Former Today show co-host Hoda Kotb is embracing life in the suburbs after moving from Manhattan to Bronxville, where she’s trading early-morning TV obligations for a slower, family-centric routine. The 60-year-old former anchor, who said in September 2024 that she would step away from the morning show to spend more time with her kids, opened up about her new mornings in a wide-ranging interview about her life in a $2.9 million upstate-style home.
Kotb says she now manages to squeeze in an extra hour of sleep, sleeping until about 4:30 a.m. instead of the 3:30 a.m. wake-up she once kept for many years. “It’s an hour of extra sleep. It’s so crazy to have that,” she told her interviewers. She’s also embraced a morning routine that she calls sacred, starting with a shower and a 30-minute meditation to set the tone for the day. She keeps a notepad nearby so thoughts that surface after settling her mind can be captured as they come.
Her wellness routine includes a longer, more structured workout. Kotb says she’s been focusing on weights, dumbbells, and sled work at Transform Fitness for about an hour each morning, a shift from her previous on-air life that now accommodates time with her children Haley, 8, and Hope, 6. Since leaving the Today program and moving away from New York City, she’s enjoying activities she says she never had time for before, like bike rides with her kids and tennis, and simply letting daily life unfold with fewer time-pressured schedules.
In the broader conversation, Kotb reflected on the moment she felt truly free on television. She recalled that the first time she felt in flow was when she co-hosted the fourth hour of Today with Kathie Lee Gifford, noting that Gifford gave her the green light to be herself on air.
Kotb’s relocation to the suburbs coincides with her expanding family life. She and her daughters welcomed a new puppy, Waffles, to their Bronxville home in an Instagram post that showcased the joy of settling into a more relaxed daily rhythm. The family’s four-bedroom, five-bathroom center-hall Colonial became a central piece of their new life, following Kotb’s decision to move in early 2024 to provide Haley and Hope with what she described as a more normal routine.
The move has also shaped Kotb’s mindset about parenting. During a May appearance on Today, she spoke about wanting to spend more time with her children, especially as Hope navigates Type 1 diabetes. “As anyone with a child who has Type 1 diabetes, you’re constantly watching, constantly monitoring,” she explained. Moving closer to their routines and supports allows her to be present for morning and evening checks and to focus on their health without the constant worries she felt while she was traveling for work.
Her decision to relocate came with the understanding that a more grounded life would help the family. Kotb has also kept up her professional passions, launching a wellness brand named Joy 101, which aims to help people cultivate more grounded and calming lifestyles—an extension of the balanced life she’s now prioritizing at home.
Even as Kotb adjusts to this new pace, she and the children’s father, Joel Schiffman, remain part of each other’s lives in a shared commitment to their daughters. Schiffman, who is also moving between their Bronxville home and his own routines, recently spent time with the family for Father’s Day, posting photos and cherishing moments with the kids. The public posts highlighted their ongoing commitment to co-parenting and supporting Haley and Hope as Kotb builds a quieter, more family-forward life.
With the move, Kotb has embraced a simpler rhythm: a day that starts after the alarm, a quiet morning routine, workouts, bike rides, tennis, and time to hear the stories her children share in the car and around the house. Her path reflects a growing trend among high-profile figures who choose to prioritize family life, health, and personal wellness over the relentless pace of national television.
Editor’s notes for context:
– The shift from a high-profile NYC workflow to a suburban family routine illustrates a broader trend of public figures prioritizing stability, health, and meaningful time with children.
– Kotb’s Type 1 diabetes awareness for Hope and the need for a predictable schedule likely influenced the move and the new daily rhythm.
– The new home and neighborhood (Bronxville) offer a balance of proximity to the city with a more relaxed, family-oriented environment.
– Her entrepreneurial venture with Joy 101 complements the lifestyle shift, reinforcing a holistic approach to wellness beyond television.
Summary:
Hoda Kotb has embraced suburban life in Bronxville, prioritizing sleep, a structured morning routine with meditation and workouts, and rich time with her daughters. The move, motivated in part by hopes for a more normal daily rhythm and Hope’s health needs, comes with new family milestones, including a puppy and continued involvement from Joel Schiffman in a co-parenting role. Kotb’s experience reflects a broader move toward balancing career, wellness, and family.
Positive takeaway:
This life shift highlights resilience and a proactive commitment to family health and well-being, offering a hopeful blueprint for balancing demanding careers with nurturing home lives.