We all have bad days—but there are some things you can do to set yourself up for a better one. This is something actress Lucy Hale knows, recently spilling on the morning routine she swears by to ensure her days get off to the best starts possible during an event with Almay in Los Angeles—and it comes with a little mind trick.

“What gets me going? Coffee obviously,” Hale says, laughing. “But something I do no matter what time I have to get up for work, wherever I am in the world, is wake up an hour earlier to actually have time—if I start manic, I’m going to have a really crappy day, rest assured. I’m going to be irritable; you’re not going to want to be around me. I always make sure I have a slow morning to do whatever it is I need to do.”

Another reason to implement Hale’s tip? Slow mornings (particularly with coffee) is also a big component in longevity, with the longest living humans in the world starting their day in just this way. Hale also revealed that she begins her mornings by writing down what she hopes to achieve—another thing tied to longevity. Ikigai is a Japanese concept that focuses on having a “why” (aka your soul’s purpose)—what are you getting up for and what’s the emphasis of your day?

On top of Hale’s list of what she hopes to achieve, she also creates a gratitude list every a.m. “I start and write things I’m grateful for… it really does help me,” she says. Research suggests that a gratitude practice can aid in a reduced risk of depression and anxiety, and a boost in happiness and well-being. Gratitude has been linked to improved sleep, less stress, lower blood pressure, and improved immune function. (So it may be time to try a gratitude practice, even if you’re a skeptic.)

Ultimately, for Hale, it all comes down to self care in the morning. “Get that coffee cranking, puppy time, face mask if I have time, all those things,” she says.

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