You might be curious about how successful people organize their mornings. Is there something distinctive and distinct that Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg do that ensures their success? Is it possible for other people to make some of these same efforts to ensure success? There’s nothing about what these people do that you can’t readily include in your daily routine to ensure success.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with some extraordinary people who have achieved incredible success. One thing I see is that they have a morning ritual or habit that sets the tone for the remainder of their day, no matter what they may face.

I, too, have a morning routine that helps me perform well throughout the day and achieve what I need and want. Based on my personal experience and those of your mornings, based on my personal experience and those of well-known people,

1. Get up early every day. 

This gives you some breathing room before heading to work or meetings. You can eat, exercise, organize your day, catch up on emails, or read without feeling pressured. Some people depart early for their destination to avoid the stress of dealing with traffic and their journey, allowing them to read and relax during employment.

2. Get to work.

Exercising, even if only for a few minutes, is an important element of a productive and healthy morning routine. “Movement combined with breath oxygenates every cell in the body, energizing you both physically and mentally,” Marcellus says, adding that intentional workouts and mindful breathing turn off the amygdala, the brain’s fear, and anxiety center, and activate the pathways that help with problem-solving and creativity. Including mild, impactful movement in your morning routine can thus boost both your body and mind.

3. Drink plenty of water. 

That’s true; as simple as it may seem, it’s a crucial act with far-reaching consequences. Consider this: If you go to bed at midnight and wake up at 7 a.m., you’ve been dehydrated for at least seven hours. Water is about 50–65 percent of an adult’s body, whereas blood makes up 82 percent. Water makes up 85 percent of the brain and 75 percent of muscle cells.

Drinking water first thing in the morning promotes hematopoiesis or the creation of blood cells. It also helps to balance the lymphatic system, which aids in the battle against infection. A glass of water first thing in the morning can also be cleansing, removing toxins from the body, and detoxifying the internal systems.

4. Work out. 

Because most people’s energy levels are higher in the morning, they can exercise more effectively. Exercise can help get endorphins circulating, revitalizing you if your energy levels are low in the morning.

Stephen Covey, the author of one of the all-time best-selling business self-help books, had a morning regimen that included swimming and riding his stationary bike. Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Mark Cuban have all publicly discussed their morning workout regimens. Many of my clients exercise and/or stretch first thing in the morning to increase their confidence and energize them for the day ahead.

5. Plan and visualize your day. 

Every morning, I look through my to-do list for the day. I imagine myself undertaking more difficult jobs and seeing them through to completion in my mind’s eye. This simple but effective approach might assist those who are prone to procrastination to focus on the result rather than the process. So spend two minutes to visualize your day going exactly as you want it to, and then organize your tasks to assure success.

6. Give yourself some motivation. 

Make yourself a self-help expert. What can you say to yourself to help you prepare for success? Do you approach the day with dread and fear, or do you imagine positive, uplifting, and inspiring thoughts? The latter will almost certainly hold you back, but the former will help you succeed. Remember, it all begins in your mind, so consider the possibilities rather than the impossibilities.

Take a page from Steve Jobs’ book. “Would I want to do what I’m going to do today if today were the final day of my life?” he questioned in interviews. And I know I need to change when the response is ‘no’ for too many days in a row.

7. Be adaptable. 

Recognize that, despite your best efforts, mornings can be unpredictable. This is particularly true in the case of families. Even the best-laid morning routines and rituals are liable to change, so being adaptable is the best approach. Discuss how you’d like to plan your mornings with your partner and enlist their assistance and support. Have each other’s backs in the event of an emergency or a family responsibility that requires your attention.

Conclusion 

Your answer to the first challenge of the day will tell you if the modifications in your morning routine are working, Marcellus says. “Your morning routine can still require some work if your knee-jerk reaction is to immediately change to dread or anger that doesn’t rapidly shift to possibility,” she says. “You’ll know you’re properly set up for success each day if you see that challenges don’t penetrate as deeply, and you’re able to find solutions reasonably fast and without a major emotional response.”