You don't need to get up at five or spend two hours on a morning routine to have a good day. Ten minutes is enough. What matters is that you decide what the day is for before the day decides for you. Here's a simple routine you can start tomorrow.
Minute 1 to 3: Ask yourself three questions
First, what has to get done today? Think of real deadlines and promises you've made. Second, what are you dreading? Be honest, because that's usually the most important thing. Third, who are you waiting on? Think of replies, quotes and answers that haven't arrived yet.
Minute 4 to 5: Choose three things
From your answers, choose up to three things for today. Put the one you're dreading first. If there are more than three, move the rest to tomorrow or later, so they're written down but out of the way.
Minute 6 to 7: Make the hardest one easy to start
Look at the thing you're dreading and write down the very first step. Make it small and exact, like "Open the spreadsheet and fill in January". When it's time to start, you'll know exactly what to do, and there's nothing left to decide.
Minute 8 to 9: Send one follow-up
If someone has kept you waiting too long, send them a short, friendly message now. It takes two minutes, and it often gets a stuck task moving again by the afternoon.
Minute 10: Start
Do the first step of the hardest thing straight away, before you open your emails or messages. Once you've started, carrying on is much easier.
Why mornings work best
In the morning you have the most energy, and the day hasn't filled up with other people's requests yet. A plan made in the morning means you spend the day doing, not deciding. If mornings really don't work for you, do the same routine at the end of the day for tomorrow instead.
Keep it going
A routine only helps if you keep doing it, so keep it short enough that you never skip it. If you miss a day, don't worry about it. Just do it again the next morning.