Up and at ‘em—at least that’s how data scientist and mom of two Emily Oster takes on each day. The Brown University economics professor, bestselling author and founder of ParentData, whose insights calm the nerves of anxious parents everywhere, is clear: Her morning routine is aided by the fact that her children, ages 11 and 15, no longer need her help.
She still checks in with them—but that’s in between her daily effort to prioritize her own must-dos. She also relies on EveryPlate and recently partnered with them to call attention to the often overlooked invisible labor of dinnertime. (The pre-made meal kit delivery service reduces mealtime conflict by 94 percent, according to a recent survey.)
Here, the 9 things the internet’s favorite data-expert does by 9 a.m. to kick her entire day kick off on the right foot.
5:45: Wake Up
“I’m a morning person! My Whoop vibrates to wake me up, which my husband loves so he can sleep more.”
6: Food, Email and Stretching
“From 5:45 to 6:30, I drink my coffee, try to hydrate and eat something (usually peanut butter and jelly on toast). I check my email to make sure nothing urgent happened overnight, and while I do that, I pretend to stretch and do various exercises that are supposed to help me not get injured.”
6:15: Check the Dinner Board to Make Sure We Have Everything We Need
“Good news: it's an EveryPlate night so definitely yes.”
6:25: Run
“I run at least 6 days a week. It’s my favorite hour–my phone is off, I get to just be in my head. I lay out my running clothes the night before. Partly so I’m not banging around in the bedroom looking for them in the dark, and partly because it’s too early in the morning to think about what to wear.”
7:30: Airing Out the Dogs
“When I get back from my run, I put my shoes in front of a fan in the basement. I sweat a lot, and I do not like to run the next day in damp shoes. My husband set up a complicated fan-rack combination that keeps them dry.”
7:55: Check in With the Kids
“They’re old—11 and 15—and they do not need me in the morning. The fact that I have the morning to myself is the greatest self-care gift I’ve gotten from having big kids.”
8:15: Get Dressed and Go Bare-Faced
“I wash my face with Cetaphil, and then use Cetaphil moisturizer with SPF. And…that’s it. Unless I’m on TV, I do not wear makeup.”
8:45: Second Breakfast
“A large smoothie (yogurt, protein powder, fruit, honey) and more toast with butter.”
8:59: Complete the Long Commute to Home Office
“Plus, more coffee.”
