I am queen of staying busy. I love diving into new projects, educating myself and planning family trips. Between a career, running a blog and managing two kids, I have to stay organized and motivated to make sure I’m able to do all the things I want to do.

Staying extra organized is definitely the glue that keeps this all together. It’s so easy to forget an appointment or fall behind and I rely on my planner on a daily basis to get me through each day. I literally write EVERYTHING down, but starting your day off for success takes much more than just staying organized with a planner. You have to incorporate healthy morning habits every single day so you have the drive you need to accomplish your goals.

I thrive on having a routine and without one I would not be where I am today. Monday through Friday my schedule looks pretty similar but the weekends are my days to sleep in, stay up late and take part in spontaneous plans as they come up along the way.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, blogger, working mom or stay at home mom, these tips will help you start your day off for success so you can conquer your to do list and achieve your goals.

1. WAKE UP EARLY

Monday through Friday I wake up around 5 a.m. To be honest, it’s not all by choice. I have to manage getting ready, the kids ready, school drop offs, and a drive to work. However, waking up this early is refreshing and allows you to conquer more in your day. I’d much rather wake up early and work with a fresh mind than stay up late working half asleep.

2. MAKE YOUR BED

I can’t start my day without making my bed or washing all the dishes. Thinking ahead, the last thing you want to do after working all day is see your house a mess. Make time to start your day off fresh and make sure your bed is made and it will go a long way.

3. LISTEN TO PODCASTS

I start off every morning listening to an audio book or a podcast. I love learning and hearing stories from entrepreneurs. It’s motivating and encouraging as you gear up to take on your own day. Some of my current favorites include: How I built this, Stuff You Should Know and Rachel Hollis’ old interviews (scroll through the Rise podcast archives).

4. RE-WRITE YOUR TO-DO LIST

I keep a running planner and to-do list going on a weekly basis but it also helps me when I re-write everything that absolutely needs to get done that day on a separate sheet of paper. It reminds me what my priorities are and I can take a look at my workload for the week.

5. EAT A HEALTHY BREAKFAST

I have to admit, I am not the best at this. There’s days where I drink way too much coffee and before I know it it’s lunch time and I forgot to eat. Please don’t be like me, don’t do this. Meal prep or have some oatmeal on hand for a quick and healthy breakfast.

6. CATCH UP ON THE NEWS

Every morning I skim the news to see what’s going on in the world. I read CNN’s 5 Things You Should Know and the Skimm’d is also a good one. You can subscribe to both of these newsletters and they’ll come straight to your inbox every morning.

7. REVISIT YOUR GOALS

We all have something that motivates us and I like to remind myself of my goals every single morning by revisiting my vision board and dreaming a bit of the possibilities. This motivation reminds me why I do the things I do and helps me kick-start my day. I keep my “vision board” in my planner and you can find out how to make one here.