‘Entertainment Tonight’ Host Nancy O’Dell Shares Tips for Starting the Day Stress-Free

In First for Women’s cover story, Nancy O’Dell shares the morning routine that helps her start the day with less stress.

As O’Dell gets into the swing of filming the 38th season of Entertainment Tonight, which premiered September 10 (check local listings), she tells First that she’s been making a point to find extra time in her day. “I’m becoming more and more of a morning person, so I can get things done before my daughter gets up,” says the mom of 11-year-old Ashby.

“I get up and get my coffee, then I’ll do the elliptical, let the dogs out, have some breakfast, and answer a bunch of emails,” O’Dell tells First of her morning routine. “That way I’m free to focus on her and take her to school.”

That extra hour or two is sure to come in handy given just how many things O’Dell has to tackle on any given day. “Sometimes I’ll have 72 things on my to-do list,” she laughs. “When something stressful happens, I try to put it into perspective with everything else going on in the world,” she tells First. “It makes it easier to tell myself, ‘Okay, this problem is probably not as big as it feels. It will get done.’ And that always makes me feel better.”

The busy mom also has a routine with her daughter Ashby to unwind at the end of a long day: “My daughter and I watch old TV reruns,” O’Dell shares with First. “We are currently on the Gilligan’s Island series. Before this, we watched The Brady Bunch, and before that, it was Mork & Mindy. I feel like I’m reliving my childhood through my daughter, because these are all the shows I’d watch when I was young. It’s so great to see that they hold up to time.”

To read all of Nancy’s savvy stress solutions, pick up the new issue of First For Women, on stands now!

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