Morning is a crucial time.

It sets the tone for the rest of your day. There’s a lot to be said for the phrase, “woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” If you start off the day slow and sluggish, your productivity will wane all day. But you can change that!

If you’re proactive and energetic in the morning, that attitude will continue until you’re ready to crash into bed at night, leaving you feeling satisfied and accomplished.

Five Morning Habits that Will Help You Start Your Day

Make a List

As soon as you wake up in the morning, have a paper and pencil ready so you can scribble out your to-do list. By doing it before you get to work, you’re able to schedule out your time a bit better and alleviate some stress. Sometimes writing out a list helps you realize that your hectic day isn’t really all that bad. You can work more efficiently, plan and prioritize so that you can pack more into your day. You may even take time to do it the night before—it might help you sleep better.

Eat a Healthy Breakfast

Protein, fiber, whole grains, fruits and veggies. Think: eggs and spinach, a Greek yogurt and fruit smoothie, or avocado toast. Squeeze as much of that into your breakfast as you can. If you start off the day on a healthy note, you’re more likely to continue that trend throughout the day. But if you grab a donut or a greasy breakfast sandwich in the morning, you’ll probably write off the whole day.

Related Content: Power Foods to Eat in the Morning to Increase Productivity

Be Grateful

According to mental health experts, there’s a strong correlation between gratitude and overall happiness, so make it a habit to feel grateful every morning. This might mean writing a list of things you’re grateful for, putting pictures of your loved ones in a place where you can see them in the morning, or reflecting on positive experiences and traits as you eat breakfast or brush your teeth.

Related Article: Data Behind the Impact Gratitude can Have on Workplace Productivity

Exercise

It doesn’t have to be much—take your dog for a walk, go for a jog, or do some yoga or light stretching. If nothing else, it gets your blood pumping and activates your brain and creative juices, not to mention knocking some of your fitness goals out of the way. That way, if you get to the end of the day and just don’t have the energy to make it to the gym, you can at least say that you’ve done something.

Work on Your Hobby

You probably have a hobby or passion that you just never seem to have time for—knitting or journaling—so do it in the morning. This way, you don’t have to wait for the evening time when all you feel like doing is turning on the TV and vegging out.

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