The best time to rise is before (or with) the sun (studies show). You may think you are not a morning person but that is NOT true. Take it from someone who slept in throughout my 20s. Boy do I wish I would have developed the habit of “rising before the sun” early on in life.

I stopped saying, “I’m not a morning person” and started believing that I am and can wake up early.

I stopped saying, “I’m not a morning person” and started believing that I am and CAN wake up early – I mean if other people can, then so can I! However, it becomes difficult to wake up early if you go to bed late, so strive to have an early bedtime. Now, my body naturally rises early. As a busy wife and mama of little ones, routine is key for peace and sanity. I’ve come across useful apps that help in learning, growing, and developing good habits in different areas.

Here are 4 free apps to start your morning right:

1. Simple

Simple is an app for healthy living. If you are interested in starting intermittent fasting (IF), it is the best in-class IF app for weight loss and healthy living. You can also use it to track your daily water in-take as well as activity. It helps in becoming more health conscious along with providing insightful articles regarding nutrition and overall health. I use Simple from the moment I chug my first glass of water.

2. YouVersion Bible

This Bible app offers the bible in so many versions and languages, not to mention some versions include the audio option. I use the audio version often, especially to kick off my mornings. There are free bible reading plans as an added bonus plus so much more.

3. MapMyRun

MayMyRun is a fitness app by Under Armour for physical activity such as running. I’ve been using it for over a year for my morning jogs and I love that it tracks my miles, calories burned, pace and more. It also uses Apple Maps to “Map My Run”, however, my settings are set to private for security purposes. Watching my average pace improve and the calorie tracker, definitely motivate me to keep running!

4. Podcasts (any Podcast Player)

I love listening to music throughout the day, however, when jogging, I listen to a podcast. It feels like killing two birds with one stone – while I’m physically exercising my body, I’m mentally exercising my mind when I listen to an edifying podcast . My all-time favorite podcast station is the Derek Prince Legacy Radio podcast that now offers 15 min. episodes as opposed to 30 min. episodes as they initially did. I learn something new everyday!

These apps are a surefire way to kick off your morning with a high and help you better manage your day.