I will admit I get excited about lots of “P words”. Processes, procedures, protocols, project management, and productivity are all wonderful! I like spreadsheets, organization, order, and systems.  I like things I can control and improve with knowledge and practice.  I get a little restless when things are out of my control.  I wondered if this is a product of nature or nurture. Then I thought through my genetic background and realized it was probably both! My dad was an officer in the Air Force and he shared his love of protocols with his us including how to load a dishwasher, how to pack a car with suitcases, and how, if you were not early to an appointment, you were late.  Was he wired this way or did being in the military shape him?  I asked my mom if he was into systems and procedures when she met him.  They were 19 and at university so she got to know him before he was in the Air Force, and she said he was already process based.  My sister definitely seems to have a similar wiring to me.  Also my dad’s father, my grandfather, was career Navy, and also loved systems and protocols.  It seems we didn’t have a chance to be any other way!  I mention all of this because I think it explains why I am so passionate about a morning routine and why having one is essential to my sanity.  But even if you are not a crazy process based enthusiast like me, there are still a lot of reasons to build yourself a good morning routine and stick to it. Below I share 10 morning routine tips that will set you up for the best day ever, every day.1. Be an Early BirdI haven’t always gotten up early. I remember at university that I would thoughtfully and purposefully set my class schedule to allow the most time to sleep in. I did some personal training while at KU but always set my schedule for evening clients. In fact it wasn’t until after university that I started getting up fairly early. I worked as a personal trainer and wellness program manager in Southern California, and I quickly learned that many folks wanted to get their workouts done for the day early and I needed to become a morning person fast! Then after getting into a somewhat “forced” routine of getting up early, I realized what I was missing all those years. I began doing some workouts before for my first client or my first fitness class of the day. I noticed how it made me feel great for the rest of the day and how much more productive I was. It is an amazing sense of satisfaction to know that you have your workout done for the day and you don’t have it hanging over your head to try to squeeze in later. The kids are still sleeping, there are no unexpected work meetings, and the roads are quiet. A study done by researchers at the University of Leipzig found that morning people (those who wake up early) are more productive than night owls. This makes sense as it is just a lot easier to get things done at this time. You start your day off with positive production instead of a stressful scramble.2. Check Your HRVI go into detail about the benefits of consistently tracking your Heart Rate Variability (HRV) first thing in the morning in episode 4 of the blog and podcast titled