How do you spend the first 30 minutes of every day? What are your morning rituals? These are simple questions, but, the answers that you give have everything to do with your health, happiness and wealth after 60.

Over the last few years, I have talked with hundreds of baby boomers. During this time, I have noticed a pattern. The ones that seem to be the most successful, at least in terms of health, happiness and wealth, are the ones who follow simple rules. Of course, not everyone has the same routine, but, here are a few of the most popular activities that the most successful people among us focus on every morning.

Get Moving

Many of the most successful older adults that I talked with include some kind of exercise in their morning routine. This doesn’t mean that you need to lift weights or go for a run. Even walking around the house for 5 minutes at a brisk pace, doing a few jumping jacks, or a couple of “sun salutations” can have a big impact on your body and mind.

Exercise can have a positive impact on your mood and is a great way to blow away the morning cobwebs so that you can get off to a great start.

Eat a Healthy Breakfast

Most of us have been pretty brainwashed when it comes to the definition of a “healthy breakfast.” Food companies try to convince us that anything marked “low fat” or “whole grain” is healthy, while eggs are “full of cholesterol.”

There is a growing body of evidence that shows that much of what we were taught about nutrition in school is questionable. Many of the most successful people I know have abandoned the traditional view of a healthy breakfast in favor of vegetables, fish, eggs and lean meats.

My purpose here is not to tell you what to eat for breakfast. Instead, I hope that you will take the time to do your own research and use the latest research to choose a diet that works for you.

Plan Your Day Proactively

Whether you are still at the top of your career or you are enjoying the first years of retirement, deciding how to spend your time is critically important to getting the most from life after 60.

One simple productivity tip that you can use to get the most from every day is to write down a list of the most important items that you need to accomplish. This doesn’t have to be a complicated process. I know people who write their “to do” list on a single note card or piece of paper. No matter how you choose to write your list, try to focus on items that are first.

Start Your Morning with Gratitude

In many ways, positivity is a matter of perspective. Taking 2 minutes every morning to write down what you are grateful for is a great way to boost your positivity and get your life in perspective. I personally have a small diary by my bed that I use to record my grateful thoughts.

What morning rituals do you have that help you to get your day off to a great start? Do you work out? What do you eat for breakfast? Do you have any other tips for the women in our community? Please join the discussion.