Hoda Kotb is embracing her new chapter with open arms, having no second thoughts about her decision to step away from the Today show.

The longtime morning show host, who spent nearly two decades on NBC,

recently shared that she is fully at peace with her choice, emphasizing that she feels no fear of missing out.

At the Runway for Recovery fashion show in New York City on February 27, Kotb, 60, reflected on her departure, expressing confidence in her decision.

“I have no FOMO, which is so funny because I knew 100 percent. I don’t have an ounce of it,” she revealed.

“That doesn’t mean I didn’t love it. At the end, when my heart broke, I was like, ‘That’s love.’ But it also is—I feel like my gaze is set forward.”

A Life-Changing Decision

Kotb first announced in September 2024 that she would be stepping away from Today, citing her milestone 60th birthday and her desire to dedicate more time to her two daughters—Haley, 8, and Hope, 5—as the driving forces behind her choice.

Despite leaving behind a role that had become a defining part of her career, Kotb remains certain it was the right move. “I never had a second thought because some things can be hard and right,” she explained. “If anyone has ever gone through an ending and a beginning, they know that sometimes it’s really difficult, but also 100 percent right. And I knew it in my heart. I knew it just like I’m saying it today. I knew it then.”

She added that she had a strong instinct that it was time to move on. “Life speaks to you and whispers, and pretty soon, they turn into screams,” Kotb said. “But I felt the whisper, I knew it, and I didn’t ignore it. I didn’t push it down. I didn’t say, ‘Not right now.’ I knew it was right.”

Perfect Timing for Everyone

In addition to believing her decision was right for her personally, Kotb also feels it was the right move for the show. “It was perfect timing for me and beautiful timing for Craig [Melvin] and Savannah [Guthrie],” she noted. “I feel like life works out. Don’t you feel like it? I feel like we’re in flow. That’s what’s happening.”

Kotb bid farewell to Today on January 10 in a heartfelt final episode, which ended with her driving away from the Today studios in her minivan with her daughters. Since then, she has fully embraced a slower, more family-centered lifestyle.

A New Daily Routine

Now living a life away from the intense schedule of morning television, Kotb has settled into a new routine that prioritizes her personal well-being and family. “I get up at about 5 a.m. I go to a SoulCycle class. I leave at 5:30. I love that class,” she shared. “After that, I come home, shower, and then I feel like I’m alert, like, ‘Here we are.’ Then we do breakfast and all the things that come with breakfast.”

Staying Connected to Today

Although she has stepped away from her role as co-anchor, Kotb remains close with her former Today colleagues and still enjoys tuning in to the show. “Of course,” she confirmed when asked if she still watches. “I love watching at 7 a.m. to see what’s happening. I love watching Jenna & Friends because I’m like, ‘What friend is it gonna be?’”

Kotb also continues to stay in touch with Today personalities, particularly Jenna Bush Hager. “I’ve been speaking on the phone to Jenna a lot. I’ve been seeing Savannah. It’s been really beautiful, and I’m super proud of both of them,” she said.

She gave special praise to Bush Hager, who has been hosting the fourth hour of Today with rotating guest hosts. “I’m especially proud of Jenna because she’s been having blind dates over and over. And by the way, she’s amazing. What it’s revealing is what I already knew, which is there’s nobody like her.”

Future Plans with NBC and Beyond

Although Kotb has stepped down from her daily hosting duties, she hasn’t completely parted ways with NBC. She has signed a deal to remain a special correspondent for the network, which will allow her to make occasional appearances on Today and continue covering major events, including the next two Olympic Games.

Beyond television, Kotb is working on something entirely new. She recently revealed on The Kelly Clarkson Show that she is in the “building process” of a wellness-focused business. “I kind of got hooked in the wellness space a couple of years ago,” she shared. “I started doing stuff that I thought seemed woo-woo and weird, and then all of a sudden, as I was doing it, I was like, ‘Wait, I feel calmer, I feel better.’”

Her upcoming project includes plans for a wellness app, company, retreats, and a podcast. While details are still unfolding, Kotb appears to be fully embracing her new venture, proving that life after Today is just as fulfilling as ever.

With no regrets about her decision to leave and exciting new opportunities on the horizon, Kotb is proving that sometimes, stepping away from something great can lead to something even greater.