Why Mornings Are Mandy Moore's Favorite Time Of The Day

Do you spring out of bed, ready to start your day, or hit snooze over and over again? That Morning Person is HuffPost’s attempt to make sense of mornings by peering into the routines of others.

(Photo: Isabella Carapella/HuffPost)
(Photo: Isabella Carapella/HuffPost)

Mandy Moore is a self-proclaimed early bird.

The “This Is Us” actress told HuffPost that she considers her morning routine ― which includes a workout, breakfast and plenty of time for her pets ― an integral part of her self-care plan.

But don’t expect her to try to tackle all of these things at once.

“I try not to look at each day in a macro sense,” Moore said, adding that a busy schedule makes it easier to get overwhelmed and end up trying to rush through tasks. “I try to put one foot in front of the other and focus on one goal instead of the whole, big picture.”

Of course, not everyone is as enthusiastic about mornings as Moore. So we asked her to share some morning habits that she feels are worth adopting. Check out her morning routine below, including her favorite part about waking up early.

(Photo: NBC via Getty Images)
(Photo: NBC via Getty Images)

What time do you like to wake up in the morning?

It kind of varies. My natural inclination is to wake up around 6 a.m. or 6:30 a.m.

If I’m not working, I like to get up and exercise early. I like to be out the door by 6:30 a.m. so I can exercise around 7 a.m., so I will wake up around 5:30 a.m.

Snooze button: Hit it or quit it?

I don’t have an alarm! My body is so conditioned to waking up on the earlier side. I’ve always been more of a morning person than a night owl.

What’s your go-to breakfast?

I usually don’t eat something before I work out, because otherwise I feel a little queasy. But right after I finish working out, I like coming home and having a protein shake or smoothie. Just something to give me a little fuel or energy.

In general, I’m a big breakfast proponent. I love scrambled eggs and turkey bacon ― and all the fixings.

Coffee or tea?

I literally get excited to go to sleep so I can wake up and make coffee. I love coffee. It’s the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning.

How has your morning routine changed since you started working on “This Is Us”?

I have to wake up earlier ― sometimes way earlier than I would want. I’ve had a couple of those 4 a.m. call times, which to me feels like the middle of the night, even as an early bird.

Do you like this new schedule better or worse than the one you had previously?

I think I have a new consistency in getting up early and feeling like I really did something with my day. It’s a consistency I didn’t really have before getting this job. I’ve never worked on a television show before. Even when you do a film, it’s two or three months, max, and you get used to that schedule. But this is a seven-plus-month commitment that’s nonstop getting up and going. I love that and really crave that now.

Fill in the blank: My perfect morning consists of ________.

Plenty of snuggle time with my pets. That’s my most favorite thing in the morning. If I can sleep in and have them all on the bed with me, that’s the best.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Try the "chocolate meditation" technique. This allows you to fully savor the sweet treat. Instructions here.
Write your worries down <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/26/stress-sleep-insomnia_n_2019418.html" target="_blank">in a journal</a>.
Write your worries down in a journal.
Peel an orange. Studies show <a href="http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/emotional-health/scent-citrus-shown-reduce-stress#ixzz2NeCzO1Uz" target="_blank">the smell of citrus</a> can help reduce stress.
Peel an orange. Studies show the smell of citrus can help reduce stress.
Read a book for <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5070874/Reading-can-help-reduce-stress.html" target="_hplink">six minutes</a>.
Read a book for six minutes.
Eat an avocado. The monounsaturated fats and potassium in the superfood can <a href="http://www.marieclaire.com/health-fitness/advice/reduce-stress-foods" target="_hplink">lower blood pressure</a>.
Eat an avocado. The monounsaturated fats and potassium in the superfood can lower blood pressure.
Take a walk in <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424053111904199404576538260326965724?mod=djemLifeStyle_h&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424053111904199404576538260326965724.html%3Fmod%3DdjemLifeStyle_h" target="_hplink">green space</a>.
Hang out with <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/28/best-friend-stress-levels_n_981080.html" target="_hplink">your BFF</a>.
Hang out with your BFF.
Spend a few minutes<a href="http://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131734718/just-breathe-body-has-a-built-in-stress-reliever" target="_hplink"> focusing on your breath</a>.
Spend a few minutes focusing on your breath.
Take a <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/031429_power_naps_energy.html" target="_hplink">power nap</a>.
Take a power nap.
Bring your dog to work. Research suggests having Fido in the office can <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/03/30/149684409/take-your-dog-to-the-office-and-stress-less" target="_hplink">lower stress levels throughout the day</a>.
Listen to <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15327344" target="_hplink">Mozart</a>.
Listen to Mozart.
Try some aromatherapy. One 2009 study found it's an <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19571632" target="_hplink">effective stress-relief technique</a>, especially for high school students.
Try some aromatherapy. One 2009 study found it's an effective stress-relief technique, especially for high school students.
Let out a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21804338" target="_hplink">laugh</a>.
Let out a laugh.
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Get a massage.
Give someone a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15740822" target="_hplink">big hug</a>.
Give someone a big hug.
Belt it out at <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/creative-outlets-fun_n_5537624.html" target="_hplink">karaoke</a>...
Belt it out at karaoke...
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...Or sing in your church choir.
Do a small <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/creative-outlets-fun_n_5537624.html" target="_hplink">project or craft</a>.
Do a small project or craft.
Take up knitting. Research shows the activity <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/creative-outlets-fun_n_5537624.html" target="_hplink">puts your brain in a state of flow</a> similar to the one achieved through meditation.
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Kiss a loved one.
Call <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/05/12/stress.mother.voice.call/" target="_hplink">your mom</a>.
Call your mom.
Do a <a href="http://www.amsa.org/healingthehealer/musclerelaxation.cfm" target="_hplink">progressive muscle relaxation</a> exercise.
Take an <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/04/taking-e-mail-vacations-can-reduce-stress-study-says/" target="_hplink">email vacation</a>. (Bonus: It also makes you more productive.)
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Forgive someone.
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Think about something you're grateful for.
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Exercise. Research shows it helps boost the body's ability to handle stress.
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Be mindful of how you deal with frustration during an argument.
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Drink black tea.
Power down that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/05/relieve-stress-everyday_n_5627837.html" target="_hplink">smartphone</a> for a few minutes.
Power down that smartphone for a few minutes.
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Drink some <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200304/vitamin-c-stress-buster" target="_hplink">orange juice</a>.
Drink some orange juice.
Chew <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19268676" target="_hplink">gum</a>.
Chew gum.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.