As I was eating my cereal one morning, I pondered about what successful people have in common. Sometime later in the day, a theory dawned on me that the common denominator could be in their morning routines.

The truth is, everyone has one, but only a small group utilize these routines to their full potential.

Therefore, I decided to take a cue from this particular group of individuals, in hopes that this knowledge helps others to lead a more productive and fulfilling lifestyle.  

One thing recommended by doctors is to include exercise in your mornings. Anna Wintour, current Vogue editor-in-chief, has played a match of tennis by 6:45 every morning, according to an article by Chatelaine.com.

Getting your body moving not only helps you stay healthy, but increases your brain function as well as reduces stress levels.

The next trend I saw was that several successful people practiced some form of positive visualization.

One of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, had a daily itinerary, which showed he used to wake up at 5 in the morning every day. The first thing he would do was ask him what “powerful goodness” he could address, according to an article by fastcompany.com.

Eating a healthy breakfast might sound cliché, but it’s not when your stomach grows a mouth of its own and starts growling during class.

Getting up just 15 minutes earlier can give you time to make a heathy breakfast. Omelets are a good source of protein and can be made quickly if vegetables are chopped the night before and are ready to add in the morning, according to an article from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Take the time to feed yourself.

Brian Tracy, an expert on time-management, suggests that people eat their “frog” first thing in the morning. Tracy uses “frog” as a metaphor to explain the importance of tackling the hardest task of the day first, so the rest of the day seems fairly easy.

Finally, my last advice is to dress like the person you would like to become someday. According to Forbes magazine, professional attire can create credibility.

It’s a good idea to invest in quality clothing for the pursuit of a dream job. Don’t let your professional wardrobe stop you from attaining it.

Having a clothing routine prepared could help you in the future to tip the scale in your favor when applying to a job interview or be the difference between minimum wage and a promotion at work.

So remember, your morning sets the tone for the rest of your day. Take advantage of it. It’s a time to use, not lose.