It establishes your mood

A 2011 study from the University of Pennsylvania found those who started out each day happy or calm usually stayed that way throughout the day while those who started the day in a bad mood struggled to climb out of it – and often felt worse by the end of the day.

“The way that you start your morning does set the tone for your satisfaction in the rest of your life. It’s why I think it is critical to do at least one thing that puts you in a good mood in the morning, whether that is exercise, meditation or simply avoiding social media, implementing those healthy habits first thing could be the best way forwards,” says Fluri.

It gives you an achievement

Plus, doing something good first thing can have a snowball effect, according to Fluri. “It’s often about the feeling that you get when you’ve completed a task, or the sense of trust you get when you have done something good for yourself. There is a whole reward system that goes off in your brain, and starting that up in the morning sets the tone for the rest of your day to be focused on achievement.”

The achievements don’t need to be elaborate – you can start that reward system with even the simplest of tasks. “I always remember this story I heard of a woman who felt so overwhelmed by all of the different morning routines out there, so she set herself one intention of drinking a glass of water before doing anything else in the day,” says Fluri. “That was such a manageable commitment for her, but by sticking with it she built such a sense of trust in herself to take on a little more and a little more until she suddenly was achieving huge things.”

Does your morning routine really make or break your day?