Many of us have proven that what we do in the morning will affect our feelings or moods for the rest of the day. We don’t need to swallow Marilyn Monroe’s milk-and-eggs concoction or pound on the piano the way Jane Austen did, but it does help to start a morning habit that could make any drab day epic. Here are our suggestions.

1. Mind your first thought.

Just make sure it is not something negative or stressful, like: “Oh shit I’m late,” or “I don’t want to go to work.” No matter how challenging the day is, begin instead with a grateful thought about the new day and be thankful you’re alive. Take a few deep breaths and savor the morning. This will only take a few seconds.

2. Be like a cat.

You know how cats stretch oh so languidly as they come out of slumber? It is actually good for the body. If you have time, go out for a morning run or do your exercise routine. If you’re really pressed for time, a nice stretch is good enough. If you have five minutes, do some basic stretches to warm up for the day.

3. Make it lemon.

Instead of drinking coffee right away, make yourself a warm cup of lemon water. Jennifer Aniston swears by it. It detoxifies the body and helps one lose weight. Drink it first thing in the morning to prepare your tummy for a light breakfast.

4. Determine what your frog is for the day.

And take it from Mark Twain—swallow it first before anything else. From your list of to-do’s for the day, pick the one that you are most likely to procrastinate on, or the most important one on the list—and then do it first to get it out of the way. The rest of the day will be easy.

5. Spread some lovin’.

Pick a friend or relative whom you’d like to send some good cheer. Send him or her an inspiring message, a short prayer, an honest compliment, or a positive wish for the day. Know that whenever you spread goodness, it will come right back to ‘ya.

6. Take five minutes.

Or maybe 10, to listen to good music. Turn it up and let it nourish your soul. If you don’t like music (gasp!), then you can probably read a few inspiring passages from a book, listen to a podcast, or meditate on some bible verses. Do what feels right to you. Choose your inspiration for the day and bask in it for a few minutes.

7. Plan something for later.

It can be as simple as sitting down with a cup of your favorite tea (or a bar of chocolate) while going through your current read. Or, having friends over for dinner. Or, going out with your SO for a movie. Or, cooking a special dish for your family. The point is to have something to look forward to at the end of a long day. It’s always nice to keep your eyes on the prize.

8. Stay away from social media, email, and phone.

At least until you have finished your morning ablutions and other rituals. Don’t make Facebook your first order of the day, for example. And don’t you think it’s just so wrong to reply to text messages before you even brush your teeth? Make your mornings sacred and the rest of the day will flow.

Got any tips on how to start your day right? Share them with us below!