1- Get Up- Do not hit the snooze button. When the alarm goes off, the time for sleep is over. Your day will go so much better if you wake up excited to start it.
2- Drink Water- You need at least a pint of water first thing in the morning. This will get you hydrated and off to a great start. If you do not like the taste of plain water add slices of citrus fruit to flavor it; limes, lemons and oranges will all work.
3- Fruit- Start your day with a variety of colorful fruits. You can either eat whole fruit or blend up some tasty juice. One advantage of juice is you can slip in some veggies too, like carrots.
4- Get some sunshine- Sunlight will wake you up and leave you feeling charged. Take a few minutes, even if it is cold, to go out and gaze at the morning sky. This will refresh you and help you feel connected to the world around you.
5- Meditate- Take time to be thankful for what you have. Spend some time planning out your day. Write down the best and most exciting parts of your day. This will help you fell ready to begin and give you a sense of anticipation for things to come.
6- Give someone a hug- This is even better if it is your children. They help us feel alive and can connect us to our own inner child. Their excitement and zest for life is contagious. You can learn a great deal about love, acceptance and laughing at yourself from your kids. So start your day off by giving them a great big squeeze.
7- Brush your teeth- It is time to say goodbye to your morning breath. You will feel much better with a minty fresh mouth. Do not forget about your tongue; and please floss. Flossing has been shown to add years to your life because it kills bacteria that cause your immune system to be in overdrive.
8- It is time for a walk- Hit the pavement or the treadmill for at least 30 minutes. Your heart and waist line will be overjoyed.
9- Skip the coffee- Drink a cup of green tea instead. It is full of antioxidants and boosts your energy levels without all of the caffeine.
10- Keep a Journal- Take time everyday to write your thoughts. Even a short time will show you things about yourself you never knew before.