The first hours of the day have the power to shape the rest of the day. A frantic or frustrating start can diminish the hours that follow. Successful people tend to have morning rituals to create a solid base for a productive day. Here are four things I suggest you consider doing:

1. Start by recounting the good things in your life from the day before. Happiness experts recommend recalling three good things. I expand on that by thinking about what’s good in my life, of what is typically called counting my blessings. This doesn’t deny any challenges I face but reorients my focus. What you have to be grateful for is as important as any difficulties you might face.
2. Meditate or pray. The difference is determined by your worldview, but the point is to clear your head and create calm and focus. If you begin the day frazzled, you might go through the entire day frazzled.
3. Think about the one or two main things you most want to accomplish. You will be busy with lots of little things and that can keep you from pursuing and accomplishing the big things. If you could accomplish one or two significant things each day, you’d be a consistent producer in whatever work you do.
4. Do something physical, like exercising. Get your body moving to get your brain moving. If I don’t do exercise first thing each day I rarely get to it later. It doesn’t have to be particularly strenuous–unless you want it to be–but it can invigorate you quickly.

Add to your list but not so much that waking up becomes overwhelming. These aren’t the only things I do each morning but these are the ones I do most consistently and they produce great benefit.

Start your day right and you’ll greatly improve how you spend the rest of it.

Read about what to do on the weekend: 5 Things For A Leader To Do On The Weekend