The 'GMA' star, 56, whose new series 'That Thrifting Show' premieres March 19, shares her morning routine for People's My Good Morning series

NEED TO KNOW

• Good Morning America‘s Lara Spencer shares her morning routine for PEOPLE’s My Good Morning series
• The GMA co-host wakes up at 4:10 a.m. to be on-air at 7 a.m. but jokes that nearly every morning, her dogs conspire to make her late
• Spencer is co-hosting a new competition reality series, That Thrifting Show, premiering March 19 on Freeform and Hulu

Lara Spencer says she's "built" for her co-anchor job at Good Morning America, where she has to be on air by 7 a.m. "The alarm goes off at 4:10 a.m. and I don't hit snooze," says Spencer, 56. Another natural fit, she says is her role hosting her new competition reality series, That Thrifting Show, premiering on Freeform on Thursday, March 19 at 9 p.m. ET, and on Hulu starting March 20.

The show is something of a tribute to Spencer's mom, who died in February. “When we were little, she’d take me to thrift shops and flea markets, more out of necessity than a hobby,” Spencer says. “She used to say she had more kids than money. I was her youngest of six, and so she dragged me everywhere. She was a beautiful homemaker. She had great taste and a limited budget.” That Thrifting Show contestants are given $2,000 and two days to redesign a room using thrifted or up-cycled pieces. "That's how I lived," says Spencer, who shares her morning routine with PEOPLE for our My Good Morning series.

I love mornings. I am built for this job, because the early bird gets the worm is how I was raised. I truly believe that. The alarm goes off at 4:10 and I don't hit snooze. I put my phone on an alarm sound that I hate— something that I don't want to hear, so I'm sure to get it off as quick as possible. I would hate to wake up late. I do everything I can to ensure that doesn't happen.

I keep the phone alarm in the closet. It makes me get out of bed. I'm as quiet as a mouse and I turn my phone on dim so that I don't wake up my darling husband [Rick McVey]. Until one year ago, we had the same schedule and got up and rode into the city together and that was really great. He ran a company downtown. But he’s retired and enjoying that extra couple of hours of sleep in the morning, so I try to respect that.

My first thought is my kids. How are they? Where are they? I need to know that my kids [son Duff, 24, and daughter, Kate, 21] are okay. That's the very first thing for sure. I check my phone to see if they need anything or if they sent me a note before I went to bed. And then, lately, I think of my mom. She's very present in my brain. Next I quickly peek at my emails to see if there is any fire I need to put out at work before I start the day. What's changed in the show rundown? What will we be working on? That's all before I get out of bed.

My dogs, Riva and Betty, get up with me.  If I didn't have an alarm clock go off, I would not be worried because they are on autopilot. They know what time they get to go out. They want a Half Moon chicken treat before they come in. I have to show them the size of the treat. Usually for Betty, my little corgi, I can trick her and get her into the house and give her a small piece of the large biscuit. My dog, Riva, works me like a fine instrument. She knows I'm under time pressure. If I give half the treat, she won’t come in. She holds out knowing the clock is ticking and I need to be in the car to work. So I finally give in. This is why we’re now on diet dog food. It's become a big problem. She was terrible today. I actually had to apologize to my driver today. He said, "Riva again?" I was like, 'Yes!'" It's my own fault. I have allowed this to happen!

My morning drink is a hot water with lemon that I sip on the way to work. They say that having the hot lemon water is good for your system. It's a great way to refresh, get the system going. I don't have coffee until after that.

I put it in a Stanley. I did a really fun interview with Lainey Wilson and she sent me a gift bag with a cowboy hat and a big Stanley cup decorated in cool country colors. It's my favorite. I use it every day.

I used to have time to stretch in the morning, but the routine with the dogs and their treats has stripped me of an extra 10 minutes. In the afternoons, I try to do something active every day.

Our hair takes a beating at work. I try to be gentle with it and I'm not afraid to throw down for good products. I’m really into shampoo and conditioner by K18. They have a great anti-damage line.

I wear sweats into the office. It’s not about looking pretty. It's about being comfortable. I have a huge wardrobe closet at work. I love my Vuoris. They feel like a well-worn, loved T-shirt. I have three pairs: brown, blue, and black. You can dress them up or down. If I have to travel after the show, I can put them on with a black zip sweatshirt and look presentable. 

I always give my husband a kiss goodbye. My mom taught us that you never leave home without a quick kiss and and an "I love you.”

I’m stressing if I leave the house later than 4:45. I live in Connecticut and want to beat the traffic. The second I get in the car, I say good morning to the driver and ask him to turn on NY radio station 1010 Wins. They give the headlines. And I’m online looking at ABC News, reading our show rundown.

As soon as I get into the office, makeup and hair starts. I put on a vitamin C product — I'm using Goop Beauty Vita-C Brightening Eye Cream and Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid — and Josie Moran Pure Argan Milk moisturizer, usually in the car. I want to give my moisturizer time to soak in so my face is nourished, because then the layers begin. [GMA's] Tory Johnson is my supplier of all things beauty. I've found so many products through her that are fantastic.

On the way to work we stop for coffee.  Not a lot of coffee needed here — one only. I have my mom's energy. I've found my favorite deli and my favorite Starbucks that are open at 5 a.m. I go back and forth between treating myself to a Starbucks vanilla latte or a cup of coffee at the deli. 

I grab a banana and a high protein yogurt. I don't eat before the show generally. I put the yogurt in the fridge and usually eat on the way home. A lot of times we get fed on the show and that will dictate if I eat the banana and the yogurt because if we are having a dinner during the show, I will likely not need it. I'm not afraid to eat in the morning. It's just my routine. I'm on the move.

I love starting my day with these people at GMA and doing this job because it's extremely fulfilling. It's also mentally challenging, and I feel like I've got a true handle on what's happening in the world, my family. I get a jumpstart on the day, and it gives me the ability to get to bed early.

I really do wake up feeling grateful and happy. Hopefully that's what I bring to the table every day. My personality is happy and optimistic and sunny, but behind the curtain, I'm extremely prepared. That enables me to relax and bring viewers the optimism I start each day with.

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