There’s something about the morning that makes it so special… maybe it’s the promise of a new day.

Maybe it’s the chill in the air, the darkness in the sky, or the uncommon silence.

Whatever the reason, one thing is for sure. The morning is a make or break moment for your day, and the problem is, you probably don’t even realize it.

If you were to go through history, and pick apart the routines of the most wildly successful people, you’ll quickly realize that the vast majority of them all have one thing in common.

They have very specific morning habits that set them up for a successful day.

And the good news, you have the ability to create those exact same habits. And hopefully, find similar success. So let’s explore the five habits successful people practice before sunrise.

Habit #1: Journaling

Journaling is something that’s been around for over 11 centuries. The only way something sticks around for that long is if it’s serving a purpose.

Countless super successful, entrepreneurs, politicians and celebrities have talked about their extensive use of journaling. And there’s a reason why it’s so popular among the uber successful.

Journaling gives you the opportunity to clarify your thoughts. When you feel overwhelmed by your emotions and feel that your mind is moving at a thousand miles an hour, in a thousand different directions, the journal gives clarity.

And once you have clarity, you act with more precision and take more meaningful action.

Habit #2: Exercise

Barack Obama has stated on several occasions how important his morning exercise is, often times waking up with his wife at 4:30am to squeeze in a workout.

Regardless of your political affiliation, I think we can both agree that becoming President of the United States qualifies you as somewhat of a success.

Exercising in the morning gives you the energy boost you need to not only make it through the day, but to do it in the most productive way possible. It’s been proven that exercise increases both your focus and cognitive performance for any difficult task you might face during the day.

With a beefed up brain (and biceps) you’ll have an unfair advantage of whatever obstacles are sent your way.

Habit #3: Identify Your “Big Wins” For the Day

Being busy doesn’t equal being productive. But unfortunately, so many people mistake having a full calendar with doing things that actually matter.

How many times have you laid down at night, exhausted from all the stuff you did, but still feeling unfulfilled because none of the “stuff” you did was important? You just woke up, and started working without any real plan of what you should be working on.

When you wake up in the morning, before you do anything else, you need to figure out WHAT it is you should be doing. What are the three to four things, that if you got done, would provide the most value in your life? What few things would move the needle the most?

The trick is, you have to answer this question on a consistent basis.

That’s what separates the successful from the average.

Habit #4: Rising Early

Does it still count as a morning habit if it happens at 11:59am? To get the most out of the other habits on this list, you have to get them done early. Before the rest of the world starts begging for your attention, asking you to read this, watch that, like this, tweet that.

Getting an early start to your day gives you a chance to calibrate your day and perform the other habits that will set up the rest of your day.

Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, is also known for waking up at 4:30am to just get enjoy a little quiet time alone. It’s a time he uses to recharge his batteries and clear his mind.

Like I said, there’s something magical about the morning.

Habit #5: Meditation

You probably already know all about the benefits that meditation brings; reduced stress, increased self-awareness, regulates emotions, regulates attention, strengthens willpower, etc.

If you could focus in on just one of those benefits at the beginning of your day, you’ll dramatically increase your chances for having a day where you get important things done and overcome big obstacles, all while keeping a cool, calm, mental focus.

If you want to set a goal to create these habits in your own life, then pick up my free guide on how to set goals that stick.