‘When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.’ ~Marcus Aurelius

When I wake in the morning, my mind slowly gathers, and I begin to move, the early morning light just starting to seep in.

I have a glass of water, start the coffee, then meditate. Then I enjoy the coffee, a good book, and the quiet before the dust and din and steam of the day begins. Then I write.

This is my Lovely Morning, and I get an inordinate amount of pleasure from it.

It wasn’t always this way: I used to wake later, rush through a grumpy routine before diving into email and work and errands and meetings. It was frenetic and dreadful, but that was my life, and I didn’t think it would change.

I was wrong. I’ve changed my mornings for the better, with a few simple ideas.

I’ll share them with you here, and if you begin to enjoy the peace of your mornings more, send a smile in my general direction.

1. Wake a little earlier. If your mornings are...