Your alarm goes off but you hit it at least 3 more times and then realize that if you don’t jump out of bed, you’re gonna be seriously late for work or class.
And so the stressful morning routine begins.
For some reason the shower takes longer than you planned, the right outfit just isn’t coming together, keys and wallet aren’t where you thought they were, and you realize that you ran out of time to dry your hair.
Hectic mornings are so stressful, and what’s worse is that they set the tone for the rest of the day.
But if you’d like to take back your mornings, slow down, and even find time for yourself, then here are some simple time-saving hacks you can try this week.
1. Time Your Tasks
Before you can really understand how to save time in your morning, you need to understand how long it’s taking you to do certain tasks.
And once you understand how long it’s taking, you can figure out if that’s really a reasonable amount of time, or if you need to find ways to speed things up.
So for instance, it might take you 25 minutes to do your makeup in the morning. So you pick a makeup style and lay out the makeup the night before, and time yourself to see if you can go faster.
Think of it as a time audit where you make simple changes that leave you with more time for yourself.
2. Make Breakfast and Lunch the Night Before
This is probably one of the easiest time-saving hacks on this list.
Overnight oats and chia pudding can be prepared and kept in the fridge overnight. All you have to do is grab a spoon and eat it in the morning. Also, another great option is a green smoothie. You can either wash and prep the greens and fruit the night before, or freeze the ingredients in single-serving freezer bags.
And of course, find healthy (optional) and quick lunches you can meal prep the night before or at the beginning of the week so you have one less thing to think about.
3. Lay Out Your Outfits
Figuring out your outfit the night before will not only save you time, but also lower your stress levels. And it’s even better if you organize your outfits for the entire week on Sunday; it removes the decision making process every single day, which ends up saving you a lot of mental energy.
4. Use Dry Shampoo (But Not When Your Hair’s Already Greasy)
Washing and drying your hair, especially if it’s long, may be the most time consuming morning chore. Skip it and save time by washing your hair the day before and using dry shampoo.
Dry shampoo soaks up all the grease and provides instant volume. And the trick that I’ve learned from professional hairstylists is to apply it to clean and dry hair roots after washing and blow drying (not when your hair is already greasy).
It helps make sure that your hair stays clean a whole lot longer. And all you need to do in the morning is re-apply a little bit of the product (if you need it at all).
5. Ignore Your Phone
Checking your email and social media first thing in the morning is one of the biggest time leaks. It sucks you in like a black hole, and not only makes you late, but also anxious. According to this study, it was found that using smartphones promoted anxiety, depression, and stress.
So check your emails and notifications later on in the morning when you’re already done with your chores and rituals. Don’t allow your phone to control your life; be in charge of your energy and time.
6. Keep All Your Essentials in One Place
It’s incredible how much time you or I spend looking for our keys, wallet, phone, and other essentials. So have a designated spot where you keep them no matter what.
Also, tidy up and stress proof your space. It’ll make your morning and life feel so much better!
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, Huffpost, & Apartment Therapy.