These are a few morning rituals I've developed over the years, and I hope they help others think about their morning differently. Let me know below what you do in the morning to start your day off right.

+WAKE UP EARLY: naturally, my body clock wakes me up around five am, and I’m not sure if I was always like this, but rugby has certainly taught me to get my sleepy butt up and start the day. According to Christopher Randler, a biology professor at the University of Education in Heidelberg, Germany, discovered early-risers tend to be more persistent, cooperative, agreeable, and conscientious. He then said these are all positive traits successful leaders possess, which results in them being more likable, disciplined, appreciative, and eager to learn. And although waking up might not be for everyone, it has helped me be more productive in my morning routine because of the quietness and simplicity the time of hour holds. 

+DRINK WATER: the first thing we should always do before we place our feet on the ground is to have at least eight ounces of water. When we sleep, our body goes hours without water, which essentially dehydrates us, and so when we wake up, we need to give our bodies what it needs--water. By switching out our coffee or tea to be the second beverage consumed, water provides us with better digestion, weight loss, lesser calorie intake, improved mental performance, helps eliminate toxins, and improves skin health. The list can go on forever, but why not drink the eight ounces.

+WORK ON SOMETHING PERSONAL: read a book, work on personal things, especially if we have a 9-5 job, seriously, whatever it is, work on progressing and reaching for a higher goal. For me, I work on my site and develop blog post ideas, curate images or videos, read through other blogs to generate creativity and motivation-- the list goes on. 

+PLAN OUT THE DAY: We all have obligations and responsibilities, and the best way to combat those tasks is to plan out our day. There are many ways people plan their days, such as utilizing their calendar, making to-do lists, setting alarms, and more. By planning our day, we get a better grasp of what we have to do and in what order we must complete them, which essentially helps us in meeting deadlines and not forgetting things. 

+BREAK A SWEAT: This may be difficult, but make an effort to move your body for 30-minutes every day. When I was a student-athlete, we had to condition or lift almost every morning before it hit 8 a.m., which taught me discipline and routine. For me, I do everything above daily and try to get in a workout 80 percent of the time. Nevertheless, we should all move and break a sweat for our own mental and physical health. 

+GET READY: we woke up early, drank our water and coffee, worked on something personal, planned out the day, broke a sweat, and now it's time to get ready. However, I'm going to rewind because the process of getting ready should include making your bed--do this right when you wake up and before all the other day starting tips. In the morning, it's always best to get ready and out of our pajamas, whether or not you have work or things to do.

+EAT BREAKFAST: Finally, the best and my most favorite part of the morning, breakfast. Start the day off right by eating a well-balanced breakfast every morning. Personally, my breakfast is always dependent on how I go about my morning, and if I have work. On weekdays, I typically workout and head straight to the office and bring overnight oats with me to eat, and on the weekends, I'll make scrambled eggs with spinach and avocado. 

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