I Started a Wellness Brand to Help People and Bees—This Is My Morning Routine

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 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.

We can learn a lot about a person through their routine (or even their lack of one—no judgment here). For Carly Stein, founder and CEO of Beekeeper’s Naturals, a wellness startup that makes natural remedies, the road to adopting a sustainable and clean routine had its fair share of challenges along the way.

As the story goes, Stein grew up with chronic sore throats and tonsillitis and found that no conventional remedies could provide long-term relief for her. It was not until she learned about natural propolis extract made from bees that her condition finally improved. Thus, her company and her dedication to living a more natural and intentional life were born.

Keep reading to see how Stein has adopted this philosophy in her morning routine.

7 A.M.

As CEO of a startup, my job is generally about dealing with the unexpected. Some days, I’ll find myself booked in back-to-back meetings all morning and afternoon. Others will be spent putting out unexpected fires or supporting my team on the fly.

In order to stay balanced and be ready for whatever the day has in store, I’ve discovered that I crave consistency in my morning routine. Sometimes life gets in the way, but I try to stick to my grounding morning routine as often as I can.

I start my morning by waking up no later than 7 a.m. (I sometimes wake up as early as 6 a.m., but I keep that flexible based on how much sleep my body needs.) Immediately when I wake up, I try to resist looking at my phone.

I put on my Dr. Dennis Gross LED Faceware Pro Mask, which soothes inflammation and promotes healthy, glowing skin with targeted LED light therapy. The mask looks really intense, but it’s amazing—like a mini spa session first thing!

7:10 A.M.

Next, I practice five minutes of gratitude-journaling in my Five Minute Journal. (I’ll just use the app when I’m traveling so I can pack light.) Our brains are hardwired to focus on the negative for survival, so starting each day by acknowledging the wonderful things in life helps to hack and retrain that default wiring.

When I started this practice, I noticed a big difference in my overall outlook, so it has become an essential part of my morning. I also gratitude-journal for five minutes before bedtime.

7:20 A.M. 

Once I leave my bedroom, I’ll go make a morning adaptogenic tonic. I pack it with different things on different days. I often use ashwagandha, Chaga, and Rhodiola for daily support, along with a few spritzes of our Propolis Throat Spray for natural immune support.

But the one thing I put in every single morning tonic is my B.LXR Brain Fuel. It’s packed with the best adaptogens for brain function, so I’ll just pour the whole shot into my drink to make sure I’m on my A-game all day. B.LXR is amazing at helping me get focused and energized, even when I’m feeling slow and sleepy. It always beats out energy drinks and coffee in my book because it has no caffeine, refined sugar, or dirty/questionable ingredients. 

Once I have my morning drink, I move to my couch for some more writing. Freewriting helps to clear all those sticky thoughts that muck up our minds and distract us from what we actually want to accomplish. I’ve found that this sort of stream-of-conscious writing helps me think more clearly throughout the day and allows me to get in better touch with my intuition, which is crucial for quick decision making.

Lately, I’ve been reading The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday, so I’ve used this writing time to explore the meditations and exercises I’ve discovered in the book. I mainly use Leuchtturm1917 Notebooks for these exercises. I love the way they look and feel, which makes the whole writing process feel a little more special.

7:45 A.M.

After all that, I’ll get dressed, grab a spoonful of our B.Powered Honey for an energy boost, and squeeze in a quick but intense workout. It’s likely that I’ll be in front of a computer or in meetings for most of my day, so I need to get some movement in early on (for my sanity!).

Depending on the day, this usually varies between taking a run or streaming a really good fitness class. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with Caley Alyssa’s yoga classes (both on her website and on Alo Moves).

8:50 A.M.

I created Beekeeper’s Naturals because I wanted to ensure what I was putting into my body was as clean as possible. I’ve made an effort to apply this philosophy to all aspects of my life, including skincare.

To rinse off the sweat, I’ll wash my face with a gentle cleanser or a little raw honey. Then I keep my makeup pretty simple. I use Josh Rosebrook’s Tinted Nutrient Day Cream (with 30 SPF) to deeply hydrate, protect my skin, and bring out my glow. Then I’ll swipe on my favorite W3ll People Expressionist Mascara, and I’m ready to go!

9 A.M. 

When I get back, I’ll grab some breakfast, maybe a smoothie topped with protein-packed Bee Pollen, and start digging into my inbox. By that time, I’m fully awake, balanced, alert, and ready to crush my day!

Up next: How This Esthetician Turned Skincare Line CEO Nourishes Herself in the Mornings