How Hilary Swank spends her 5 to 9 — from meditating to eating every hour and a half

Hilary Swank has always followed her own rules, whether she's beating the odds to become an Oscar-winner or building a family and expanding her career in her 40s and 50s.

She knew she wanted to be an actor from the age of eight, and was undeterred by her humble beginnings in a trailer park.

After her sophomore year of high school, Swank and her mom moved from small-town Washington to LA so she could pursue her dream. They lived in her mom's car for the first month, and then in a one bedroom apartment.

"A lot of people will say, 'Well, I have this idea, but it just seems so far-fetched.' And I just say, 'keep going towards it,'" Swank told Business Insider.

At 25, she won her first Oscar for 1999's "Boys Don't Cry," beating out both Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore. Five years later, she received her second Oscar for "Million Dollar Baby."

"I never had an alternate like, 'well, look, if this doesn't work out. I'll do this,'" Swank said.

At 48, she embarked on what she considers her biggest role yet — motherhood. She's now 50 and her twins, Aya and Ohm, are 18 months old.

Swank spoke to me on a video call from the Manhattan headquarters of HealthyBaby, where she has been the chief innovation officer since February.

She first discovered the brand that makes sustainable diapers, baby wipes, and skincare products with minimal chemicals after learning that some mainstream products can contain traces of carcinogens. She resonated so strongly with the brand's mission that she asked to help expand their product line.

Swank said she prioritizes jobs with the flexibility that allow her to take breaks when she needs, so she can spend as much time with her twins as possible. Outside of working hours, Swank's priority is her family and self-care.

"The time that I'm taken away from my babies, I want to make sure that it's utilized well and that there's actually a reason for being away from them," she said.

In this installment of Business Insider's "5 to 9" series, where celebrities and high-flyers share how they spend the hours they're not working, Swank shared how she keeps fit, what she eats, and how she recharges.

Meditating in the morning

Talk me through your morning routine.

When I wake up in the morning, if I have the energy, I meditate. Even if it's just for three minutes, I try to sit quietly and settle into my day.

Then my husband and I get the bottles ready and wake the babies up. When I'm not on set, I can usually work from home, so the first few hours of the day is family time.

We eat breakfast together, which I believe is really important, we play, we hang out, and then my husband and I put the twins down for a nap.

What are your eating habits?

My husband is definitely the main cook, I struggle to make toast!

But I'm a big eater, I eat every hour and a half, and think of food as fuel. I definitely like to have protein with every meal — whether it's beans and rice or eggs or a small piece of fish — and I make sure that I'm eating the right fruits and vegetables.

I was vegetarian for 23 years, but now I'm mainly plant-based except for eggs and fish.

I don't like to restrict myself but I listen to my body. If, for example, I'm craving sugar, I know that I'm either tired or I'm not getting enough vitamins. And once I get some rest and eat something nutritious then I feel better. But if I want sugar, I do eat it.

Walking every day

As a mom to two babies, are you able to find the time to exercise?

I love to exercise. It is air that I breathe, but I don't have as much time to exercise at the moment. Being a new mom of twins makes that a little more challenging.

But I do make sure that we go for a walk everyday, and I love to play tennis whenever I can.

How do you decompress when you're stressed?

Ultimately working out for me is about stress relief. I really like resistance training and I try to do it twice a week. It really helps me cope with stress and I find it also makes me sleep better.

And now there's the added element of wanting to stay strong and healthy for my babies. I want to be able to pick them up and throw them around. I want to play and be outside with them. And eventually I want to be playing tennis with them.

Do you have a nighttime routine?

If I can get home in time to bathe the babies and put them down, then I win. That's my ideal evening.

I totally believe in the ritual of self-care. I always make time for skincare before I go to bed. I wash my face, moisturize, use eye cream, and neck cream.

It's something that makes me sleep better. I could never go to sleep with a dirty face.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.