We could all use a little extra time in the mornings, whether it’s to mentally prepare for the day ahead or to finish getting all of the essentials ready. Indeed, sometimes it might seem like it’s easier to skip breakfast in favor of an extra minute in the shower or time spent packing a lunch. While time isn’t always forthcoming, there are plenty of hacks that you could employ in order to make better use of the minutes you do have.
Preparing your belongings the night before
It would be very easy to use those precious morning moments making lunches, choosing clothes and laying them out, and preparing bags, but the simple truth is that these tasks can be completed the night before; your clothes are unlikely to get up and walk away overnight, after all. By ensuring that your clothes, bag, and lunch are ready ahead of your departure you’ll save yourself plenty of time each morning and ensure that you’ve remembered everything you’re likely to need.
Shower or take a bath in the evenings
Speaking of doing things the night before, it’s recommended that you shower ahead of each day, too. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of slipping between warm sheets after a soothing bath or shower, after all. Hair washing and drying has the potential to take up most of your morning routine if you allow it to, so aim to wake up with good hair instead. Tools such as the Sleep Styler are favored by those in search of low-maintenance, fashionable hair styles, while you may also prefer to simply wash and dry your hair to leave it ready to run a comb through the next day. That’s not to say that you should forgo a morning washing completely, of course; simply wash your face with a burst of cool water to wake yourself up, and you’ll be good to go.
Ignore your phone and emails
Let’s say you’ve managed to get out of bed in a timely manner, you’ve dressed in the clothes you prepared last night, and your bag is packed by the front door. In every practical sense, you are ready to head downstairs and enjoy some breakfast. However, you’ve made one serious mistake: you’ve glanced at your phone and have decided now is the perfect time to check your emails, catch up with social media, or play a game or two. Cell phones can be a huge drain on our time, particularly when we’re running very short on time in the first place. Save your emails, notifications, and games until your commute or break.
Wake yourself up the right way
If you struggle to get out of bed in the morning, there’s a chance you’re simply lacking motivation. As soon as you get up, treat yourself to a glass of cold water, which will kick-start your metabolism, rehydrate your brain, and wake you up. Now complete a few quick stretches; your body needs a little gentle encouragement, too. Finally, try a little music or a favorite podcast. The sound of the music or familiar words will inspire you to jump into your daily tasks with gusto.
Stock an emergency drawer at work
You might feel as though rushing around is the best way to get things done each morning, but you’re far more likely to forget essential items if you’re not focusing your attention properly. It’s certainly easier to try to slow down, but there is another way to ensure you have what you need: keep a variety of items, including dry shampoo, straighteners, makeup, fragrance, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and cleansing wipes in a drawer at work. That way, you’ll always have your essential items on hand if you forget them or you run out of time to finish getting ready before leaving home.
Simplify your life
Of course, one of the easiest ways to speed up your mornings is to simplify your life. What do you always insist on doing that could wait until later or be accomplished in less time? For women, this could mean applying a little less makeup or simplifying your routine so you’re using fewer products. It’s also a good idea to have a place for everything. How much time do you waste looking for keys, wallets, phones, and work bags when you could be enjoying that last slice of toast? It’s time to clean up your act!
Don’t ignore your alarm clock
Perhaps the most obvious piece of advice we can offer is to always pay attention to your alarm clock; you’ve set it to go off for a particular reason, after all. Once you get into the habit of snoozing your alarm, you might find yourself turning it off altogether, which would be a disaster for your morning routine. The act of snoozing your alarm clock restarts your brain’s sleep cycle, which will only lead to drowsy mornings. Give yourself a boost and get up when you’ve planned to; you’ll feel ready to tackle almost anything.
As you can see, it is perfectly possible to speed up your mornings if you can organize your time and get certain aspects of your life ready the night before. Whether you’re using anti-wrinkle spray on your clothes, preparing clothing and items ahead of time, or finishing getting ready at work, there really is no need to rush or skip breakfast in the morning. Enjoy the most important meal of the day; everything else can wait!