No matter what time you have to report to work, it seems as though you never have enough time to complete your morning routine. Sometimes, of course, this delay is justified due to an unforeseen circumstance. Typically, however, the delays and stress you experience in the morning are entirely of your own doing. Whether it be procrastination, poor planning, or an underestimation of your responsibilities, it can be easy to find yourself out of time. Here, then, are a few strategies to help streamline your morning routine so you can hopefully slow down and prepare yourself before you head off to work.
Prepare in Advance
Especially if you’re not a morning person, a morning routine can be a difficult thing to master. Why not, then, assist your morning self by allowing your night-before self to prepare for the next day as much as possible? Be ruthless in the details you plan for, such as laying your clothes out in the order you’d like to put them on your body. By planning ahead in this much detail, you’ll be able to get through your morning routine quickly without even thinking about it. Plus, this preparation comes in handy should one of those “unforeseen circumstances” rear its ugly head.
Combine Steps
Whether you’re a planner or not, though, you probably have a general idea of what your morning routine entails. Each of the steps in this process takes time, of course, so another great way to streamline your morning routine is to combine as many steps as possible to help you save more time. For example, if you are the type of person who can’t function without at least one cup of coffee, you could, during your morning routine, measure the water, scoop the coffee, insert the filter, and then begin brewing. Or, you could use a flavored coffee pod, drop it in, and end up with a great cup of coffee before you know it. By finding multiple ways to combine steps, you can end up with a much faster routine.
Use Your Commute
If you have a sizable commute to get to work or school in the morning, you can use that time that would otherwise be wasted to help you streamline your morning routine. Certainly, you shouldn’t do any activity that will endanger yours or others’ safety, however, simple activities such as eating breakfast, catching up on the news, and other portable activities can be left until you’ve hit the road. This gives you more time at home to relax and prepare for the day ahead.
Avoid “Snooze”
The “snooze” button, in addition to being the mortal enemy of on-time arrival, also can have detrimental consequences for your health. The times between your alarm going off can allow you to go back to sleep, resulting in a repeated pattern of sleeping and waking that can end up making you more tired than when your alarm went off the first time. So, do whatever you can to avoid pressing the “snooze” button, and you’ll likely end up having a much more enjoyable morning routine.
