Self-reflection in the morning can set you up for success the entire day. No one knew this better than the late Steve Jobs. Too often, we go through our lives on autopilot, only to realize later that we've lost sight of our values, goals and passions along the way. Steve Jobs avoided this scenario by asking himself one fundamental question in the mirror every morning: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? If the answer is no for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something." This self-awareness technique is genius.

5. Ask yourself this question

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos swears by eight hours of sleep each night. He's also a big proponent of waking up naturally, without an alarm. "Arianna Huffington follows a similar routine. "Just think about the definition of the word alarm," explains Huffington, "a sudden fear or distressing suspense caused by an awareness of danger." Beginning the day in such a startling manner creates a flood of stress hormones and adrenaline as our body prepares for danger. Not the best way to start the day!

1. Ditch the alarm clock

Grabbing a cup of coffee first thing in the morning may seem like the logical choice, but health experts say water is better. Water is an essential nutrient, and the organs and tissues in your body depend on it to function. Since your body loses water regularly, you need to compensate for these losses to avoid dehydration." A refreshing glass of water can revitalize you and help you feel more positive about and prepared for the day ahead

 2. Don't go straight for the coffee

Morning exercise is a daily habit of many successful leaders. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, the owner of lifestyle company Goop, says that she works out every morning after checking emails. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates likes to multitask during his morning treadmill workouts by watching DVDs while exercising, according to The New York Times. As Niki Leondakis, the CEO of the luxury lifestyle brand Equinox, who regularly does morning yoga, puts it, "I've always known that you have to be physically healthy and strong to be mentally healthy and strong. It's all connected."

3. Get your body moving

Sometimes the best way to have a productive morning is to get a head start the night before. Many successful people spend their evenings getting ready for the following day because it frees up their mornings to get a jump on meaningful work. Former American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault ends his evenings by writing down three things he wants to accomplish the next day. Creating a to-do list at night is more time efficient, reduces morning stress and marks a definitive end to the day resulting in greater work-life balance

4. Eliminate decision-making tasks

Many of us start the day with an alarm clock, a cup of coffee and a quick check of our email. But if you ask the most successful people, that's exactly what they don't do.