I usually wake up naturally around 5.30am. I go back to sleep, then wake again properly with my alarm at 6.30. It’s not perfect, but that early start gives me a chance — if I’m lucky — to fit in some exercise. Lately, that’s been harder with how hectic life is, but ideally I’ll head out for a run or hit the gym before the day gets away from me.
Then I sit in the kitchen with a tea and watch the highlights of the Yankees baseball game. It might sound random, but I’m obsessed with American sports, and I do it every morning. It’s a moment of calm before the whirlwind begins.
I’m usually out of the house by 7.30 or 8am for meetings at our office. That’s the Sweet Factory, home to Candy Kittens (our sweet brand), Jam Pot (our media company) and another project, Tuckshop, where we work with content creators to build their businesses. I bounce between all three depending on the day.
Most days I’ll also record a podcast — either Nearly Parents or Great Company, sometimes both. We’re also filming a new series for Disney+, which is genuinely exciting. If it’s Monday to Wednesday, I’ll head straight from filming to my BBC Radio 1 show, Going Home. After that, I usually head back to the office for a final round of meetings. Then it’s dinner with my wife or a late-night tennis match with a mate. That’s my rhythm.
I don’t eat breakfast first thing. Once I’m settled, I’ll make a banana and peanut butter smoothie — honestly, it’s a gift from the gods. I drink a lot of tea throughout the day, too. At lunch, I’ll grab something quick: a sandwich, a salad, or I’ll head to Salad Project. Dinner is when I go big — chicken, pasta, rice, meat. That’s my time to indulge, always with a glass of sparkling water. Always.
My diet isn’t regimented — far from it. It’s pretty fluid. I’m just trying to cut down on sweets at the moment, which is tough since I’m surrounded by them daily. But hydration is my real focus. I take electrolytes every morning and drink water all the time. It’s underrated but essential.
I try to reduce decision-making in the mornings. I wear the same clothes, like a school uniform. It makes life easier
I’ve dabbled with health tech. I wore a Whoop [fitness tracker] and a smartwatch for a while but found it distracting. I was too focused on the data and not enough on the living.
Now, I try to reduce decision-making in the mornings: same clothes, simple habits. Like a school uniform, it just makes life easier.
When I’m stressed, I don’t meditate, but I move. Exercise helps. I also take homeopathic medicine — something called Pic Ac 30 — which my sister, who’s a homeopath, introduced me to. It changed my life. I used to struggle with anxiety in my twenties, and this was the thing that truly helped.
My relationship with my phone is pretty average. I’m on it a lot, but mostly to talk. I ride round London on my Vespa with Bluetooth in my helmet and just chat — friends, business partners, my team. I try to switch off about 8pm using the Opal app, but override it most nights.
I’ve been reading more this year. Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara was mind-blowing. It taught me that people don’t remember what you do, but how you make them feel. That’s become a life mantra for me.
I love podcasts. I’m a huge Louis Theroux fan. Great Company is one of mine I’m really proud of — as well as Write Me Dirty.
Before bed — around 10.30 or 11pm — I always say my thanks. It is a kind of affirmation. I do the same thing each morning when I wake. It helps.
What you think is important probably isn’t. What really matters is connection — with family, with friends. Get that right and everything else follows.
Jamie Laing, co-founder of Candy Kittens works closely with Grocery Aid which provide support for people across the grocery sector www.groceryaid.org.uk
