Morning Routines for Productive People

1. Planning is priceless. Prepare the night before. Watch the weather. Choose your outfit. Keep your keys, cellphone, etc. always in the same place, preferably by the door.

2. Use a Jawbone instead of an alarm clock to wake you up. It gently vibrates on your wrist rather than violently jarring you awake.

3. Make your bed. The physical movement is good for you. Think of it as stretching. Plus, it's so much better to come home to a tidy bedroom.

4. Exercise. Just 20 minutes of a moderate activity will boost your mood and give you energy all day long.

5. Make priorities simple and easy. If you want to run in the morning, place your sneakers with your iPod and running clothes by your bed. If you want to spend more quality time with your kids, turn the television off and put down the newspaper.

6. Be Mindful. Brush your teeth with your left hand if you are right handed and vice versa. It reminds you to pay attention and be in the moment.

7. Spend a few minutes outside taking in the fresh air and daylight. Natural light and environments are important for well-being.

8. Eat well -- some fruit, some oatmeal. Something. And skip the juice or the smoothie. Is it that much trouble to chew something?