There are so many ways to start your morning. But there are only a handful of ways to start it well. The things you do first thing determine your outlook and set the tone for the rest of the day, including how well you’ll complete your work, how much attention you will pay and how well you listen and communicate with colleagues.

In small businesses these are the factors that can make or break you, so getting the best start to the day is vital to ensure you’re performing at your best, and giving your business the full attention it needs. Here are five things entrepreneurs confirmed work for them.

Meditate

Taking time to yourself can be difficult after you start work. As soon as you get in there’s emails to reply to, meetings to have and employees to update. How do you find the time to relax and gather your thoughts in all the mayhem? Often, we don’t! Sometimes the only time you get is before you get in the office, so first thing in a morning is the perfect time to take some time for you.

Meditation is the perfect way to relax your body and mind before starting the day; it might take ten minutes out of your day, but it will make you calmer and more focused, meaning you’ll save time when it comes to decision making. Meditation also has a number of health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, increasing immunity and generally making us feel more rested.

Exercise

Exercising first thing in the morning gets the blood pumping meaning you’ve got more brainpower for the rest of the day (yay!) to use on your really important tasks. Exercising early in the morning has also been proven to ‘jump start’ your metabolism. So even when you’re sat at your desk typing, you’re burning more calories than normal.

People who don’t exercise in the morning can tend to feel sluggish towards the end of the day and struggle coming up with great ideas. If you do just 30 minutes exercise you’ll be able to stay more alert during the later hours of the day, and have more wonderfully creative thoughts.

Eat Breakfast

A must for all business entrepreneurs. Eating breakfast gives you time to do something productive (even if it’s only pouring Weetabix in a bowl) and enjoy the results. Like exercise it will give you an energy boost that can last until lunch – meaning less focus on your rumbly tummy, and more focus on doing the best for your business.

Too often successful entrepreneurs are depicted as cranky, over-worked individuals who only have a triple venti soy no foam latte for breakfast. In fact the most effective entrepreneurs are far from it. They’re the ones who are thoughtful and considerate to their employees, and eat a good, healthy breakfast – acknowledging that work begins before you step in the office.

Spend Time with Family

Whether it’s taking the dog for a walk together, or having a minute to catch up on how well you all slept, communicating with loved ones before you set off for work is a must. It reminds you of what makes you happy, and reinforces your sense of purpose. Taking this time each morning will help you stress less throughout the work day; how much did that snarky email affect you, really?

Spending some time together before you leave doesn’t just set you up for the work day; it can help your family out in the long run. It also strengthens family bonds and allows for better communication, which means less arguments, a positive for everyone! So remember to give your mum a ring before you rush out the door.

Make a To-Do List

Take five minutes when you wake up to make lists about what you want to achieve for the rest of the day, and then prioritise which is most important. Tim Ferriss, author, entrepreneur and public speaker, always starts his day by writing down his intentions; “Just a few minutes in the morning can save hours of wasting time or scattering effort throughout the day”.

Your tasks become more specific if you think about them for just a couple of minutes, instead of rushing into work with a vague idea of what you have to do, and ending the day with several unfinished tasks. Planning out can save a considerable amount of time – even if it does mean leaving your memory foam mattress and feather duvet that bit earlier.

What are your top tips for getting the most out of the day? We’d love to hear them! Leave your comments in the section below!