In a world of filters, it can be easy to look at someone else’s life on social media through rose-colored glasses. But we all know, the reality is anything but rosy.
If you just looked at Simone Boyce’s life through your screen, you’d be forgiven for thinking she has it all, but as the NBC News Now correspondent and new mom attests, nothing about her life or career path has been conventional.
Although born in Los Angeles, Boyce grew up in Miami and also lived in Memphis for a short time before studying journalism at the University of Florida. After college, she moved back to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming an entertainment reporter. That career would take her from LA to New York where she continued interviewing actors on the red carpet (and she also got to throw in some Broadway as well). But, in 2017, Boyce made the decision to pivot to hard news and never looked back. “Eventually, my dream began to evolve and I realized I wanted to cover something more substantial,” she tells us.
This year, she had to pivot again when COVID-enforced lockdowns prevented her from returning to the studio post-maternity leave. Today, Boyce is the cameraman, glam team, and reporter when she goes live for the network from her living room, and this time she also has baby Logan along for the ride. It’s safe to say, a typical day-in-the-life for Boyce looks a little different now. So, you can imagine our delight when she found time on her busy schedule to invite us behind the scenes at her LA home for a chat about what life looks like now, her morning routine, the new rituals she’s incorporating to stay sane, and her tip for leading a more present, mindful, and joyful life.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day starts at around 5 or 6 AM when I breastfeed my son Logan. If I’m lucky he lets me sneak in a tiny bit more sleep. But by 8 AM, I’m on our morning call with my NBC News Now team to hear what’s in our show rundown for the day. A few hours later, my glam team gets me ready for my living room live shot. The rest of my day is spent reviewing scripts, writing scripts, researching, and pitching future projects. Between work and feeding Logan, it’s a blur. Oh, and by the way, you’re looking at the glam team.
What time is your wake-up call?
Whenever my 7-month-old son decides. I usually try to be in bed between 10:30 to 11 PM.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Breastfeed and scroll.
Describe your morning beauty routine.
I am so low key on my beauty routine it’s actually embarrassing. I’m lucky if I get deodorant on. I’ve struggled with adult acne for years, and I’ve learned that less is more. A salicylic acid toner and a gentle cleanser have become my standby acne-fighting products.
What do you eat for breakfast?
A shot of espresso and the most heavenly combo of peanut butter, raw honey, and rolled oats. I literally just stir it up and eat it off a spoon. It’s certainly calorie-dense, but it helps sustain me if I don’t have time to eat proper meals throughout the day.
What are your morning media rituals?
Well, I work for one of the largest media outlets in the world so I’m lucky enough to have access to tons of excellent reporting just by thumbing through my email. I’ll often listen to podcasts from NPR or The New York Times, and I use the Flipboard app to make sure I’m getting news from a variety of different political perspectives.
What are your favorite books?
I think one of the most insightful and poignant authors of our time is Jonathan Haidt. His book The Coddling of the American Mind was such an eye-opener for me. He’s a moral psychologist who’s conducted fascinating research on political polarization and the technology that is driving us apart. That’s the stuff I nerd out about. I’m more of a non-fiction reader. I wish I could get into fiction. It seems fun.
What’s your favorite getting-ready soundtrack?
These days I’m really into artists like Jungle, Kaytranada, Christine and the Queens, and Khruangbin. Robyn always has plenty of classic getting-ready songs though.
Do you work out in the morning? if so, what do you do, and for how long?
Yes, I do. I worked with a personal trainer for the first time in my life after giving birth and it was the best decision ever. Unfortunately, after heading back to work I just don’t have as much bandwidth for workouts as I did on maternity leave. I try to get in at least 45 minutes, four days a week. I prioritize lifting—not a fan of cardio.
I never leave the house without _____________.
Snacks! I’m a hardcore snacker. I need a protein bar or an apple in my bag for these long LA drives. Not ashamed of eating my son’s teething crackers either.
Healthiest morning habit:
Snuggling my baby boy.
Worst morning habit:
The IG scroll.
Daily uniform:
Professional blouse/blazer on top, bike shorts, or sweatpants on the bottom. Anything below the waist is off-camera and doesn’t count.
If you had one extra hour every morning, how would you use it?
Prayer and quiet time. I’ve really been failing to prioritize my spiritual life since going back to work.
What are one or two things you do every day to live a more present/mindful/joyful life?
This is a really confronting question. You’ve inspired me to be more intentional about this! I always make time to cuddle with my son no matter how crazy work gets. I try to step outside at least once and be grateful for the beauty that surrounds me. Our days are so incredibly draining right now so I’m learning to give myself grace when it comes to having a drink at night. I used to be really uptight about that and limit alcohol to the weekends but It’s a freaking pandemic. If I need a glass of wine at the end of the day I’m like, have your wine girl. That little act of indulgence brings me joy.
To read more interviews in our Stylemakers series, visit camillestyles.com/stylemakers
