Do you find yourself repeatedly hitting the snooze button before having a mad dash to get everything organized before you leave the house each morning? You are not on your own! Many people say that they value time in bed more than taking time to get ready slowly in the mornings but this can become problematic if you find yourself getting later and later every day.
Rather than letting your sleep habits spoil your day, take a look at our five top tips to help you save time in the morning. Each tip is designed to ensure that you are fully prepared and well rested so that you can be at your best and make the most of every minute. Check them out now!
Shower in the Evening
One of the quickest ways to reduce the time you need in the morning is to shower at night before you hit the sack. Leave the shower until your evening is coming to a close and then enjoy relaxing in the water as part of your bedtime routine. An evening shower not only makes the mornings easier but you can spend longer pampering yourself so that you feel great!
If you decide to try showering the night before, make sure that you allow enough time to dry your hair properly before you sleep as damp hair and pillows are not a magical combination and will often leave you with a hair emergency. If you like to style your hair or straighten it then this can be done when you wake, leaving you fresh-faced and ready to face the day.
Pick Out Your Outfit Before Bed
Once you have showered and are taking time to dry off, why not pick out your outfit too? Doing this will help you stop the panic in the morning, especially if you don’t have anything clean or pressed. Preparing your outfit the night before also helps you to relax and enjoy a better night’s sleep as you will feel more in control of what the next day has to bring.
Rather than just picking out your main outfit, also take the time to choose your underwear, shoes and accessories too! You could even go one step further and gather the beauty products and sprays that you want to use too.
Many people create a designated outfit space in their room to help with outfit prep and to keep clothes in the best condition for the next day. The best thing about choosing your outfits the night before is that you have time to really look at what you own and rotate your looks every day, keeping your style fresh and on-trend.
Enjoy a Speedy and Nutritious Breakfast
One of the first things to go when you are in a rush is breakfast, with people choosing to skip the first meal of the day altogether. However, this can have a detrimental impact on your energy levels and concentration, making it harder to get through the day and causing you to be more tempted by fatty, unhealthy foods as you get hungrier during the day.
Rather than getting into the vicious cycle of eating nutritionally empty foods, pop some porridge sachets into your work bag and enjoy a filling and healthy breakfast when you get into the office each day!
Porridge sachets are simple to prepare and take a couple of minutes to cook, providing you with a steaming bowl of breakfast that you can enjoy as your working day gets started, keeping you full until it is time for your lunch.
Prepare Your Bag and To Do List the Night Before
Being properly organized can really help to shave off the time you spend getting ready each day, allowing you to maximize your sleep time without causing stress that spoils your day. One way to get properly organized is to prepare your bag and to do list the night before, giving you the peace of mind that you are ready and allowing you to shut off and stop thinking about everything that you need to do.
Start with your to do list and list everything that you want to achieve, making notes of anyone that needs to be involved. You can also jot down any other ideas or jobs that need to be done in the longer term, allowing you to forget about them during the evening as you have them stored for the next day.
Once this list is complete, pop it in your bag, along with anything else that you need to take with you so that you can grab it and go. If you take lunch and a water bottle, prepare these and put them in the fridge ready to add straight into your bag before you leave for the day.
Get to Bed On Time
Finally, the best way to have a stress-free morning is to get enough sleep rather than burning the candles at both ends. Adults need anywhere between 7 – 10 hours of sleep a night to be able to function well the next day, meaning that you may need to bring your bedtime forward to get a full night’s sleep and waking up on the first alarm of the morning.
Failing to get enough sleep can increase stress levels and reduce your effectiveness in work, meaning that you will take longer to get everything done rather than being able to tackle things efficiently.
If you struggle to get to sleep the night before work then there are lots of different strategies you can try. Firstly, think about reducing your caffeine intake at least four hours before bed, turn off your electronics an hour before you go to bed and take the time to journal or meditate to help you put any worries or concerns to one side so that you can enjoy a restful night.
It’s also important to have a cut off time from work where you avoid work emails, messages or completing tasks during your time at home as this will help you relax more and make you more effective each morning.
