I Run a CBD Startup—Here's My Secret to Quiet Mornings

by Sarah Yang

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.

Hilary McCain

We have our favorite CBD products at THE/THIRTY and for a variety of remedies, too—headaches, anxiety, unwinding, and more. But these products don't just end at balms and tinctures. There are also some CBD-infused beverages in the market now, such as Hilary McCain's beverage line, Sweet Reason, which has 10 milligrams of hemp CBD and is to be enjoyed as a relaxing, de-stressing drink.

With the CBD industry changing so rapidly and her startup growing, McCain has a busy schedule that includes a lot of travel. Since we're obsessed with morning routines and love to know how successful women start their days, we had to ask McCain about hers.

"I don't really have a morning routine. The only thing guaranteed about my morning is a cup of tea and reading the news. I'm usually up at 6:30 a.m. Sometimes I work out, but sometimes I just want to read for longer instead. And other times, I am up around 5:45 a.m. and on a flight to New York or wherever Sweet Reason takes me. One thing is for sure though—when I am in Toronto, I really cherish my mornings. For me, mornings are quiet time for myself, which is harder to come by once the craziness of the day running a startup begins! Here's what I did today…"

6:30 a.m.

Hilary McCain Bedroom

Photo:

Hilary McCain

My alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m., I hit snooze for five more minutes of half-sleep, and then get out of bed at 6:35 a.m. The first thing I do when I get up is drink a big glass of water or two. I don't look at my phone other than to turn off the alarm. My husband is already up and out walking our dog, Harry, because he is a saint.

6:45 a.m.

Workout TV

Photo:

Hilary McCain

I am really into the convenience and efficiency of at-home workouts these days. If I only have time for a short workout, I do a 30-minute Peloton ride (I'm obsessed—Matt Wilpers and Olivia Amato are my favorite instructors right now) or go for a run outside (my favorite way to start the day). If I have a bit longer, I'll do LEKFit. If I'm tired and don't feel like working out (let's be real, this happens two times per week), I read the news with a pot of tea, and it is BLISSFUL.

7:40 a.m.

Makeup products

Photo:

Hilary McCain

I take a quick shower and get ready in as little time as possible. Over the last few years, I've gradually started wearing less and less makeup and wanting a more minimal morning routine, but there are a few key products that have survived. I'm also a big believer in the work uniform, so I basically wear the same thing every day: jeans, T-shirt or sweater, boots. I usually leave the house with wet hair, even in the winter (oops).

Makeup

Photo:

Hilary McCain
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser for All Skin Types
Cetaphil
Gentle Skin Cleanser for All Skin Types
$12
Shop Now
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
SkinCeuticals
C E Ferulic
$166
Shop Now
Kopari Coconut Deodorant
Kopari
Coconut Deodorant
$14
Shop Now
EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40
EltaMD
UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40
$29
Shop Now
Olio e Osso Tinted Balms
Olio e Osso
Tinted Balms
$28
Shop Now
Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer SPF 25
Clé de Peau Beauté
Concealer SPF 25
$73
Shop Now

8 a.m.

Time to meditate. I love Sam Harris's Waking Up app. It's 10 minutes long and really makes a difference in my mood and ability to focus throughout the day.

8:10 a.m.

Gas Fireplace

Photo:

Hilary McCain

I make a pot of black tea every morning and read the news, either by our little gas fireplace or outside in the summer. I either read The Globe and Mail, The New York Times, or longer articles that people have sent me (my favorite). We started getting the physical newspaper again about a year ago. You can really slow down and finish articles when you read things in print. And it's one less activity involving a screen, which is great.

8:45 a.m.

I have a 30-minute walk to work every morning, and it's the best. I try to schedule calls while I'm walking, but if not, I call friends or family or listen to The Daily podcast.

9:15 a.m.

Hilary GEtting Ready

Photo:

Hilary McCain

I get to work around 9:15 a.m., make another pot of tea (but this time green tea), and immediately jump into my one thing for the day. Every day, I ask myself, "What's the one (most important) thing I need to do today?" Otherwise, my schedule ends up getting filled with meetings, and suddenly it's dark out.

Next up: This TV Exec Wants You to Start Every Morning Feeling Like a Goddess

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions. See our full health disclaimer here.

Related stories