I’m a firm believer that mornings set the tone. Get them right, and the rest of the day follows suit. But if you’re waking up sluggish, scattered, or glued to your phone before your feet hit the floor, you’re not setting yourself up to win. That’s because your brain latches onto emotional cues you give it first thing in the morning.

The Good news? There are plenty of other things you can be doing to set yourself up for a productive day. Don’t worry this post isn’t about how you need to get up at 5am in the morning or cramming in a dozen tasks before sunrise. I’m not about that life either. This is about building a routine that works for you and your lifestyle.

Here are 12 simple, effective things you can do each morning to take charge of your day.

The internet loves to glamorize success, and that’s great. Who doesn’t love a success story? The perfectly curated morning routines, the motivational quotes overlaid on sunset photos, the before-and-after transformations that make self-improvement look like a straight line from point A to point B. But what about the part you don’t see? If you’ve ever actually tried to improve your life, you know the truth. It’s hard. It’s awkward. It’s exhausting and filled with setbacks. Let’s talk about the stuff that doesn’t make the highlight reel. This is what I wish someone had told me before I started on my journey of self improvement.