Every morning, I go to the Starbucks by Gelman, rather than the one on the same block as Thurston, even though I live there. So why would I walk another five minutes to get the same drink and food, even in the winter?

When I walk into the Gelman Starbucks, I am always greeted with a loud and cheerful “Good Morning!” and “Happy Monday!” or whatever day it is. There is one woman who works there who is always smiling, always asking how the customers are doing, and always seems like she loves working there.

As someone who always has trouble getting out of bed in the morning, seeing this site and hearing these two words are always a great start to my day.

This got me thinking about how I can improve my own attitude in the morning. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I used to wake up at noon, due to the fact that my first class is at 12:45 p.m. However, I changed my daily routine to have a healthier and more positive lifestyle.

1. Stretch

I have observed that whenever I stretch right when I wake up, there is more positivity inside of me. I tend to breathe deeper, I become more mindful, and I am less tense throughout the day. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel less stressed out and more relaxed when I stretch in my bed. Stretch out your legs, arms, back, and neck!

2. Drink water

I started drinking a cup of water right after I brush my teeth. It lets you start off the day hydrated. It gets your metabolism going and helps to get rid of the toxins in your body. If you’re on a diet, it may help with that too!

3. Breakfast

Waking up at noon meant skipping breakfast. It gives you a lot of energy to start the day. Maybe a fruit smoothie would do the trick.

4. Exercise almost every day

Exercising can improve health and reduce risks of diabetes, cancer, etc.. It controls your weight because, of course, it burns off calories! It improves your mood, and at the end of the day, because you’ve used your body so much for physical activity, you can get a great night’s sleep for the next morning.

5. Kombucha does wonders

Ever since I started drinking kombucha, I haven’t gotten sick. Not even the sniffles, or a sore throat. It literally does wonders. It is full of probiotics and contains antioxidant properties. Just make sure the one you’re getting has no added sugar. My go-to is Health-Ade Pink Lady Apple (it only has 3g of sugar), and it tastes great!