Most people have a love-hate relationship with mornings. Regardless of how we feel about them, we all typically have a pretty set routine we do each day when we wake up. Maybe we start our day by hitting the snooze button several times, we might do a few stretches as soon as our feet hit the floor, or maybe we wake up in a long, hot shower.

However we start the day, experts say that some of our morning habits might not be the best for our health. Certain things we do each morning can have a direct impact on whether we pack on a few extra pounds, or whether we stay lean and healthy. Is your morning routine settling on your waistline?

If you get dressed in the dark and keep your blinds shut to block out the morning sun, you’re missing out on a lot of benefits. Studies show that people who get 20-30 minutes of sun as soon as they get out of bed have a lower BMI than those who stay in the dark.

While none of us really want to hop on the scale first thing in the morning, researchers say the habit is a good one to have. Studies show that people who regularly skip their morning weigh-in are more likely to gain weight than people who weigh every morning.

Skipping breakfast is another bad habit that many people have in the morning. Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day because eating a healthy breakfast will curb caffeine cravings and appetite the rest of the day. Drinking a cup of coffee instead of a glass of water in the morning is also bad for you. Your body needs the water to flush out toxins and jump start your metabolism.

Do you hit the snooze button several times before getting out of bed? Studies show that oversleeping is usually related to poor diet and weight gain. Having low amounts of sleep increases cravings for unhealthy food and can cause fluctuations in blood sugar, both of which can cause weight gain.

Speaking of getting out of bed. If you don’t make your bed every morning, you are missing out on some healthy benefits. People who make their bed every morning are 19 percent more likely to have gotten a good night’s rest according to studies. A good night’s sleep helps lower BMI. People who regularly make their bed are also know to have better willpower which correlates to making healthy decisions.

We hope these simple morning habits we’ve provided will lead to a healthier and happier you!