How This CEO and New Mom's Mornings Set Her Up for a Productive Day

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 you dive 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 week 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 CEO and co-founder of Expectful, the leading meditation-and-sleep platform for fertility, pregnancy, and new motherhood, Nathalie Walton is used to prioritizing her wellness rituals around her busy schedule. But now as a parent to a toddler, Walton has learned to adapt her routine to allow for personal time in between mom duties and running a growing company. 

Keep scrolling to see this CEO's self-care habits that set the tone for a productive workday. 

6:30 A.M.

As a relatively new parent, I’ve had to adjust my sleep schedule to get to bed earlier. Waking up at 6:30 a.m. allows me to have 90 minutes to myself before my toddler wakes up.

For the first year of my son’s life, I suffered from terrible sleep. A friend suggested the Amazon Halo wellness band, and it’s been an incredible tool to help improve my sleep. The device gives me advice on the steps I can take to get a better night’s sleep, and I'm also able to closely monitor how much I sleep.

6:35 A.M.

I love listening to our morning meditations, and a quick meditation helps me stay focused all day.

6:50 A.M.

One of the reasons I love to exercise in the morning is because even if everything goes wrong during a given day, at least I'll know that I’ve accomplished something meaningful: moving my body. I’m an avid Peloton fan, and I try to plan my classes the night before. 

I tend to invest in cute workout clothes from Carbon38 because it motivates me to exercise more.

7:30 A.M.

I’m currently using three separate journals! I know this might seem like overkill, but journaling helps me to set my intention for the day and helps my productivity. I love The Five Minute Journal because it helps me focus on gratitude, this productivity journal helps me to plan the most important tasks on a given day, and I have a good old-fashioned journal to write any thoughts that come to mind.

7:45 A.M.

I’m slightly obsessed with the color mint green, which may or may not have influenced my favorite skincare products. Nevertheless, these products give me life in the morning! I'll start with Kate Somerville's ExfoliKate, which is a fantastic face wash, and then I'll use Harper & Ari's exfoliating cubes.

I didn’t think it was possible to love a deodorant, let alone a natural one, until I started using Corpus Cedar Floral Natural Deodorant. Lastly, I'll use Jaboneria Marianella Body Oil, which smells so refreshing and adds a nice glow to start the day. After this routine, I’m one step closer to starting my day.

8:15 A.M.

Since becoming a mother 16 months ago, I’ve cooked approximately two meals. I don’t have time to cook, so I rely on getting my meals delivered from Sakara Life. They are delicious and healthy, and most importantly, I don’t have to worry about cooking.

I also start every day with Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea. This is the most magical tea I’ve ever tasted, and I'll drink about two to three cups a day—I cannot live without it.

8:30 A.M.

By now, I’m fully up and running and ready to spend the day on Zoom calls since my company is fully remote and we have team members across the world. With a busy workday ahead, I'm grateful for my morning routine, as it’s often the only time I’ll have for myself all day.

Up next: This Minimalist-Beauty-Brand Founder Shares Her Hour-Long Morning Routine