While I’d love to have a leisurely morning before starting my day, more often than not, it just doesn’t work out that way. Whether it’s pressing the snooze button five times or rushing because I spent too long on my hair, my mornings aren’t always as smooth as I’d like them to be.
I won’t pretend to be an expert, but I have been reading up on ways to better your morning routine, and there seem to be a few key factors in helping yourself have more productive and relaxed mornings, which can improve your days, overall.
I know it’s going to be tough, but let’s all try to hit that snooze button a little less. Because if those extra five minutes of shut eye are going to make you feel rushed all day, they’re not really worth it (although it might not feel that way when you first wake up).
To improve your morning routine, give these 8 tips a try:
1. Prep The Night Before
Something as simple as laying out outfits and picking out jewelry can save you time in the morning so you’re never hunting for that one lost earring when you first wake up.
2. Try Not To Snooze
I know, I know, snoozing is great, and I’m definitely guilty of it myself. But if you can pretend you’ve got something super important to do (whether you do or not) you can get out of bed easier and get a jump start on your day.
3. Switch Out That Cup Of Joe
I love having coffee in the mornings, but apparently hot cocoa can work wonders for boosting your mood. And I’m definitely not opposed to that.
4. Set An Agenda
Whether you look at your calendar while you sip your hot cocoa or make a list of the thing you’d like to do today, keeping track of what lies ahead can keep you from forgetting to grab important documents, etc. and increase the likelihood of actually checking off everything on your list.
5. Keep An Eye On The Time
Setting a timer or having a big clock in a central location that you can constantly glance at can help you stay on time as you get ready each day.
6. Have A Nice Breakfast
Maybe here’s where not snoozing so many times can come in handy. It’s important to make time for a decent breakfast, as it can increase your productivity throughout the day. So, try to make time to sit down and have a nice meal.
7. Give Everything A Place
Know exactly where your most-used items are in the morning is so that you never waste time searching for them – like your car keys.
8. Practice, Practice
As with anything, practice makes perfect. Adjusting your morning routine won’t happen without some trial and error, but once you get the hang of it, your mornings will always be better.
So, I know I’ll definitely be working on these things myself, and I hope you will be, too. May your mornings never be rushed again! I’ll drink a cup of coffee (I mean, cocoa) to that!
[h/t: Houzz]