The moment you become an entrepreneur, you signed up for not only one job — but ten. Between the many hats you wear to run and grow your business and your personal life's responsibilities, you likely run out of hours in the day to focus solely on yourself. It’s one of the greatest struggles leaders have and one that’s difficult to prioritize since everything else feels more important. An effective way to give your soul and mind the disconnect and TLC it craves (and deserves) is to invest in morning rituals. As a female entrepreneur and founder of Great Her Good Jackie Berlowski says, having a first-thing routine is a form of self-care, putting you in a better, happier headspace.

To create the life you want, you can’t only focus on the 24/7 grind, or you will burn out stat. Instead, taking time every A.M. for yourself fosters your creativity, encourages productivity and sets the tone of your day. Here, we spoke with inspiring female leaders to discover their own morning rituals and why they swear by them:

They help us find quiet. 

While Dana Stewart, the co-founder of MadHippie, would like to say her day begins slowly and gently with meditation and yoga — the opposite is actually true. Her first job of the day is serving as ‘mom,’ where she makes breakfast and packs lunches, finds lost jackets and gets her children ready for the school day. Once they are squared away, she enjoys her own pancakes and coffee and then heads out into Mother Nature. For Stewart, the great outdoors has always been a calm escape for her, and in the morning, it’s where she finds calm. “I take a walk in the woods every morning, rain or shine- often rain here in the Pacific Northwest,” she continues. “Being in the woods takes me out of whatever mental rut I might be in and transports me to the present.”

They help to build energy. 

No matter what’s going on, Janice Buu, the founder of Kana Skincare, sees the mornings as a fresh start. While she doesn’t always make time for morning rituals, when she does, she feels instantly energized and prepared for all the day will throw at her. 

First, she begins with a 10-minute meditation, where she focuses on thought patterns and breathing. Then, she will journal on whatever comes to mind, which helps her focus on the present and everything that brings her gratitude. Then, she pushes herself to complete an upbeat, fast-paced, high-intensity interval training and/or Pilates class. “The endorphins that flood your brain after exercise are better than a cup of coffee,” she continues. “These three rituals help me be my best self throughout the day, someone who has intentionally taken time to nourish her physical and mental well-being.”

They fuel our minds. 

To create the life you want, you can’t skimp on nutrition. That’s why Brooke Navarro, the co-founder of Without a Trace Foods, makes breakfast the most important meal of the day. As she explains, when you’re running your own business, it can be difficult to schedule dinner since calls, meetings and hiccups can pop up during the day. Plus, children can grow exhausted — and ahem, hangry — by the time all of the ‘to-do’ list items have been checked off. So, one of her family’s morning rituals is to have breakfast, no exceptions. Her husband, Matt, cooks while she works out, and then they all sit down together. “When you're a parent, this time is critical because while running a business is important, you also want to ensure that time is set aside for your loved ones,” she shares. “This time will become even more important to you as a means to destress on those really stressful days, too.”

They help us remain positive and optimistic. 

While in a dream world, we would all begin our businesses, become an overnight sensation, and see steady growth forever, the road to success looks much more like a zig-zag line. However, remaining cheerful, optimistic, and forward-thinking is essential to maintain momentum. That’s why one of Marta Spirk’s morning rituals is to write down six to eight affirmations that begin with ‘I receive.’ As an empowerment coach and speaker, she knows the value of this practice both firsthand and through her clients. To create the life you want, you must first believe it’s possible, and then everything else will figure itself out. “We all want things and experiences, but when you clearly state them on paper and repeat them daily, it becomes more of a reality, a habit,” she explains. “If you remind yourself daily of what you want, envision it and present it to your brain as something you already have, you will see more it; it'll become top of mind and, therefore, a priority. It's easier to move closer to your goals when you know exactly what they are.”

They help us find gratitude in chaos. 

Particularly when everything that could go wrong feels as if it has, counting blessings could be an uphill battle. After all, when so much feels out of our control, it’s tricky to see, pinpoint and acknowledge silver linings. However, it can be a gamechanger for your mental states as a leader when you meditate on gratitude. As Brett Galley, the director of special events and the owner of Hollywood Pop shares, her favorite morning rituals tie together thankfulness. “I take some time to reflect on what I want to achieve throughout the day. How grateful I am to breathe the morning air and engage with friends, family and colleagues I love to surround myself with. Plus, the mystery of what's to come and how I can enjoy every minute,” she adds. 

They allow us to pause from the grind. 

Raise your hand if you touch your phone before your partner, your kids or your pet. Access to technology is a double-edged sword: we are able to stay ever-connected near and far, but sometimes, to our own detriment. An easy switch to try right now is to not reach for your device the moment your alarm clock goes off, says Iwona Ordon, the founder and CEO of TØY. She says it’s the most beneficial of her morning rituals since it gives her time to wake up fully, set her intentions and remain centered. “Way too many times I’ve woken up and checked my emails or messages the second I opened up my eyes and felt the stress rushing through my body even before I got out of bed. This can throw you off for the whole day,” she continues. “If I have enough time in the morning, I love to do a 10-15 minute sunrise meditation session on the beach followed by a quick swim in the ocean, to awaken my mind and body at the same time.”

Need more ideas on creating a morning routine? Join FemCity and take a few of our classes on how to create a morning routine that’s perfect for entrepreneurs.