8 Small Changes to Your Morning Routine That Can Improve Your Entire Day

Prepare for your morning the night before.

Safeguard your groggy morning self from making inefficient mistakes before the sun comes up by getting things ready when you're lively at night. Set out your clothes, shoes, and bag. Pack your lunch. Check your calendar for what's going on tomorrow. 

Put your alarm where you have to get out of bed to turn it off.

It's a lot harder to press the Snooze button when you've already walked across your bedroom. Are you really going to then walk back to your bed to sleep? C'mon. You're better than that.

Set an intense pump-up song as your alarm.

No way you're going to stay in bed with any Beyonce song blasting from your phone.

Wake up at the same time every day (and go to bed at the same time every night).

Having an erratic sleep schedule contributes to fatigue.

Drink a big glass of water the moment you wake up.

Keep the glass on your bedside table. When your alarm goes off, drink the water—all of it. Doing so has tons of benefits that are both immediate and long-lasting. It kickstarts your metabolism, rehydrates you after a night of drinking no fluids (because you were, y'know, sleeping), and flushes toxins from your body. It also can help you eat less throughout the day.

Wake up early enough that you can do what makes you happy before going to work.

Waking up 15 minutes before you have to head out the door is a great way to show up at work grumpy and harried. Waking up a couple hours earlier, on the other hand, will allow you to do whatever makes you happy, not stressed. Read the news. Watch sports highlights. Make yourself a massive smoothie. Take the dog for a quick walk.

Take a cold shower.

Unless you don't want increased immune strength, increased testosterone levels, and improved mood.

Keep your wallet, keys, and phone in a bowl by your front door.

You'll never be locked out, phone-less, or money-less ever again.