Between hosting TODAY with Jenna & Friends during the fourth hour of NBC’s TODAY show, writing bestselling children’s books, podcasting, shepherding her book club, Read With Jenna, and raising her family, it’s safe to say Jenna Bush Hager, 43, has a knack for multitasking.
In fact, she’s also preparing to launch a new publishing venture with Random House Publishing Group soon—called Thousand Voices x RHPG—which will highlight emerging talent in an array of genres from historical fiction to romantasy, literary fiction and more.
Jenna always embraces her busy schedule with a smile, but she also emphasizes the importance of recharging with family during the upcoming summer months. “As busy as we are, life slows down a little in the summer,” says Jenna, author of I Loved You First. “And it’s so nice to spend this calmer, quality time with family—the season is all about being together.”
Jenna graces the cover of our Memorial Day issue of FIRST for Women (get your copy here!)—and she reveals tips on savoring small joys, what she learned from Hoda Kotb and how the advice her mom, Laura Bush, shared at a young age changed her life. Plus, find out what books she’s tossing into her beach bag this summer! Read on for a sneak peek of our interview.
First for Women: As we head into summer, what are some things you are looking forward to most?
Jenna Bush Hager: We love the little joy of being outside more in the summer. I remember on Sundays before I had to go back to work, I would take the kids to the park or we would stay outside and I would paint with them, because it’s just about being together outside and enjoying nature.
My daughters go to camp—to the same camp I went to and the same camp my dad went to in Texas—so they’re away for three weeks. My youngest and my middle daughter just went for the first time last year and they had the very best time. And so they’re already talking about seeing their friends again. My parents are closer to us during the summer, too. They’re in Maine and so we try to get up there as often as we can to hang with them, too.
FFW: Switching gears a little here…great advice can work wonders! What advice would you give your younger self? Or what is the best advice you ever received?
JBH: Good advice does work wonders! I think my mom’s advice to us as teenagers was so helpful. First of all, my mom’s natural state is calm, which is such a wonderful thing because when you’re a teen, your natural state is a little chaotic. And so, when we would come to her, she would always say things like, “Hey, I promise you you’re going to have big worries in your life and this is not one of ’em. Don’t over-worry.”
I don’t know how she did this because she wasn’t dismissive and never made us feel like what we were worried about was dumb. Basically, what she was saying was do not sweat the small stuff and it’s such classic yet great advice, but you have to practice it daily. It puts everything into perspective and I try to emulate this in my daily life. I’ve also learned so much from Hoda, who always chooses joy, optimism and kindness, even when things are hard.
FFW: You get up so early for the TODAY show and you’re so productive! Do you have a go-to routine or mindset you tap into when you need motivation?
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JBH: It sounds obvious, but I just get out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off. I never press snooze! It’s also a weird hack in that we can’t be late to the show. Plus, it’s at 4:50 AM and my husband’s asleep next to me, so I treat him the way I’d want to be treated. Like, if my alarm continues to go off, it’s rude. So I get up and I go, and the truth is, once I’m up, I’m functional. It’s just about getting out of bed. Then I go straight to the gym at 30 Rock. I leave my workout clothes out the night before. The truth is I have to get in so early to beat traffic and do all the things, but it’s such a feel-good way to start the day.
FFW: Do you have any quick tips on boosting confidence?
JBH: We’re never going to hear anybody’s voice as loudly as our own. We’ve all had moments where we say cruel things to ourselves about the way we look or about the way we feel about an outfit or whatever it is. It’s key to change the way we speak to ourselves. It’s also key to focus more on the way we feel than the way we look. Say to yourself, hey, this food doesn’t make me feel great or I feel better if I sleep more, I feel better if I move and I exercise. Do those things not because you’re worried about the way you look, but you’re thinking about the way you feel. It’s not easy, but try to gently reframe it and change the negative self-talk into something kinder—this will change the way you feel and that’s what’s most important.
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FFW: What can you tell us about your new publishing imprint, Thousand Voices x RHPG? Both FIRST editors and readers of the magazine are huge book lovers, so we’re thrilled about this!
JBH: I’m so excited. Conform is the first book coming out on the Thousand Voices imprint. It’s by a debut novelist named Ariel Sullivan. We now have eight projects and all of them but one are debut writers! Our mission is to find emerging talent and bring these great books to the world.
FFW: Congratulations on your latest children’s book—it’s the fourth one written with your sister Barbara! It’s such a beautiful message of love and also nature. What do you hope readers and their little ones take away from I Loved You First?
JBH: Thank you! Barbara and I have always loved the type of books that are for kids, but are also an ode to parenthood and how much we love our kids because every parent wants similar things for their children. And being a parent is this beautiful sort of heart-opening, incredible experience. And so our new book—yes, it’s for kids, but it’s really a meditation on parenthood and how lucky we are to see the world through our kids’ eyes.
For more information on Jenna’s first-ever “Read With Jenna Book Festival” in Nashville next month, click here to register!
