The early bird catches the worm. Or that’s what they say – and for good reason. It’s true, people who get things done in the mornings tend to have more productive lives. The secret to their success? A solid morning ritual. If you haven’t yet got one in place, now’s the time to start.

A morning ritual – that doesn’t include snoozing your alarm and skipping breakfast as you rush to work – sets the tone for the entire day. It’s the things you do every day, rain hail or shine, as part of your morning routine.

It doesn’t so much matter what you do during your morning ritual, what matters is what you get out of it. A good morning ritual will increase relaxation and lower stress. You’ll feel clear headed, with more energy, and confident to handle whatever life throws at you.

While waking up early will certainly give you a head start. A good morning ritual isn’t just about rising at the crack of dawn. More importantly, it’s about spending your first hours with intent and putting yourself into a positive mindset for the rest of the day.

Need more convincing? Just take a look at the some of the world’s most successful people.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, religiously checks social media as soon as he wakes up, then exercises and gets dressed in the same outfit every day. Jeff Bezos, the richest person in history, starts his day by having a healthy breakfast with his wife and never scheduling early-morning meetings. And Ariana Huffington, founder and CEO of Thrive Global, begins her morning with a few moments of mindfulness, deep breathing and intention setting.

1. Create a morning ritual by setting goals

It’s almost impossible to be successful at something if you don’t know what success looks like. Is it waking up at 4am? Going for a run before work? Having breakfast with your family every morning? Whatever a successful morning ritual looks like to you, think about it, write it down and make sure everything you do puts you one step closer to living it. Establishing these new habits won’t be easy at first. But, sometimes all it takes to stay motivated is to consciously remind yourself of your goals.

2. Plan the night before

While this isn’t exactly part of your morning routine, it will help set you up for a productive morning. Preparing small things, like your outfit or what you’re going to have for breakfast, helps eliminate extra decisions, avoid mental fatigue, and leave you with more time to focus on the things that give you energy. That’s why Steve Jobs and Karl Lagerfeld each wear the same clothes every single day.

3. Exercise and stretch

We all know how important exercise is for physical and mental wellbeing. Starting your day with a Pilates class or gym session will help you feel energised and awake for the rest of the day. Adding a simple stretch to your morning routine can give you a gentle wake up, as well as helping improve your posture, reduce pain from injury, and increase blood flow to your brain.

4. Do something for you

Whether it’s coffee and time spent reading the paper, meditation or simply getting some fresh air, doing something for you in the morning is hugely beneficial for your wellbeing and will set you on a path to long term success. John C. Maxwell said it best: ‘You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” Hear, hear!