Short, simple, and to the point — you can’t go wrong here. Add a goofy emoji of your choice if you don’t want to agonize over whether now is too soon for heart eyes. “Starting your day by letting someone know that they're on your mind first thing in the morning is a very sweet, mindful, and intimate gesture,” says Flores.

There’s nothing like checking your phone in the morning to find an irreverent meme or funny TikTok. Show your crush that you pay attention to what they like, and maybe they’ll get the hint that you have feelings for them. As Trina Leckie, relationship coach and host of the Breakup BOOST podcast, previously told Bustle, humor can go a long way by breaking the ice and making you both more comfortable with each other. “People love to laugh and are attracted to a great sense of humor,” Leckie said. “Plus, you can see if your humor is similar, and that’s a great way to grow that bond.”

Adding the “I hope” here personalizes your well-wishes, according to Morales. And you definitely want your good morning texts to be personal. One of the most important things you want to do when sending a morning text is to make it feel genuine and fun. “Keep it light, fun, and a little flirty,” Leckie said. “Be positive and maintain good energy.”

When you know they’ve got something stressful or important going on that day, it might be the time to break out the sweet hype-man texts. Sending a supportive text alongside some funny, lighthearted emojis — such as the flexing arm muscle or twinkling stars — can go a long way to putting a smile on their face. Plus, shooting them a message like this reminds them that you actually care about them and remember what’s going on in their life — and that’s pretty romantic.

“Just as in real life, you need to inspire an emotional response from someone to build a connection,” Damona Hoffman, official OkCupid dating coach and host of The Dates & Mates Podcast, previously told Bustle. “Emotion doesn't have to be a romantic connection on par with The Notebook.”

Got a hangout or date scheduled for later today? Morales says that when your person’s love language is physical touch, you can remind them that you’re open to IRL affection — even if they’re not waking up next to you just yet. Plus, reminding them that you’re seeing them later might help build some fun anticipation.

It’s nice, it shows you care, and it’s just a little intimate. In other words, it strikes a great balance of “be mine” and “hope you’re doing well, bro.” It’s just casual enough to be easy and breezy, but it still shows your interest in a way that will make them smile upon reading. “If someone is genuinely right for you, then seeing a text from you at the start of their day will make them feel seen, valued, and safe,” says Flores.

A heart will make this good morning text sincere and (literally) heart-warming. A winky face will do something else entirely. You can always go with a classic smile if you’re looking for that happy middle ground. One thing to note, though, is being aware of where you are with the other person in terms of your relationship. You don’t want to bombard them with hearts if it’s very early on, as Flores explains.

“If you're still in the very early stages of getting to know them and trying to evaluate whether you both are compatible, I would personally hold off until you have a more secure and confident idea that they're someone you want to keep engaging with,” she says.

Morales says that especially if your crush’s love language is words of affirmation, letting them know you’re waking up with them on your mind can be as simple as saying so. This one can definitely be on the more upfront sentimental side, though — especially depending on emoji use — so be aware of whether or not it fits the timeline of your relationship so far, as Flores says. If it does fit, send away!

“Give a flirtatious indication that you care about them and are interested in them — plain and simple,” says Flores. “This one's a bit bolder, for sure, but can most definitely move things along in the right direction if you're getting the feeling that they feel the same way!”

Who doesn’t want to be reminded that they’re amazing first thing in the morning? Sending some uplifting energy your crush’s way will help you both start your day with a smile. After all, the whole point of a morning text is to remind them of how you feel. “I often tell my clients who are worried about rushing the progression of a relationship (aka being ‘too much, too fast’) that there is nothing wrong with being honest with someone and letting them know that they're on your mind, as long as you're being intentional with what you're doing and why you're doing it,” says Flores.

Not for the faint of heart, the morning photo is to be reserved for when you’re already on a selfie-sending basis with your crush. Try a smile with your cup of coffee if you want to err on the cautious side, or go for a bleary but adorable just-waking-up shot if you’re feeling extra brave. In fact, sending a funny early morning snap — disheveled hair, lack of excitement — might go a long way in making them see you in a real, laidback sense.

“Showing humility and self-awareness is a very desirable quality, so when you show you have a sense of humor (even about yourself), that can make your crush see you in a positive light,” Hoffman said.

Ah yes, the remix of the classic that’s bound to get their heart fluttering. Save this one for when you’re a bit more familiar with each other — pressing send will make your heart skip, too. “If you're interested in a relationship with someone, want to start building a more intimate relationship with them, and are looking for a partner who feels and wants the same, go for it!” says Flores. “I've never been a fan of holding yourself back from the authentic expression of love and excitement.”

This kind of text can be about anything — restaurants, movies, songs, plants, books, fashion, you name it. It shows that you’re not only thinking of them during your day, but you also remember specific things about them, which always means a lot. “Let them know that they're on your mind,” says Flores. “I love throwing in something that reminds you of them!”

Another way to casually re-up a convo with a morning text is to bring up something you two were talking about the day or night before. “Add something additional to a conversation or interaction that happened the previous evening that opens the door for more conversation to happen throughout the day,” says Flores. It’s a very smooth way of saying, “Hey! I want to talk to you more!” without being too overt and in their face.

Why do evening and late night chats always seem to be the ones that get deep? If that was the case for you and your crush, it leaves a perfect opening for the next morning. “Follow up and check in the morning after conversations where one (or both) of you had opened up a bit more vulnerably and openly than either of you had before,” says Flores.

Remember, there’s no need to jump into anything too full of feelings. “If you're still in the very early stages of getting to know them and trying to evaluate whether you both are compatible, I would personally hold off until you have a more secure and confident idea that they're someone you want to keep engaging with,” says Flores. Sending a casual morning question like this one might be a good way to test the waters to see if early day convos are something you both are open to.

Another great idea for a morning text, as Flores explains, is to “attempt to make plans for later in the day [or] week.” It will likely get them excited to see you and make them think about you all day long. You want them to think about you just as much as you’re letting them know that you’re thinking of them!