually awake. I drag them outside, pj's on and still half-asleep, into the stroller/Ergo for a one-to-two-mile walk around our Southern California neighborhood. The early morning sunlight helps to wake us up and also regulates our circadian rhythm so that when bedtime rolls around, our bodies are ready to sleep.

7 A.M.

Once we get back from our walk, my husband is awake as well, and the four of us spend about an hour just hanging out, talking, playing, making breakfast for the girls and tea for ourselves. (Jeff and I have been intermittent fasting lately, so no breakfast for us these days.) We are also both business owners, and I’m thankful that we can *usually* make our own schedules and spend quality time at the start of each day as a family.

8:30 A.M.

By now, the girls’ babysitter has arrived, and I head upstairs to get ready for the day. I start by dry-brushing to promote lymphatic flow, followed by a two-minute cold shower to boost blood flow and support the production of white blood cells (so important for immune health!). I usually swish oil around in my mouth (a cleansing process called oil pulling) during my shower as well.

When it comes to skincare, the bulk of my routine takes place at night, and I don’t do a whole lot in the morning aside from splashing water on my face, spritzing on a Primally Pure Complexion Mist, and rolling with a ridged gemstone roller (always fresh out of the freezer!).

9 A.M. 

The workday has begun! These days, I usually begin the day working from home and then head into our HQ midday. Most employees at Primally Pure with office jobs are currently working from home while our teams of skincare chefs and shipping specialists are making products and fulfilling orders at our HQ. I enjoy checking in on our team often and surprising them with coffee runs or energy balls!

Up next: I Want to Make Herbal Wellness More Approachable—Here's How I Start My Day