Published Mar 17, 2026

Cindy Crawford, Who Lost Her Younger Brother To Leukemia, Reveals Her Favorite Morning Routine That Boosts Energy and Sets the Tone for a ‘Great Day’ At Age 60

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Aging Gracefully

Legendary supermodel Cindy Crawford, 60, has shared her energizing morning routine on social media, highlighting wellness habits from stretching and skincare to grounding and Pilates.
Her ritual, shared in a video featuring Emmy Meli’s “I Am Woman,” has inspired us here at SurvivorNet and her fans start our mornings feeling vitalized.
Healthy aging is about living fully, keeping your body and mind strong, and enjoying life. SurvivorNet recommends key habits: exercise, good nutrition, social connection, mental stimulation, regular check-ups, and quality sleep.
Remember, consistency is everything. Small daily steps, like Crawford takes, can boost well-being, slow aging, and make life richer. It’s never too late to start—aging is just another word for living, and the goal is to live healthier, happier, and more vibrant.

Legendary supermodel and actress Cindy Crawford, who lost her little brother to leukemia when he was just 3 years old and she was 10, is offering fans a peek into the habits that keep her feeling strong, centered, and energized.

Crawford, who turned 60 on February 20, took to Instagram this week to showcase her morning routine—set to the empowering song “I Am Woman” by singer Emmy Meli, offering wellness inspiration for anyone watching.

“I love my morning routine— sets me up to have a great day,” Crawford captioned her video post.

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Crawford begins her day at 6 a.m., turning on her light and taking five minutes to stretch, preparing her body for movement and focus.

She then moves to her bathroom to dry brush her skin—a technique known for promoting circulation and exfoliation—while listening to “The Bible Recap,” a daily 8-minute podcast.

Next, at 6:30 a.m., she performs a Gua sha facial massage, pairing it with a gentle skin-softening cleanser. This is a ritual intended to stimulate blood flow and create a more radiant complexion.

At 6:45 a.m., Crawford sits on a Bemer mat, designed to improve circulation and activate muscles, while applying red-light therapy to her face.

She then heads to the kitchen to sip roughly a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar before walking barefoot on her lawn at 7:05 a.m., practicing grounding, a technique that helps her connect with the Earth and stay present.

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By 7:15 a.m., Crawford relaxes in her outdoor jacuzzi, then returns to the grass at 7:30 a.m. to enjoy a few more moments in nature before slipping into her workout clothes at 7:40 a.m.

At 7:45 a.m., she brews her morning coffee, mixing in collagen powder and half-and-half.

Five minutes later, she pauses to catch up on emails in her office, before heading to her home gym at 8 a.m.

Her workout routine starts with 15 minutes of stretching, followed by exercises using a specialized machine to deepen her stretches.

At 8:30 a.m., she does a trampoline warm-up to get her body moving just before her Pilates coach arrives.

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Cindy Crawford’s Tragic Loss

Crawford’s younger brother Jeff was diagnosed with leukemia at age 2, and died at age 3. The loss led Crawford toward cancer advocacy work. She continuously teaches and inspires others to give back, including her husband and children.

“I believe that kids, a lot of times if they see their parents doing something, they either get inspired or they go, ‘Oh, that’s cool.’ And they find their own way [to get involved],” she expressed in an earlier interview with In Style, explaining that she encouraged husband, restaurateur Rande Gerber, to visit pediatric cancer patients for the first time.

“And I’ve taken my children with me since they were little,” she added. “What they decide to do with that now that they’re young adults, that will be up to them.”

Her daughter Kaia Gerber and son Presley Gerber both followed in their mom’s footsteps and are successful models.

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Crawford credits her mother with greatly influencing her charitable efforts, which became a way for her to work through the impact of her childhood experiences on the whole family. She recalls spending the entire day in tears at her grandparents’ home with her family when her brother passed away.

“That was the beginning of processing it, and going to my brother’s funeral, and then having to go back to school,” which was arduous for the Illinois native.

“That’s such a weird feeling to walk back into your classroom. No one knows what to say to you, even the teachers because as a society we are so uncomfortable talking about death and grief.”

Understanding Aging

Although Crawford, is only 60, it’s understandable that aging can feel like a mystery at times, and it’s great to see her taking the journey with an open mind and a positive outlook. After all, we’ve all heard phrases like “Age is just a number,” but what does that mean? And how does it impact our health and well-being?

From the day we are born, our bodies and minds start to change and grow. This continuous process is, fundamentally, what we call ‘aging.’ Life is a journey filled with countless changes, and aging is an integral part of that journey. Quite often, when we talk about aging, we focus on the physical changes, but it’s also about the evolution of our mental and emotional states.

SurvivorNet has provided an overview of aging to guide you through this universal process.

Some key points to remember about aging:

Aging is a natural biological process that affects everyone.
The experience of aging can vary greatly among individuals.
While aging comes with some inevitable changes, many aspects of aging are influenced by lifestyle choices and attitudes.
Aging isn’t something to fear or shy away from—it’s a phase of life that we all share.

Practicing Body Positivity and Self-Acceptance

If you struggle with self-perception and body image, you should try to look at yourself in a positive light despite how difficult it may be. By practicing body positivity, you can boost your emotional well-being.

Dr. Marianna Strongin, a New York-based licensed clinical psychologist, also has some helpful advice. She encourages people that spending time in front of the mirror can help with body image.

Although “research has found that when looking in the mirror, we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with,” which can cause “a negative self-view and lower self-esteem,” it’s important to look at the parts of your body that you love and the parts of your body that you don’t.

Eventually, Dr. Strongin says, doing so can help you create a more accepting relationship with yourself.

“Body image is both the mental picture that you have of your body and how you feel about your body when you look in a mirror,” she said. “As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body.”

It’s important to remember there is no one definition of beauty, and following a health crisis, patients must learn to be proud of who they are and how far they’ve come inside and out.

Healthy Aging Tips

Healthy aging isn’t just about accomplishing medical check-ups or managing illnesses. It’s also about maintaining a high quality of life as you age, keeping your body and mind as robust as possible, and living life to the fullest. SurvivorNet has put together some tips that can help you age healthily:

Physical Activity: Try to incorporate at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise into your daily routine. This could be walking, cycling, swimming—any physical activity you enjoy!

Nutrition: Eat a balanced diet heavy on fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Limiting processed foods, sugars and unhealthy fats can make a big difference in your overall health.

Social Engagement: Stay socially active. Whether it’s attending family gatherings, participating in group hobbies, volunteering, or just catching up with friends, maintaining social connections can significantly enhance your emotional health and well-being.

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Mental Stimulation: Engage in activities that stimulate your mind. This could include reading, doing puzzles, learning a new skill or language, or even playing memory-boosting games.

Regular Check-ups: Don’t forget about your regular medical, dental, and eye check-ups. Prevention is always better than cure!

Sleep: Good sleep is vital for your overall health. Practice good sleep hygiene – keep a regular sleep schedule, make your sleeping environment comfortable and quiet, and try to avoid screens before bed.

Remember, consistency is the key. Building these habits and making them part of your daily routine can potentially slow down the aging process and improve your overall well-being.

Even small steps can have a significant impact, so it’s never too late to start. After all, aging is just another word for living. And our aim should not be to just live longer, but to live healthier and happier.

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Coping With Body Image Through Health Changes

Appreciating your body and all that it has accomplished is a beautiful thing, but body positivity is easier said than done. And cancer survivors or women dealing with menopause may struggle more than others during or after their cancer journeys or body changes.

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Take Ann Caruso, for example. She had 12 surgeries to treat her breast cancer and told SurvivorNet about how all of the changes really impacted the way she saw her body.

“You’re not the same carefree person that you once were, and it was very hard for me to look at myself every day,” Caruso said. “It was like I was a totally different person and didn’t fit into any of my clothes for so long.”

But time is a powerful healer. Looking back on her breast cancer experience has helped her redefine femininity and body image.

“Femininity is a state of mind,” Caruso said. “And I think that’s something that we have to remind ourselves.”

Another breast cancer survivor, Jaclyn Kaczynski, had a similar experience after her diagnosis at 37.

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“My confidence was gone,” she told SurvivorNet. “My confidence was destroyed. I was always vain about my appearance and my weight, let alone losing a breast, or both.”

Some people find empowerment in going “flat” after losing their breasts to the disease, but Kaczynski found confidence in reconstruction. There’s no right or wrong answer for breast cancer survivors, but it’s important to consider all your options and go forward with whatever path is best for you.

“I just had my reconstructive surgery,” she said. “My favorite doctor was able to make it happen for me. It’s amazing how much more confidence I have within the past three weeks.”