Josh Duhamel, who is starring in the new Netflix series Ransom Canyon, shares how he starts his day for PEOPLE’s wellness series My Good Morning. The actor’s priority: spending time with family, including wife, Audra Mari, and his sons Axl, 11, (whom he shares with ex-Fergie) and Shepherd, 1.
I’m much more of a morning person than a night person. It drives my wife crazy. I’ve always been somebody who pops out of bed. I usually wake up before my alarm goes off. I’m usually up at 6 or 6:30. I look at my schedule for the day and have a few minutes to myself before everybody gets up.

I have coffee. I usually take whatever we have, whether it’s Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts or whatever. I’m not really fancy with it. I don’t do a lot of fancy stuff. I just put it in a pot, a regular coffee pot. I wish I could tell you it’s a French press or something.

Josh Duhamel with wife Audra, and sons Axl and Shepherd.Audra, Axl, Josh Duhamel, and Shepard

I make breakfast for my son Axl. Bacon, eggs, pancakes, stuff like that. I’ve been trying not to eat much in the morning. It’s harder as you get older [Duhamel is 52] to keep that gut off! One of the things I think has helped is intermittent fasting. I’ll wait till later in the day, or have a green smoothie. I’ve been using Athletic Greens 1 lately, which is really good.

I take a bunch of vitamins. And Gatlan TRT [oral testosterone-replacement therapy available by prescription from Duhamel’s new men’s wellness brand]. It keeps your testosterone level at an optimal rate. It’s why I can keep on top of my game.

If I’m taking Axl to school, we have a 45-minute drive. We’ll have a little DJ session on the way. He’ll pick a song — he’s all about Kendrick Lamar right now. I’m more into Chris Stapleton and Old Dominion.

I like to let my wife sleep. If I’m not taking Axl, I’ll take care of the baby and let her sleep until 9:30 or so. He wakes up, I change him, 10 minutes later he poops his pants, so I change him again. Then he and I just play. He’s so fun. He’s f—ing hilarious.

Getting exercise early in the day for me is huge. If I do that, I’m off to a good start. I’ve worked out with DB [celeb trainer Don Brooks], Donamatrix Training, since the first Transformers movie. Then I’ll try to do yoga. That’s a huge thing for me, staying flexible and strong. I put in a couple hours exercising if I can, if I have time.

I’m usually in sweats in the morning. I have these Lonsdale shorts—they’re like shorts that boxers wear. I found them in London and bought 10 pair. They’re just cozy and good to work out in.

There’s not a lot of grooming going on. In the shower, Hårklinikken make the hair products I’ve been using, which are fantastic, especially if you want to keep your hair. And any body wash, Axe or Old Spice, either of those. I use UltraLuxe for skin care — the Hydrasoft Lotion and Seaweed Liposome Gel. I can’t believe I’m telling all this stuff. Men don’t usually talk about our secrets!

There’s nothing better than when we all get to have breakfast together and hang out. For me, it’s all about spending time with my kids and my wife in the morning. And exercising early. If I do that, I’m setting myself up for a really good day.