40 Ways to Win Every Morning

We’ve talked before about how important and empowering it is to establish a winning morning routine. But that’s not the only way to get your day started off on a great note.

How would you feel if I told you there were dozens of ways for you to score wins before the clock strikes eight a.m.? Here are 40 of my favorites.

Become a Morning Person – Step by Step

Setting yourself up for success with a killer morning routine is a big positive step to take. But it can also feel a little overwhelming, especially if you’re not a “morning person” or you struggle with organization. While you work on perfecting your morning routine, there are so many tiny little ways you can still win every morning.

The Simplest Morning Routines are Often Best

Admiral William H. McRaven—a decorated Navy Seal—gave a commencement speech at his alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin in 2014. In it, he stated that if you want to change the world, you should start by making your bed.

He posited that completing this one small task would foster a sense of pride that would lead to completing another task, then another, then another. It also reinforces that the little things matter.

The promise behind this action is that if your day goes completely awry, you still know you did that one thing well. On top of that, it will serve as a reminder that tomorrow is a new day. In that spirit, here’s my favorite list of “little” things you can do make every morning a winning one.

40 Tips for Winning in the Morning

1. Get up when your alarm goes off—don’t hit snooze! (Remember, attack your day with gusto!)
2. Take several deep, slow breaths.
3. Be grateful for something specific (and maybe even write it down!).
4. Say, “It’s gonna be a great day,” before your feet hit the floor.
5. Make your bed.
6. Weigh yourself. Did you know that studies have shown that on average, an adult gains two pounds every year that they never lose?! And then, 20 years later, we wonder why we weigh 40 pounds more. If you weigh yourself daily, you’re less likely to let your weight get out of hand.
7. Drink 16 ounces of water. It’s a simple fact that we’re dehydrated when we wake up. Drinking 16 ounces of water right away replenishes your body’s equilibrium and helps you to wake up fully.
8. Decide to have a good attitude.
9. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea (keyword: enjoy).
10. Eat a healthy breakfast—slowly. The benefits of eating slowly are well documented and include increased satisfaction, improved digestion, and reduced consumption.
11. Clean your breakfast dishes. Coming home at the end of the day to order instead of mess makes a huge difference. You’re going to be a lot less likely to want to cook dinner if you’ve still got breakfast dishes in your sink. This is how you end up with night after night of takeout!
12. Set your number one intention for the day.
13. Go for a walk or a run.
14. Do ten push-ups, crunches, or jumping jacks.
15. Do yoga.
16. Read your affirmations.
17. Sing in the shower.
18. Floss.
19. Don’t waste time on your wardrobe. Make getting dressed every day a total no-brainer.
20. Compliment yourself in the mirror.
21. Slow down—eliminate rushing.
22. Read a few pages from a personal development book.
23. Snuggle with your kids, your partner, or your pet!
24. Meditate—decide to be calm for 10 minutes.
25. Be excited for the day.
26. Listen to a podcast.
27. Read your goals.
28. Hug someone. HUGS ARE HEALTHY, y’all!
29. Journal for five to 10 minutes. After all, you should be writing every single day.
30. Text encouraging words to three people.
31. Write a love note to a family member.
32. Read an uplifting blog post.
33. Watch a TED Talk or motivational video.
34. Read a passage.
35. Visualize a successful day.
36. Make a stranger smile.
37. Call a friend or family member on your morning commute.
38. Schedule lunch with a mentor—or someone you want to mentor.
39. Calmly stroll into the office.
40. Clean your desk before you start your day.

Closing deals is not the only way to win. By recognizing all the little things you’re already accomplishing each and every day, you’ll see that you’re crushing it. Use that success to motivate you to score bigger and bigger wins. No achievement is too small to celebrate or use as fuel for your fire.

Until next time—go sell some stuff!