Get up a little earlier
It'll be tough at first, but your body will soon adapt to the earlier alarm. If you give yourself enough time to accomplish what you want to accomplish, you won't feel rushed or anxious.
Make your bed
It seems simple, but if you do it in the morning, you'll come home to a neat, stress-free bed, which is perfect for end-of-the-day unwinding.
Get your heart pumping
Whether you can get to a spin class or you just want to do our metabolism-boosting two-minute drill, it's important to get your heart rate going for the day. A little exercise will rev up your metabolism and give you the energy you need to power through the day.
Stretch it out
There's a reason a popular yoga routine is called "the sun salutation" — it's perfect for the morning. You don't need to do a whole yoga class in your living room, but if you stretch your muscles, you'll feel — literally — less tight and sore.
Have a good breakfast
We mean a really good one. Your mother told you that "breakfast is the most important meal of the day," and she wasn't kidding. Breakfast not only gives you the energy to power through the day, but it also boosts your metabolism. Take your time — don't scarf it down. Whether it's oatmeal with blueberries or an egg white omelet, remember that eating breakfast is part of your morning time, so enjoy it.
Drink a glass of water
You can't underestimate the importance of hydration. You need eight glasses of water a day, so why not start your day with one?
Read something
Whether it's an article in the newspaper, a few posts on your favorite blog or a few pages of a novel, whatever you read will stimulate your mind and get you focused for a great day.
Map your day and make a list
What do you want to accomplish? Do you have errands to run? See if you can run some of those errands in the morning. If you have dry cleaning to drop off, there's no harm in running it to the cleaners in the morning. If there are other things you need to do that you can't get done in the morning, making a list will at least help you feel in control of your day.
Add some flair to your outfit
As Shakespeare once said... to thine own outfit be true. OK, maybe those weren't his exact words, but a little flair can boost your self esteem. However you choose to accessorize your outfit — a flower in your hair or statement necklace — you'll feel extra confident with the personal stylish addition.
Put on a panty liner...
... just for that extra feeling of freshness all day. Carefree Acti-Fresh Regular To-Go pantiliners will give you that extra boost of confidence and freshness all day. They're easy enough to work into your regular morning routine (and putting one on takes less time than shaving your legs). Easy enough, right?
While you're at it, add anything else that will make you feel extra fresh — whether it's popping a Listerine strip or spritzing on your favorite body spray.
Say "I love you"
Before you go out the door, say "I love you" to whoever's important to you — whether its to your pet, your kids or your spouse.
Do one final check in the mirror...
....to see just how fabulous and fresh you look. But take that final mirror-check not just to make sure you don't have a stain on your dress, but to take a deep breath and say something you love about yourself. We need to give ourselves love in the morning, too.
Have a moment of gratitude
What are you grateful for? Your spouse? Your job? The little deli down the street? Too often we don't take the time to even think about what we're grateful for — even the little things — so start your morning off by feeling grateful. (If you're feeling grateful, you'll also be less inclined to be angered by any potential traffic when you're en route to work.)
Take a break
Yes, we know you haven't even been to work yet, but we think a break is order after all the hard work you've put into getting ready. When you rush through your morning routine, you tend to feel rushed the rest of the day. Do whatever you need to do to calm your breath and gather your thoughts. If you slow it down and relax a bit before you head out, you'll set a calmer tone for the whole day.
More ways to have great — not good — mornings
Our favorite ways to speed up your morning routine
16 Ways to brighten your morning
5 essentials for the 5-minute face