How you spend the first few hours is really indicative of how the rest of your day will be. Wake up or sleep in? Scrambled eggs or pop-tart? Water or whiskey? These are the things that shape the rest of our day. Here are four tips I follow every morning (well, almost every morning) that will help you feel energized and more productive. 1. Get some fresh air and drink some water The quicker you can get out of bed and outside, the quicker you will wake up. I like to take a walk around the block while bouncing a tennis ball or stand on my deck and drink a full glass of water. Be prepared for that final huge yawn – it wakes you up better than coffee. 2. Breathe like you mean it Instead of breathing in through your mouth and letting your chest rise, try taking long, deep breaths in through your nose while pushing your stomach out. Hold your breath for a few seconds then exhale through your mouth. Congratulations, you are now using your lungs properly. 3. Stretch We all know the benefits of stretching, but we rarely do it. A few months ago I told myself I would start stretching before bed. It didn't happen. So I stuck it in my morning routine where I now feel guilty if I skip it. I use a kitchen timer and do one-minute stretches for my quads, hip flexors, hamstrings, and hip rotators. 4. Breakfast before work, phones, or other distractions Checking for text messages or refreshing your inbox before your first meal of the day is stupid. Trust me, it can all wait. Put on some music and actually cook yourself something healthy and tasty. It takes less than 20 minutes and you will be much more likely to eat well throughout the day if you start with a good blend of protein, carbs, and fats. Copyright© ElevatingFitness.com Want to read more? Subscribe to one of our monthly plans to continue reading this article.