The way you begin your day sets the tone for your entire day - wouldn't you agree? When you have a slow start to your morning, without the need to rush and hurry, you're in a completely different headspace than if you wake up late and have to be in the car in ten minutes. Taking some time to care for your mental, physical and emotional health in the mornings can help to improve your stress levels throughout the day dramatically.

Today, I'm sharing some of my favorite hacks for helping the day run smoothly. Incorporating these habits will help empower you to start and sail through your day as stress-free as possible.

Give yourself some time

Allow some stillness for your morning, even if that's only five minutes. Set the alarm 15-30 minutes earlier than usual, and enjoy the slow start. It's remarkable the difference it makes when you shift from jumping out of bed in a tizzy - starting your day with stress-filled, cortisol-spiking pandemonium sets you up for a day filled with anxiety and unease. Flip the script and begin your day with 5 minutes of morning pages before you even hop out of bed. You could do some stretching, read a chapter of a book, or spend a few minutes gathering your thoughts before you begin your day.

Give your body a once over

Beginning your day with a glass of water helps to kickstart your system. It's important to hydrate throughout the day, but our morning eight ounces will get the process going. Many people choose to leave a glass of water on their bedside table to remind themselves to drink upon waking. Doing a skincare routine, moisturizing your skin, or even gently moving our bodies can also generate some energy and flip the switch between our sleeping and waking modes.

Give yourself a plan

While having a nutritious breakfast (which can still be easy), think about the essential tasks that need to be accomplished. Plan your work for the day, but don't forget to schedule in other important areas of your life, as well. Plan your movement, meals, any appointments or errands, and go one step further to plan to connect with someone. Relationships are an important part of our physical, emotional, and mental health, and without intentionally making room for this, we can easily push that to the back burner. Time blocking can be a helpful method for making sure that those non-negotiables are really non-negotiable.

You'll find your rhythm with what works best for you and your unique desires. Give yourself permission to start small without having all of the answers. Making some movement toward your goal of a stress-free day will show you the path that's perfect for you and your life.

Featured