You woke up 10 minutes before you had to be at work. It's a frantic dash to not be late, and you’re forced to fit as much into a short amount of time, skipping important things like breakfast. It's a jarring way to wake up and leaves you at your work desk nowhere near awake enough to be productive.

That's one way to do mornings. And I’ll be the first to admit, my mornings often look like this. I know I'm not alone: one study found that 56% of participants take between 11 to 30 minutes to get ready. Here's the thing: it's a choice. Whether you consider yourself an early bird or a night owl, it's really not as etched into our DNA as you might think (though it kind of is.) Improving your morning routine is a simple way to improve your mental, physical, and emotional wellness everyday. And if you’re not used to utilizing mornings effectively, it can be challenging to know where to start. Here are some key ways to begin embracing mornings and setting yourself up for success all day long.

Curate your routine.
What really must be done in the morning? Can something be done the night before? Pack your lunch? Set out your clothes? Prep your coffee? When it comes to your skin, most skin types will actually be irritated by washing both night and morning, so you can swap the AM face wash for a lukewarm water rinse, moisturizer, and sunscreen. If you do your hair every morning, maybe there’s an easy hairstyle you can sleep in, like braids or a bun. In the morning head fog, even simple tasks can take twice as long, so do all you can at night.

Plan out your week on Sunday.
Knowing what the week ahead holds can have a huge impact on de-stressing. If you're not flying by the seat of your pants day after day, you can free up mental space for more calm and relaxation. Try sitting down in the evening on Sunday with a planner; write down any meetings, appointments, and social commitments. 

Go to sleep and wake up at the same time Every. Damn. Day.
Your circadian rhythm can be messed up even by one or two late nights and takes much longer to recover. Make your bedtime and waking time the same, no matter what you have going on the next day. Have a day off? Don’t sleep more than 30 minutes past your usual alarm. 

Practice gratitude.
When you wake up in the morning, instead of waking up and immediately scrolling through social media, spend time shifting your focus to what you are thankful for. Immediately getting on your phone in the morning literally rewires your brain, priming it for instant gratification and a comparison state of mind. I like to reflect on gratitude while sipping coffee on my balcony. It changes the whole tone for the rest of the day from being a stressful to-do list to a wonderful opportunity. 

Name your top 3 tasks before you do anything else.
Take a moment to determine the three most important things you need to accomplish that day. Ask yourself, “What are the 3 things I need to do that will move me toward my goals?” Maybe that day, getting groceries is the big to-do. Another day, it could be that report your coworkers have been nagging you about. Determining the priority level and getting the most important things done will leave you with a greater sense of accomplishment than just doing lots of trivial tasks all day.

And finally--

Eat breakfast.
It doesn’t have to be a full English breakfast-- a piece of fruit, a bowl of oatmeal, a handful of almonds. Breakfast is one of the most important habits to maintain a healthy lifestyle for myriad reasons: boosting brain function, increasing metabolic rate after sleeping, replenishing nutrients.

Mornings don’t have to be a struggle. The key to a successful productive morning is consistency and planning. Utilize your precious morning time to reflect, practice gratitude, and shift your mindset to a positive outlook on the day ahead. Remember, lasting change happens in small, incremental steps. What you do for five minutes every day is way more powerful than what you do for thirty minutes once a week. If you adopt one of the above tips, you’ve already made an improvement. And little by little, even the latest night owl can begin to enjoy mornings. And if you’re still tired, there’s always coffee.