The hydration hack that helps Rachel Zoe power through non-stop mornings

Welcome to My Morning Routine, where Rachel Zoe and other good-life gurus share their personal (frequently surprising, often healthy) morning rituals—to help you make your a.m.’s more awesome. Bonus: you can watch our full Facebook Live with Rachel Zoe here.

Rachel Zoe
CEO and fashion designer for Rachel Zoe Collection, editor of The Zoe Report, Lysol brand ambassador

Every day, my kids unquestionablywake me up between 5:45 and 6:15 a.m., so the first thing I do in the morning is head downstairs to make breakfast for them. I make all sorts of different things for them to eat in the morning, but they are all healthy versions of classic favorites, like eight-grain pancakes or waffles, and Greek yogurt with fruit and granola. My kids love fruit—they eat a ton of it.

At the same time, I pack lunches, so those are ready to go. After breakfast, I start chasing the kids with clothes to get them dressed. Then, my husband takes the boys to school and I spend 15 minutes getting myself ready, starting with a quick five-minute makeup routine. The key to getting dressed quickly in the morning ishaving your go-to’s front and center. It’s knowing what’s in your closet that you know makes you look and feel good.

Every morning, before anything else, I drink a massive bottle of water. I don’t drink coffee in the morning, but I do love very strong black tea, like English breakfast tea. It has to be really strong. Besides that, I’m not a huge breakfast person. I prefer to eat around 11 or 12, so it’s kind of like brunch—my afternoons are so busy that this is what I’ve found works best for me. But my biggest meal of the day is dinner, which I always enjoy with my husband as an end-of-day ritual.

Any working mom will tell you that balancing everything is really difficult. It’s not easy—it’s never easy. When I feel stressed,I think of my mantra: breathe.I try to be present wherever I am. When I’m at work, I’m at work. And when I’m with my children, I’m with my children. And my husband is in both places, so he can just deal with me however I am. I’m not willing to sacrifice my career or my kids, which leaves very little time for just me, but I’m okay with it because I had plenty of time without children. At the end of the day, my family is what gives me joy. They’re what keeps me going.

If you’re a kickass career woman like Zoe—or are aspiring to be—these tips could come in handy. Just be sure to give yourself a break when not everything runs perfectly. It happens!