Daily Routines: Bryce Dallas Howard
Bryce Dallas Howard, a pisces and creative multi-hyphenate, takes us through her daily routine of six non-negotiables that make all the difference in her life. Whether she wakes up at 4 am or 11 am, here’s how she gets through her day without greying a single red hair.
Routine #1: Rise and Shine!
Non-negotiable number one is getting at least eight hours of sleep — any less and I know I’m undermining the quality of my work for the day. For breakfast, it’s a simple cup of English breakfast tea with half and half and honey. I also adore sourdough gluten-free toast. As for toppings, butter and jam are my usual, but if I’m feeling sentimental for my UK life while I was filming Jurassic World: Dominion, I’ll do cream cheese and lemon curd instead!
“Fun” fact: I ate so many egg sandwiches in lockdown last year that now eating eggs makes me feel ill! Tragic.
Routine #2: Let’s Get Physical
A few years back, I read a book called Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John Ratey, and it confirmed what I myself have experienced as it relates to movement and mind health. Ratey writes, “Aerobic exercise physically remodels our brains for peak performance.” So at least four days a week (not on weekends), I’ll do an hour virtual workout with trainer Lacie Mackey and my husband. This sets my brain right for the day — plus, I get to have a little date time with my husband.
Routine #3: (in Rihanna’s voice) Work, Work, Work, Work, Work
Now onto business. I love my creative work. What it looks like depends on the day, the job, and the whim of the universe, but most days if I’m not filming, prepping for a shoot, or editing, I’ll check in with my team at Nine Muses Entertainment and have a working session for any immediate projects. Development and production meetings are when we get to brainstorm and problem-solve, and they’re often filled with great stories and memories, lots of laughs, and beautiful moments of tenderness and connection. It’s a part of my job I especially love.
Routine #4: Hiding Time
I’m an introvert at heart in an extrovert’s business, so another non-negotiable is “hiding time.” This is time dedicated to being alone — completely alone. I crave that lack of stimulation in order to recharge my internal battery. Some of my favorite solo activities are painting my nails, drawing in my coloring book, or reading magazines. I’ll also take the time to eat something nourishing and delicious. What’s key is that this time be screen-free, people-free, and interruption-free. Sometimes I get two minutes and sometimes two hours, but it’s a necessary part of my routine.
Routine #5: Family Time
After finishing up loose ends for work — and more importantly, even if I don’t — nighttime is family time. When I’m away from home, we’ll FaceTime during a meal and catch up on the day. When I’m at home, we’ll hang out and play games. The games, shows, and topics of conversation may shift, but the time together remains a constant. Recently, our game nights have rotated between Sorry!, Monopoly, and Jenga; and for TV nights, we’ve been watching Star Trek: The Next Generation, Gravity Falls, and Amphibia. We have a lot of fun! Our kids are 14 and 9 years old, so it’s like having roommates now that they aren’t little kids anymore.
Routine #6: Goodnight Moon!
I treasure having time in bed to read, write, and chill out for about 30 minutes to an hour ahead of falling asleep. I’ll take this time to read Brain Pickings or my favorite blog, Cup of Jo. I try to stay off the internet during the day, so this is when I’ll check in on the world. I’ll also dream and scheme in my bullet journal and plan for the following day. Then it’s goodnight — always making sure to turn off phone notifications and set an alarm for no sooner than ideally 8 hours!
