I have a confession to make. I am not a morning person. I have never been. And by that, I don’t mean that I have the luxury to stay in bed late or to wake up without an alarm. On the contrary, I have been waking up early every morning, every working day for the last 18 years and I have been having a hard and stressful time almost every morning, especially during winter.
Recently I decided to make some changes in my life, I started looking for ways to reduce stress. And, guess what, one of the most stressful times was my morning routine. I was always getting up 10 minutes after my alarm was set, and I was running around like crazy, taking a shower, styling my hair, searching my closet (it’s amazing how everything seems to disappear when we are in a hurry…), sipping my coffee, collecting all the things I needed for the day… and checking the time every five minutes… where does time go? Well, you get the picture. Does it remind you a little of your morning routine? Then keep on reading! Yes, I found ways to change that picture. I now start my working days more energized and stress free. Here is what you have to do:
Choose your clothes the night before.
The most difficult question every woman has to answer every morning: “what should I wear to work today?” How much time do you spend every morning searching your closet, trying to decide what to wear? Not to mention about that days when you finally decide what to wear, you smile and you dress in a hurry, only to find out that there is a stain that you missed when you washed your blouse. And the clock is ticking and you have to change your clothes again… tick, tock, tick, tock. Stop the clock! Relax! Take your time and decide what to wear the night before! Pick your underwear, your clothes, your accessories, your shoes… everything. Collect them all together, so when you get up in the morning you don’t have to search for anything. This will save you a lot of time and a lot of stress.
Prepare your purse and your briefcase the night before.
How many things can you fit in a woman’s purse? Well, no one has answered this yet! Too many, I would say. And we need all of them (most of them anyway). So prepare your purse the night before. Leave out only your phone and your keys. It’s easier to have only two things in mind to put in your purse in the morning. Also prepare your briefcase, if you take one to work. Put everything in, the night before, so you don’t have to live with the worry that you may have forgotten something every morning.
Wash and style your hair the night before.
Styling your hair can be fun, but it also takes time! Too much time, especially if you have long hair, like I do. So, don’t leave it for the morning. Also, practice several “emergency” hairstyles that you can do easily in no time, in case you don’t have time to wash/style your hair the night before. Don’t even think about doing it in the morning. And don’t you ever try a new styling product, or a new hairstyle when you are getting ready for work in the morning (the same goes for your makeup too). If you don’t like the result, you don’t have time to change it. And you don’t want to start your day with that negative feeling that you look awful.
Create a to-do list the night before.
It’s easier to deal with a busy day ahead, when you have everything written down in a list. Take your time the night before to plan the coming day. Create a list, so that you can be sure you won’t forget anything. Start your list with a positive affirmation! So, when you check your schedule the next morning, the first thing you will read is a positive message addressed to you!
Do a 10-20 minutes’ workout or yoga.
Yes, I know. If you are not a morning person, it’s not easy (I won’t lie to you, it was not easy for me in the beginning. And I still have those days when I don’t feel like doing any kind of exercise early in the morning. But it gets easier with time). It’s worth a try. Even if you can’t do it every morning, even if it means that you have to wake up 10 minutes earlier. You will feel really relaxed and full of energy. It’s the perfect way to start your day.
Enjoy a good breakfast!
You should never leave your home without eating breakfast first! No, this is not your mother speaking. Hundreds of studies have proven that breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day! It’s important for a healthier and slimmer body. So, take your time to enjoy it every morning! After all, you have gained so much time, if you followed all the previous steps.
You are now ready to conquer the world! Have a good day! And don’t forget to smile and say “good morning” to the first person you will see. Start your day positively, always with a smile!
Great ideas! I am actually a morning person, but I would still do all of those things the night before just to make my life easier anyway. Thanks so much! If you like, you can check out my website as well at learningthemomlife.com
Thank you for reading my post and taking the time to comment on it! I always find it helpful to exchange ideas, even for the simpliest of everyday things. I visited your website. I really liked it. Many good ideas. I myself don’t have kids, but I have nieces!
Great post, as always!
In the past, I used to do all those things on your list, but lately, I have found myself challenged by a lot of factors and schedule changes and so, the plan didn’t work anymore. *Sigh* Sometimes, I skip breakfast and that’s not good. (Usually when I have too many things to do.)
But there’s one thing I never have to worry about: my hairstyle, since I’m almost always wearing my hair in the same way. xD
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! If a specific plan does not work anymore, you have to create a new one, you have to adjust to your new busy schedule. I know it’s not always easy, but it’s very helpful to start your day relaxed and not just rush out the door. 🙂 Thank you! <3