I laugh at those commercials that show people waking with a smile, sun beaming through the window as they stretch their arms up high, makeup still fresh and hair all in place. I suppose that’s how it is for some people, but I feel like that isn’t an accurate representation for most of us. Maybe you wake up to a crying baby or a toddler who jumps on you and scares you half out of your wits (awesome way to wake up), or maybe you spend 15 minutes trying to drag a couple of big, long man children out from under the covers while they grumble and pull the covers back over their heads (ahem). Whatever your scenario, it’s probably not as peaceful as the commercial morning, and I’d be willing to bet you could use a little more peace and tranquility and a little less shoe finding and kid wrangling to start your day. Good news! I’ve gathered 5 tried and true morning rituals that will help you do just that. Are you up for a bit of a challenge?

1. Make the night before productive and peaceful with good preparation. Make sure the shoes are accounted for, the clothes are picked out, the keys are in sight, and everything is ready to go as to avoid a morning scramble to choose an outfit or find that missing jacket. It makes such good sense, but I’ve only done this a handful of times because guess what – evenings are busy, too. But it’s a good habit to get into. Equally as important, make sure you send your loved ones off to dreamland on a happy note. Make reparations for any squabbles that occurred during the day, and take a few moments of special time with each child so they can release the weight on their hearts, and tuck them in with a blessing. It’s so easy to rush them off to bed so we can FINALLY have a few minutes to ourselves, and I’ve done it even this week, but when I take the time with each of them before bed, they sleep better and therefore wake happier.
   
   
2. Smile in the mirror and repeat a few affirmations. It turns out that this routine is a great way to build self-confidence as well as brighten your mood. Smiling also helps reduce stress and trains your brain for positivity. To do, simply stand comfortably in front of the mirror and say kind things to yourself or voice what you want to achieve as though you’ve already achieved them. “I am energetic. I am getting better every day. Something wonderful is about to happen. I’m ready for a great day.” Simple enough, right? You might feel a little silly at first, but if you need some inspiration, check out this cute father/daughter duo practicing this routine.

3. Stretch for 5 to 15 minutes. The experts at the American Council of Exercise say that stretching in the morning helps give you energy all day. You’ll also experienced increased blood flow, fewer aches and pains, improved posture, greater flexibility, and less backaches. Those are some pretty great benefits for a short morning routine. Not sure how to get started? Try these daily morning exercises from Livestrong.