Let's face it - mornings can be stressful. Especially rushed, busy mornings where there is an endless list of things to get done that seem to just become impossible as the time goes on. Need I say more?
And sure, you could just keeping waking up, rushing out the door, buying a coffee, and just picking up lunch somewhere. But being prepared for the morning can actually save you money as well as the headache of rushing.
I’m the type of person who loves to sit, drink my coffee, and relax for as long as possible before starting a busy day. It helps me set the tone for the entire day. In saying this, I try to be very careful about not making myself feel rushed and pressured in the morning as I’d struggle to get out of that feeling all day. In comes the hacks for less stressful mornings.
Today I'm sharing some day-changing tips for saving time and making mornings a little more efficient and enjoyable. Since I’ve started these routines, I feel a little more “put together”, even when I don’t really feel put together.
Prep Breakfast in Advance
Prepping breakfast in advance is an amazing habit. Having a breakfast prepared can encourage you to eat even if you don't quite feel like it yet, don't feel like cooking, or don't have the time to slow down and eat. Not only this, but it also helps cut back the temptation to stop when you're out and buy a coffee or something for breakfast. Which means saving money and eating healthier.
Some tips to try:
prep the coffee maker the night before / set out a mug, the amount of coffee and water you'll need
cut your bagel in half, cut some fruit, thaw a freezer breakfast - whatever it is that you need to do!
Freezer meals are a very budget friendly & time saving hack for mornings. Some of my personal go-to's include smoothie packs that just need to be taken out and blended, egg casserole that just needs to be warmed up, and fresh toast that just needs to be popped into the toaster.
Another idea would be to bake a fresh batch of muffins on the weekend for snacking on in the mornings throughout the week, or even preparing a yogurt parfait the night before, just mixing it all together the next morning.
Pack Your Bag & Make Your Lunch
Whether its a purse, a work bag, a lunch bag, or just your keys, wallet, and phone - making sure whatever you need to bring is ready to go the night before can save you time in the morning running around to get everything together. Stress reliever and time saver!
Packing your bag the night before, or even making a list of everything you know you'll need, can save huge amounts of time and running around in the morning. Plus, an organized day is much less stressful.
A big part of this also means packing a lunch or snacks the night before, so you're not running around at the last minute trying to prep something or buying food out. Buying a few lunches or snacks every day of the week quickly adds up.
Prepping your lunch the night before can help you curb this habit and always have a bite to eat when you're ready for one. If you're looking for meal inspiration, you could always make freezer meals or check out some simple meal ideas.
Have a Plan / Make a List
Having a plan for your day, or a list of things you need to remember to do, can help you keep your morning on track. Particularly, busy mornings can benefit from this time management method. A list of what you need to do, where you need to go, or scheduled items you have to be at for a certain time can help you stay on top of the day without the stress.
Even quicker - you can use a template to schedule your day or track when you need to do. I offer printables to help you do just that, and they can be found here :)
Listen On-the-Go
There is no doubt that listening to encouraging music or an inspiring podcast in the morning can give days a great start. But sometimes we don't have the time to sit and do this as we sip our coffee or lay in bed. Similarly, reading in the morning is a wonderful habit as well, but is time consuming for any busy morning.
My tip? Try listening to a podcast, audio book, or music that inspires you as you get ready to face the day. This way, you can still fill your mind with some insight and inspiration on busy days without having to skip it completely. If you'll be driving that day, try squeezing some listening time in there as well.
I'm someone who loves to wake up slowly and fill my mind with things that inspire me. But I struggled to wake up earlier and earlier to read each day. Once I started doing this I couldn't believe how much of a difference in made in my day both by giving me more free time in the morning and by encouraging me throughout the day.
Ditch Screen Time
This is probably the one that most of us struggle with – not spending so much time in front of a screen first thing in the morning. While I do try, it can be hard not to check your phone for notifications first thing in the morning or scroll through social media just because its a habit.
Try to intentionally decide that you won't check it until you've been awake for a while. Or if you need to, have a quick glance to make sure there is nothing urgent and then let yourself come back to it once you've had time to wake up and start your day.
This is a large time saver for most of us who currently spend time on our phones, and also a peaceful change to wake up without the light of a screen first thing in the morning and impact our mood with what we're reading online.
This is also a great way to practice self care and lessen the overwhelm that can come with social media and screen time.
Clean Up at Night
This is a tip I would highly recommend for anyone. Having any dishes done in the evening before bed, folding any laundry the same day, putting away any scattered paperwork - these can all make it so much less stressful to wake up the next morning.
This can definitely add to feelings of relaxation in the morning and help maintain a slower paced start to the day. Waking up to a clean home is a wonderful feeling and will save you time in trying to quickly tidy up as you rush out the door in the morning (or not clean up, but then have to spend more time to de-clutter later!)
Have Your Outfit Ready
Having an outfit ready to put on can be a HUGE time saver in the morning. It sounds simple, but it really does make a difference. Especially if you're heading out for the day, cutting down the time it takes to get ready gives you more time to do other things that need to be done without having to get up earlier.
Laying it out and having it there for you saves the time of picking an outfit, running around trying to find a matching piece, or even changing multiple times. If you're really feeling it, you could even plan outfits for the entire week in advance. It also gives you a chance to keep an eye on laundry and time it accordingly.
Try a Quick Hairstyle
I'll be the first to admit that some days I spend more time than I would like to on my hair. One hack I've started to curb the time spent on this is to wash my hair at night and either let it air dry before bed or blow dry it, and then braid it before going to sleep. Waking up and rocking french braids (or waves) is a quick and pretty hairstyle.
There are so many quick hairstyles whether it be a bun, ponytail, half bun, headband, braids, and more. Try making a list of a few quick hairstyles you love and would easily love to do to save time in the morning, and keep it as a go-to for when you're looking for a quick style.
There you have it – some helpful hacks for busy mornings that can also save you money. I love incorporating these tips when I can to make my mornings a little less stressful and a little more slow-paced. Have a great day!
Searching for more ways to organize your daily life? Check out How to Organize Your Daily Life with 5 Free Habits & a Printable.
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