Zooey Deschanel‘s most popular projects run the gamut from her most recent role in the 2024 film adaptation of Harold and The Purple Crayon, years as the star of the sitcom New Girls (which won her a few Primetime Emmy nods, btw), and—maybe it’s the holiday spirit—but our favorite and most iconic will always be Deschanel as Jovie in Elf. We caught up with the actor to unpack her mornings, which she says is rooted in consistency to make the most of her busy schedule. 

She starts most days at 5 a.m.

“I have little kids, and I like getting up and getting some stuff done before they wake up. So, I usually wake up early—like four or five in the morning. I love to try to get in some me time before taking the kids to school, so in that window, I’d definitely have some coffee, catch up on the news, send a few emails, or write in my journal, which I do daily—that type of thing. I always have different creative projects I am working on, like music and sewing, so I am always working early in the morning to get stuff done.”

Then, she exercises with a trainer

“I work out with a trainer a few times a week, and on days when I am not with my trainer, I get at least 10,000 steps in a day to stay active. I use a Garmin watch ($300) to track my steps. I make those morning times pretty consistent because so many different things happen in the day, so I like having a consistent morning routine.”

Then she gets dressed

“Once the kids are off to school and I’ve worked out and done my personal things, it’s time to get dressed. When it comes to personal style, I really like the fall and winter seasons. I love being cozy in sleeves and sweaters and in long pants, long sleeves, and tights. Summer is tough for me because I don’t love being in beachwear, so this is definitely my time of year. I have everyday items that are my go-to, but if I’m going out or doing something special I’ll try something different.

I love Vera Bradley for this because there’s very casual stuff that’s great for traveling or daily use, but there are also a lot of beautiful evening bags now that work great for a more elevated look, like the Taber Dumpling Bag ($155) which is a really gorgeous option for holiday. I’ve found it really easy to keep all of my essentials in the Large Pouch ($115) and then put the pouch in my bags as I change them out—just an easy way to stay organized.”

Editor’s note: Deschanel has a current partnership with Vera Bradley.

“Holiday mornings look much slower and lazier for us. We’re probably making pancakes or waffles and watching a movie. My kids love watching movies, and my son can rewatch the same movie repeatedly. He’s really into Jaws, so we’ve been watching that a lot.”