How to Be the Early Bird That Gets the Worm ...

One of the best ways to be more productive in the morning is to start each day with a list of things that you want to accomplish. You can either set your daily goals the day before, or do it first thing after waking up. As long as you draw up a list, it probably doesn't matter when exactly you sit down to do it. Don't be over-ambitious - remain realistic in what you can achieve. A short and sweet list has between 3 to 7 tasks on it, no more. Be determined to cross off one at a time throughout your day. Start with whatever you feel most comfortable with. Once you have made a start, you'll be surprised how profitable your time will be spent and how quickly you start sailing through tasks that you felt were quite daunting. At the end of the day, give yourself a little pat on the back and a treat.

Once you get into the habit of making healthy decisions in the morning, you start setting the pace for the rest of your day. Have a nutritious breakfast, followed by a light lunch later, which will give you the energy you need to carry out the tasks on your list. If you have set meal times, you are more likely to avoid snacking and will stick to proper meals for the remainder of your day. A recent study at North-Western University revealed that people who stay up all night consume almost 250 more calories per day, the double amount of fast food and about 50% less fruit and vegetables than early birds do. Eventually, this translates into a considerably higher average BMI. Sleep deprivation makes you feel and look washed-out and a bad diet can have serious consequences for your heart, kidneys, liver and other organs. Get healthy and be that early bird that gets the worm!

Exercise floods our bodies with "happy" endorphins that make us feel good and encourage us to tackle challenges ahead. Don't' make up excuses why you cannot find time for a work-out. Your list shows you that you can manage your time effectively and MAKE time for a walk, an hour's cycling through a neighborhood park or a short run around the block. You don't need gym membership, a whole new sporty wardrobe or fitness gadgets that cost the earth. Determination and will power are the only things you need. Even half an hour a day exercising will help you get fit and have more energy to accomplish your aspirations.

After a good night's rest and a proper breakfast you'll find that being creative is a lot easier than it was under your old routine. You'll see a marked difference in your productivity levels and output quality. Starting your day with this mindset will stand you in good stead for the remainder of the day.

When you decide to get up early, you have already stolen a march on many others. You get far more done before the mid-day meal than most people accomplish all day. Head out to your favorite coffee shop before anybody else does in the morning and breath in this atmosphere of "being the first". It's quiet and you can get work done on your laptop without the noise and clatter of others. Beginning each day with a purpose will make you feel on top of the world.

After just a couple of days of this new routine, you'll notice how much more clarity has come into your life. You are less distracted, have a purpose and get the things done you've set yourself as a goal. Greater silence during the hours when others are still hugging their pillows means you can concentrate on the things you want to do.

Make a positive outlook in life your daily mantra and you'll achieve a greater measure of happiness than those around you who moan and complain that their glass is only ever half-empty. Experience the continued satisfaction of being ahead of most people, especially those binge-watchers of Netflix movies and the ones who have yet to find the off button on their TVs.

Being rested properly is paramount for good health and having the energy to get up in the morning and tackle the tasks at hand. Better and longer sleep means you will be fully awake more quickly, when the alarm goes off in the morning. It may take a couple of weeks to adjust to new sleep routines, but it's really worth it. Start step by step, just setting your alarm an extra 15 minutes earlier each day and going to bed earlier by that time each evening.

If you still want to know how to be more productive in the morning after implementing all that, you'll need to remember the old adage that "all work and no play" makes for a dull person. Ensure there is plenty of "me" time in your routine. If you follow your list and accomplish everything you need to do each day, there's going to be a guilt-free evening to look forward to each and every day. Have a treat ready, something you love to do at the end of your day, when you've crossed all your "to-do" points off your list.

Are you an early bird or a night owl?