We all want to begin each day with energy and intention. But sometimes, it’s hard enough to just get out of bed and brush our teeth! Try these 11 tips to help you have a fresher, more genuine morning, and head into your day inspired and fully awake.

Make a Sweet, Healthy Breakfast

Here's my recipe (I use the term loosely) for a delicious, fiber-packed breakfast. It's sweet, creamy, crunchy, and healthy in every bite. Good morning!

Peanut Butter Banana Crunch Toast

Toast a slice of whole-grain bread (I use 12-grain).

Slather with creamy peanut butter while the toast is still hot (I use natural peanut butter).

Slice a banana, nestling each piece into the now-melty peanut butter (I usually fit 9 banana slices on the toast).

Sprinkle your favorite granola mix over the top (1-2 teaspoons should do it, just enough for the crunch factor).

Sink your teeth in!

Start the Day with Good Words

On the first day of every month I try to say "rabbit rabbit" first thing--an old wives' tale says it's supposed to bring good luck. Other mornings I try to catch myself when the first words out of my mouth want to be something cranky like, "Uhg, I'm so tired." I try and replace them with things like, "Today is going to be a beautiful day." Or "I'm excited to have an adventure today." If this isn't something you're used to, maybe try it. It doesn't have to be anything profound, just something that gives you a little boost and sets a positive intention for the hours ahead.

Tackle Today's Tasks

Consider this quote from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: "Each morning sees some task begin, Each evening sees it close; Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose."

I love the cleanliness with which Longfellow describes a day. Open a door on something in the morning, close it in the evening. Then rest before doing it again tomorrow.

Of course not nearly every task is a one-day affair. Nor should it be--how rote would life be if we could just begin and end everything without ever investing more time and energy in it than one day can spare?

But nevertheless, is there something you're thinking you'd like to see done today? What are you going to do to make it happen?

Have a Laugh

I know it's a little hokey, but this made me giggle this morning. It's a quote that's attributed to "Garfield" creator Jim Davis:

"If people were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters."

So if you're not feeling your usual chipper, embrace-the-day self this morning, fear not! But if you can crack a smile, you know you're back on track.

Linger in Your Morning

Sometimes in our desires to spring forth into a fresh morning, I think we forget that some mornings are slower, more pleasantly plodding, than others. So my thought for this morning is, linger. Let the lazy hazy-tude of sleep settle around you as you linger over your morning beverage, lounge in bed for a few more moments, or flop onto the porch with a juicy magazine.

Linger, because before we know it, it'll be back to our regularly scheduled fresh!

Practice the 5 Ws

Remember in grade school how we learned that good writing should answer "the 5 Ws"--who, what, where, when, and why? Try giving yourself that assignment as you set your intention for your day this morning.

Who: Whose life will I touch today, and who will touch mine?

What: What will my goals be today, what will engage and connect me with my life?

Where: Where will my life take me today--both literally and metaphorically?

When: When will I have the most energy today; when will I find time for peace and quiet?

Why: Why am I visualizing my day as I am--is there anything I want to re-imagine in a more positive light before I start?

Listen to the Silence

Lately I've been waking up in the morning and just lying in bed for a while, listening. My ears fill with a rush of... nothing. Just a rich silence. I can almost see it. It's like a dense meringue of nothingness. And it seems to help with my day to really drink that in first thing.

Maybe give it a try. Whenever you catch a moment of quiet, imagine it filling your ears, your brain, your whole body with calm.

Embrace the New Day

I have this taped to my computer monitor. It's such a great reminder.

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Meditate in the Shower

Our friend Dr. Norris, author of the Dr. Norris Chumley Satisfied Life blog, offers a visualization to do in your morning shower to start your day with both a clean body and a pure spirit:

"Imagine that the stress from your fears, worries, and problems is flowing away, out of your body: down, down, down the drain. Let the warm, pulsing beat of the stream untie your physical knots. Take deep cleansing breaths as your cares float away. The idea is to release the tension that results from emotional stress, so that you can manage your concerns and problems more effectively... unblocked and empowered, pure and clean."

Try a Bus Stop Yoga Pose

Bring a little "Centering Mountain Pose" into your commute and make the most of standing around.

"Sit or stand tall. Feel lift through the center of your body, from the base of your hips through the crown of your head. Close your eyes and let go of the sights and sounds around you. Deepen your breath and watch the flow of your inhale and exhale. Feel the quiet centering and balance that comes into your mind as your inhales and exhales become resonant and even."