18 things successful people do in the first 10 minutes of the workday

'This may sound very 'Buddha-like,' but it's important," Kerr says.

"If you arrive and walk into a tumultuous situation with phones ringing and people clambering to see you, you run the risk of starting off on the wrong foot, getting derailed both emotionally and time-wise, and letting other people set the agenda for you," he explains.

Centering yourself and being fully present will help make sure you manage the day ahead, rather than allowing it to manage you.

Successful people take a minute at the beginning of the workday to make sure their chair is adjusted properly and the items they frequently access — keyboard, phone, computer mouse — are all in comfortable reach, Taylor says. "Ensure that you have proper lighting," she adds. "Your day will go well if you have an ergonomic environment that's functional."

Not being able to find things is a huge office time waster. "So while you may pride yourself on jumping into the fray with no down time, clutter will catch up to you," says Taylor. "Facing a clean or cleaner slate on your desk and desktop will better clear your mind for the day's tasks."

Successful people make sure to stretch and get their circulation going before they get into a sedentary sitting position. "Consider walking or standing in the first few minutes of your workday," Taylor suggests. "This can give you a feeling of greater control, too, as you tackle the day's agenda — much as speakers establish authority by standing before their audience."

"Get yourself current on priorities and tasks," Taylor suggests. "Go beyond just making a list, and challenge yourself to create a realistic hierarchy for your projects."

It's vital to put the most important tasks first. Though the least desirable but critical projects are easy to put off first thing in the morning, your energy is strongest then, so that's the ideal time to confront the most difficult assignments.

By envisioning the positive outcomes of various projects at hand, you can work backward and determine the necessary steps to get your desired results.

"This helps them remember the need to stick to the plan and focus on the things that are truly important, and not simply urgent," Kerr explains.

Mentally running through the day "can also help you see where potential challenges may lie with how you've scheduled your day, so you can make the necessary adjustments," Kerr says.

Successful people review their calendars to assess if anything needs changing or rearranging with how their day is planned, and to see if there's any preparatory work that might need scheduling in before a call or meeting.

Multi-tasking in the morning — when you have lots to do, tons of energy, and it feels like you can do two or three things at once — is tempting, but it sets your whole day back. Research conducted at Stanford University found that multitasking is less productive than doing a single thing at a time.

We all face some of the same anticipated distractions at the start of the day, and recognizing them is the first step to mitigating distractions.

"These may include low priority calls, unnecessary optional meetings, chatty coworkers, new incoming emails or texts, social media, or other low priority notifications — all of which challenge you to focus on your day's plan."

"Successful business professionals know how to mitigate distractions to maximize their first few minutes at their office," Taylor says. "They can diplomatically and politely say 'no' to colleagues by offering to engage at a later time."

If your boss needs you, that is clearly an exception. However, if you have crucial calls to make or meetings to attend, give your boss the heads-up.

Being a people pleaser isn't good for anyone, Taylor explains. "Generally, no one ends up being pleased, as you can't do your best work with conflicting priorities."

Successful people don't dwell on any challenging events that occurred the previous night or on the morning commute, or other frivolous thoughts. "Compartmentalize by putting them in a separate 'box' as you start your week," Taylor says.

This is especially critical if you are a leader, Kerr says. "But no matter what role you're in, it's important."

Taylor says visiting and checking in with your boss and team will help yourself and others kickstart the day.

"To advance in your career, you just can't skimp on your people skills," she says. "You can be the most technically savvy person in the room, but your attitude can amplify or chip away at the value of your technical skills."

Being friendly first thing in the morning makes the workplace more pleasant for everyone — "and your humanistic approach will be contagious."

Strong managers take a moment in the morning to talk briefly with their staff to ensure they seem engaged and motivated. "At a glance, these savvy professionals can often get a cursory reading of the energy level and job satisfaction of their staff," Taylor says. "If things seem awry, they are best tackled later on in the day."

"Many successful people I know have a routine of starting their morning with a simple chuckle — whether it's from a 'joke of the day' email they subscribe to, or some tradition they've created to give themselves a chance to laugh each morning," says Kerr. "starting their day with a smile has become a must-do for them as a simple way to check their attitude and start with the right frame of mind."

Taylor notes that studies consistently show that by using your "smile muscles," your mood becomes more positive. "You don't need to create a phony smile, but a pleasant expression will have the added benefit of reminding you of your power."

"A great way that successful people start their day is to identify something they're grateful for, and it may be personal or business-related," Taylor notes. "It's motivational and reminds them to put small things in perspective.

Taylor says all successful people take advantage of the first few minutes of their workday to get grounded and focused. "Once you've adopted the right mindset and routine for success, the rest of the day flows much more smoothly."

According to Arthur C. Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute and author of the book "The Conservative Heart," adopting a service mindset can reduce stress and raises job satisfaction because it displaces the object of attention from oneself.

"When I am working for myself, any disappointing outcome is a stressful, unpleasant reflection on me," he writes. "When I am serving, on the other hand, the work is always intrinsically valuable because of its intention."

"I emphasize 'strategically' because email can quickly become a time-wasting, distracting quagmire," Kerr explains. "Checking email can become one of those tasks that make it feel like you are accomplishing things, wherein the danger is you are not attending to priority action items and you're letting others set your agenda."

Successful people understand this, and are extremely efficient with email, which means their first 10 minutes of the day may simply mean a quick scan and prioritizing of emails to answer later as part of your pre-planned day — not necessarily diving into the entire mass at once.