When you have the opportunity to ask some of the most interesting people in the world about their lives, sometimes the most fascinating answers come from the simplest questions. The Thrive Questionnaire is an ongoing series that gives an intimate look inside the lives of some of the world’s most successful people.

Thrive Global: What’s the first thing you do when you get out of bed?
Chelsea Handler: Get up and let the dogs out. First, out of my room. Then, downstairs and out the door.

TG: What gives you energy?
CH: 5-hour Energy drinks and exercise. I don’t like coffee.

TG: What’s your secret life hack?
CH: Read for a minimum of 20 minutes every morning before I get in the shower.

TG: Name a book that changed your life.
CH: Most recently, “Indian Summer.” I traveled to India for Season 2 of Chelsea and have devoured everything India since.

TG: Tell us about your relationship with your phone. Does it sleep with you?
CH: My phone stays on my nightstand and also serves as my alarm clock. What I no longer do (thanks to Arianna) is look at my phone right before I go to bed or during the night when I wake up.

TG: How do you deal with email?
CH: I try never to have any un-open emails in my account. I try to answer every email.

TG: You unexpectedly find 15 minutes in your day, what do you do with it?
CH: Read news and/or Donald Trump’s tweets if I feel like I deserve a treat.

TG: When was the last time you felt burned out and why?
CH: Today. I’ve been shooting for the past 4 months for the new season of my show, and the show hasn’t even started yet.

TG: When was the last time you felt you failed and how did you overcome it?
CH: I’m not sure the last time I had a big failure, but I like to keep a close eye on myself and if I feel like I’m not centered or I’m not reading, exercising, and sleeping the right amount, I make adjustments.

TG: Share a quote that you love and that gives you strength or peace?
CH: “I am one, / But I am still one. / I cannot do everything / But I can still do something; / And because I cannot do everything, / I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” Edward Everett Hale.


Chelsea Handler is a talk show host, best-selling author, producer and comedian. The second season of her Netflix talk show, “Chelsea,” is streaming now.

Originally published at medium.com