I know that age is just a number—but I gotta tell you, it took me a few shots of potato vodka to adjust to turning 50! However, one happy trade-off for having some extra years under my belt is that I’ve learned a lot of stuff I didn’t know back in my younger days. So the other day, I decided: Why not share some of that know-how on my blog? And that’s why I’m declaring this month my “How-To Month.”

To kick off my special month, I’m going to share some tips I’ve learned over time for solving a big problem for many people: morning inertia. I know it’s all too easy to keep hitting the snooze button on the alarm, or to drag through the early hours without getting anything done. However, it’s far better to get off to a quick start and actually be ahead of schedule by lunchtime—and when you do this day after day, you’ll be amazed at the big goals you can accomplish.
Here are seven tricks I’ve learned for getting off the starting blocks quickly in the morning:

1. Cool down. A quick chill is a real eye-opener when you’re sleepy. So when you first wake up, splash cold water on your face—and when you’re in the shower, turn the water to cool right before you step out. (By the way, movie actor Paul Newman used to claim that he kept his skin looking fabulous by plunging his face into cold water every morning—so that’s another reason to “chill out”!)
2. Drink a glass of lemon water. While lemon juice is acidic, it helps to alkalize your body—and a little spritz of lemon in a glass of ice-cold water is a great waker-upper.
3. Get moving! Your physics teacher was right: A body in motion tends to stay in motion, while a body at rest tends to stay at rest—so put that body in motion! Do a few minutes of yoga, lift some weights, or take a quick walk.
4. Start your day by picturing the end result you want to achieve. If you need to write a blog post today, picture yourself posting your completed article on your website. Need to give a speech? Then picture the audience applauding as you finish up. You can reach a goal faster when you visualize it clearly.
5. Limit your time on your computer or your phone. How many mornings do you plan to catch up quickly on your device and then wind up spending half an hour or more staring at the screen? It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re surfing or texting, so set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes and quit when your time is up.
6. Set the stage the night before. If possible, prep your breakfast or lunch the evening before. Also, lay out the clothes you plan to wear.
7. Create a morning affirmation. For instance, tell yourself every morning, “I am achieving all of my goals today, starting right now.” Beginning your morning with a positive attitude will give you an extra boost of energy.

I use these inertia-busting tricks every morning, because I know that getting off to an early start makes my entire day more productive. Try my strategies yourself, and I think you’ll be delighted—because there’s no better feeling than accomplishing even more than you expected by the end of the day!

Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!