How to Win at Mornings, According to Our Editors

You don’t need to do each of these things every morning to start each day off on the right foot. Even just doing one or two of these things will help you wake up faster and feel more alert sooner.

Drink a Full Glass of Water

If your body was a car, water would be the oil that keeps all the parts moving. The fastest, cheapest, easiest way to wake your body up in the morning is to drink a full glass of water—at least 8 ounces. Not only does it get your body moving from the inside out but drinking a glass of water also “wakes up” your metabolism. Plus, you haven’t had water all night, so start your day the rehydrating way.

Make Your Bed

Don’t groan, non-bed-makers. You know making your bed in the morning will make you feel better. And it only takes 30 seconds of your life each morning, so you really have no excuse for not fixing up your sheets. If you start your morning completing a task, you get to start your morning feeling accomplished, putting yourself in a positive mindset for the rest of the day.

Picture It

There’s something to be said for having intentions. Even if you’re not the type to “put things out into the universe,” picturing how you want your day to turn out is a great way to start things off in the morning. You can do this while you’re eating breakfast, taking a shower or driving to work. Imagine all the things you’re going to do with your day. What will you do right when you get to work? What will you do when you get home? How will you spend your time before bed? If you visualize what you want to do during the day ahead, you’re less likely to waste time. The visualization acts as pre-planning, creating a vague to-do list that will keep you on course all day. If you’re having trouble focusing, physically writing down intentions at the beginning of the day will do the trick, too.

Eat a Stick-to-Your-Ribs Breakfast

When it comes to breakfast, don’t skip it. In fact, pick a meal that will stick with you for at least a few hours. Avoid overly sugary or carb-heavy foods because the energy from those types of foods will burn off fast. Whole grains and proteins are your best bet for staying full until lunchtime.