5 Morning Routines to Start Your Day Like A Boss

How you start your morning will dictate how your day flows. Before the emails, notifications, meetings and errands there a five essential things you should do. The goal is simple. Start the day feeling like you're in control of it instead of spending the first three hours trying to catch up.

Here are five morning routines worth trying.

1. The 5 AM Rule:

Let's start with the controversial 5 AM.

Waking up at 5 am. is the most beneficial for those who have to start their work day by 8-9 am. Those few hours before clocking in for someone else gives you a chance to tune into yourself. I use this hour between 5-6 to move my body. A early morning workout or light stretching can set the tone for the day. Create some space between yourself and the demands of the day. Work on a personal project. Plan out your day. Sit quietly and do absolutely nothing for 30 minutes. These are alternatives to working out.

2. No - Phone The First Hour : Give yourself at least one hour without social media, emails, text and notifications. You will be surprised how quickly your mood changes by opening your phone as soon as you wake up. You are letting the world happen to you before you even leave your bed.

Your day hasn't even started and you're already reacting to everyone else's. You need to create a buffer. Get up. Open the blinds. Make your bed. Brush your teeth. Maybe even make a light breakfast. Have a glass of warm water and lime.

3. My "Get Yourself Together" Routine: The most productive thing you can do in the morning is "Get Yourself Together". I'm a firm believer that there is a difference between getting dressed and getting ready. Getting dressed is just putting clothes on your body. Getting ready is preparing your mindset for the day.

A full face of makeup ain't never been my thing, if it's yours have at it. I'm no label whore but my fit it matters. Most importantly better the skin care and GRWM, speak life into yourself. A few positive affirmations prayer or meditation goes a long way. The point is to create a small routine that makes you feel like yourself.

4.Move Your Body: I'm not telling anyone to become a gym rat or a distance runner. All I'm saying is develop a morning routine around movement. Your morning movement can be 45 mins or less of a light workout or a brisk walk through the neighborhood. The goal is to get your body moving before you've spent the entire day sitting.

Create a morning movement playlist, a set out for a morning walk. Look around. Think about what you want from the day. Sometimes the best ideas show up when you're not actively trying to have them.

5. The "Three Things" Routine: Top three, minor three, as in goals for the day. The last thing I do in the pregame portion of my day is to set my goals and pace of my day. Give yourself three top goals that you must get done for the day. Next create three minor goals to accomplish once your top three are completed. Do not start a new goal until the first goal has been fully completed.

The idea is to give your day some direction without creating an impossible checklist that makes you feel behind before noon. If you get through your Top Three and the rest of the day goes sideways, you still did what needed to be done.