We move slowly when we’re half asleep, but these simple tips for how to save time in the morning will help you get out the door and ready to take on the day.
I consider myself a morning person. That said, I don’t pop out of bed all chipper and roaring to take on the day. I still dread my alarm going off, and I still have to convince my brain to switch out of sleep-logic mode and into new-day mode. Over the past few years, I’ve developed a pretty solid morning routine to help me get up and at ‘em and out the door in less than 20 minutes. Yep – 20 minutes from alarm beep to out-the-door. Here’s how I do it.
1. Don’t snooze – I’ve never been a snoozer. To me, snoozing is a total waste of time. Why set your alarm just to turn it off knowing it’s going to go off again in 10 minutes. To prevent the dreaded snooze, try putting your phone across the room. That way, you have to get up and out of bed to turn it off. At that point, you’re already up. Might as well stay that way. If all else fails, try writing yourself a threatening motivational message.
2. Turn the light on – It’s especially hard to get up when it’s dark in the morning. The simple solution: turn on the light. It might shock your body (and your eyes) for a second, but it will help let your brain know it’s go-time. If all else fails, turn the light on and splash water on your face. Double whammy.
3. Have your clothes packed and ready to go – If you workout in the morning, have your gym clothes out and ready to put on (or even sleep in them!). Have your office/rest-of-the-day clothes packed up in your gym bag or simply laid out if you workout at home. If you go the office/work/run errands first, just do the opposite: have your office/daily clothes out and ready to put on and your post-work gym clothes packed up and ready for your afternoon sweat sesh. Moms: lay out your kids’ clothes, too, to help them get ready faster.
4. Make grab-and-go meals – The night before (or during your weekly food prep), make all your snacks/meals for the day. Divide them into daily baggies or Tupperware, so in the morning, you can just grab your food for the day and head out. If you eat breakfast before leaving the house, try pre-making things like overnight oats or banana bread. If you’re a smoothie lover, layer all your smoothie ingredients in a jar the night before so you can just dump them in the blender, blend it up, and go! I make sure my pre-workout and aminos are out, and I have post-workout and afternoon snacks ready to snag and bring to work.
5. Know where your keys are – Is there anything more annoying when you’re half awake than not being able to find your keys? Have a little table or a hook near your door to house your keys. Whenever you are home, that is where your keys should live. That way, when you head out, they’re right there ready to come with you.
6. Make it a routine – And repeat! Do the same thing every morning. The more you do it, the easier it will be and the faster you’ll be able to get out the door.
I think I hear your alarm going off. Time to get to it! ;-P
Let’s Chat:
Are you a morning person?
How do you save time with your morning routine?
I totally agree with you. I’m a morning person and hitting the snooze button is such a waste of time! The extra 5 or 10 minutes doesn’t really make a difference in the long run. Grab and go meals have saved me so much time in the mornings, especially when i make green smoothies.
Kimberly recently posted…TCS New York City Marathon: The Volunteering Experience
When I do hit snooze, I end up staying awake just waiting for the alarm to go off again. Total waste of time.
I have to have my lunch made and work clothes laid out, otherwise I’m easily 10-15 minutes late!
Bri recently posted…Recipe: Easy vegan pumpkin pie protein pudding
yes! I will try on every bit of clothing trying to decide what to wear if I don’t lay it out.
Tips like this are what got me out the door at 3AM for so many years. I hate snooze!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Why I’ll Never Get Over Losing My Mom
3AM… bleh!
I need the trick to get my two boys out of the house in the morning…that would save me all sorts of time, I could prepare 3 course breakfasts in the amount of time it now takes me to get them up dressed, lunches made, hair washed and presentable. Prep for me is key the night before I have to know where all their clothes are, backpacks, shoes and jackets that way it’s just a matter of getting it all on them and out the door, so I can get out the door and to work on time too.
Renee recently posted…Cooking Up Fun for the Preschool
Boys – they say we take a long time!
I’ve seen it, you are pretty efficient in the morning!
Annmarie recently posted…Meatless Monday Night: Chocolate Peanut Butter Football Pudding Dip
Woot!
I’ve always been a morning person and really only use an alarm clock when I have to get up at a ungodly hour (hello 3:45) for a race. That said, having workout stuff and food prepped and ready to go is a game changer. Great tips!
Marcia recently posted…What NOT to Pack for a Destination Race
I definitely don’t have the internal alarm set. That’d be great.
I’m with you girl! I am definitely more of a morning person. At the suggestion of my client, I moved my phone from under my pillow to across the room. It’s made SUCH a different in me not hitting the snooze button a million times. And I am all about setting stuff out too – saves so much time!
Smart client!
I definitely agree with you about the no snooze thing. I’ve never been a snoozer, but the few times I’ve done it I wind up feeling more tired when I actually get up than if I’d just gotten up to begin with!
Chrissy @ Snacking in Sneakers recently posted…5 Fun Boot Camp Games!
Same here! The snooze is pointless, people!
The more prep work you do the night before, the easier to is to get out the door on time in the morning.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon Training Log – Week 8
Agreed!
Great tips! I am no where near as speedy as you are in the morning. I try to get everything prepped the night before, but I’m slow in the shower 😛
Amanda recently posted…Hemp Hearts Chili {giveaway}
Ahhh see I shower after my workout. If I showered first thing, I’d just want to hang out in the warm water all morning haha
I am a total morning person! When I don’t feel like getting up extra early, I always remember how bad I feel when I skip a workout. That’s usually all it takes.
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…So many books, so little time! #thefitfam #thefitdish
I do that, too! I tell myself that I’ll have so much more energy and be in a better mood if I get up and get going. Plus, then I won’t feel guilty or have to workout after a long day at work!
Good tips! I actually set my alarm 20 minutes earlier than I need to get up so I can lounge in bed and catch up before having to hustle out the door. It helps!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…What Do You Think? Reader Survey & Giveaway!
ooo nice!
No snoozing -that’s first and foremost but of course! I am a morning person and when I get up early, I accomplish everything I need to by like 10 am! ha ha!
GiGi Eats recently posted…Stuff Everything But The Kitchen Sink, In Your Mouth
Love being super productive before most people are even up! Go us!
Great tips Nicole. Mornings I’m on it. It’s the afternoons that take a lot of effort.
jill conyers recently posted…Books That Inspire
#truth
I’m with you on that snooze button! What is the point and then those few minutes you just lost make you even more rushed! Ha! I know others that couldn’t make it without one though!
Lori @ TheHealthMinded.com recently posted…Tap into the Sweet Benefits of Maple Syrup
Right? I just don’t get it.
These are great tips but the hardest one for me is the snooze button. This morning I had to be up extra early and I set 4 alarms because I often sleep through he first 2. When I’m tired, alarms just don’t seem to work on me the first time.
Packing my purse and laying out clothes overnight are the best time savers though.
Runwright recently posted…Workout Wednesday
I love mornings!!! I love exercising in the morning, and do like to enjoy my mornings slowly when i can- but since I am so busy I definitely need to be quick out to door like you! i totally use the turning the lights on trick. I sometimes do snooze, but never more than once! Luckily right now I am living in a teeny tiny apartment so its easier for me to keep track of things, so I don’t have to worry as much about losing things.
Love the plus side of a small apartment! That is so true. The smaller the place, the fewer places there are to lose things haha. I enjoy slow mornings on the weekend, but it’s all about the hustle on weekdays 🙂
I used to be a morning person but now my kids are up super early and hear every creak in the house, so I’m hesitant to get up early to workout because then they wake up and it doesn’t happen. I’m better off with the extra 30 min of sleep, lol.
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Where do I go from here?
Hey, an extra 30 minutes of sleep can make a big difference if you have the time 🙂