7 Things You Should Do Every Morning For The Most Productive Days

It sounds utopian, doesn't it? Developing morning habits that can put you in the same league as the most successful and productive people on this planet?

As an entrepreneur, what you achieve in a day matters. Being productive from the start of the day is key to building a thriving business.

Fortunately, you can learn to become a productive morning person and how to maximize that productivity all day.

Here are seven habits to have a productive morning and day:

1. Develop an effective routine.

According to a study by psychologist Roy Baumeister, you have a limited amount of willpower every day. Making mundane decisions in the morning will take their toll on it later in the day.

That's why you need a routine to minimize your decision-making in the morning.

But what does an effective morning routine look like?

Most successful people have specific routines they follow every day, which you can draw inspiration from.

For example, Arianna Huffington starts her day with meditation and yoga and Oprah Winfrey starts her day with an hour at the gym.

2. Prioritize planning.

According to leadership expert Brian Tracy, 12 minutes of planning means you save one to two hours of diluted effort. So when you get up in the morning, you should plan out your day.

Before you head off to work, class or just get started in your home office, sit down and define the most important tasks for the day. These are the tasks you start working on right away.

This will create a sense of accomplishment, which will help you move forward with subsequent tasks.

Then, create a mission. It's necessary to focus on what helps you achieve your goals.

Ask yourself in the morning,“What can I achieve today that will move me closer to my goal?”

3. Don't forget to drink water.

As common and bland as water may feel, too few use it to boost their productivity.

According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of all adults in America drink too little water.

Yet, even mild levels of dehydration can affect mood and cognitive functioning. Obviously, the right time to start drinking water is in the morning.

Make a habit of having a glass of water on your nightstand and drink it first thing when you wake up. The recommendation by the CDC is drinking at least four cups of water a day.

4. Get mindful with meditation.

Mindfulness helps you keep your mind from wandering, which is crucial for staying productive.

Over at Scientific America, Tom Ireland explains how meditation helps your brain focus through mindfulness:

As the amygdala [which is involved in the initiation of the body's response to stress] shrinks, the pre-frontal cortex – associated with higher order brain functions such as awareness, concentration and decision-making – becomes thicker.

By meditating every morning, you boost your focus throughout the day.

Meditation doesn't have to be harder than just sitting down for a few moments and listening to what goes on around you.

5. Eat a proper breakfast.

According to a study by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, eating breakfast affects your energy levels for the rest of the day.

Your breakfast should include protein like Greek yogurt, eggs, nuts or salmon, whole grains in the form of cereal or bread and some fruit and/or vegetable.

You should avoid refined carbohydrates and saturated fats, even though most easier takeaway options tend to be packed with them.

6. Exercise to stay energized throughout the day.

A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research tracked the stress levels of people who walked on a treadmill at different times.

Those who exercised at 7 am experienced several benefits, such as improved sleep quality and decreased levels of stress and anxiety.

The message is clear: Exercise in the morning, even if it's just 15 minutes of squats or a walk around the block.

7. Give yourself a pep talk.

This is an excellent way to ensure you're keeping up with your goals. After all, your mornings are the best time to set the pace for the rest of the day and your life.

Granted, creating successful morning habits requires persistence. But once you have them working for you, you'll always be on top of things.

By thriving from the start, you position yourself and your business for success. And you'll never again have trouble starting your day productively.

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