I am a morning person, but I understand that not everyone is. I for sure didn’t used to be. Now I find that I am most productive before 2 PM. So I wake up early and get as much done as possible. I get asked a lot how? How do you get up so early? How do you save time? So today I am sharing 6 ways to save time in the morning! You can have productive mornings too!
6 Ways To Save Time In The Morning
Make A List The Night Before: I live and die by to do lists. I have talked about them a million times. It doesn’t matter if you use a fancy app, the notes section of your phone, Google Keep, or a piece of paper. But have a to do list. Also put your HARDEST items first. The things that YOU HAVE TO DO. Yes I put workout on my to do list, but I try to put the hardest and most time consuming items first.
Set Out Your Clothes: Going to work out at 5 AM? Going to work? Both? Get your clothes together the night before. Your morning tired self will thank you!
Pre-make breakfast/lunch: So we are HUGE overnight oats fans in my house. Andrew especially. So on Sundays he makes 5 days of oats but only adds the almond milk and banana the night before. It saves a TON of time. When he wakes up his breakfast is ready! He also does this with lunch. He either takes leftovers or makes lunch the night before. I can’t tell you how much time I have seen him save from this. On the same note I work from home so I meal prep Sundays so that my lunches for the week are all ready!
Have a plan: Waking up early and saving time is only going to work if you have a plan! You can’t wake up and say “now what?” So that’s where the list comes in. For example: I wake up at 510. I give myself 20 minutes to watch the news, and scroll on my phone. Then I get up wash my face, brush my teeth, and get dressed in workout clothes. Then eat breakfast and work for about an hour before Liam is up. This may not work for everyone but having a plan really helps.
Put your alarm across the room: We keep an alarm in our bathroom. It’s so obnoxious and loud that you have no choice but to get up. Once you’ve walked all the way there you’re just up. If it’s next to you, you can easily snooze.
Don’t look at your phone: So yes above I said I scroll. But I give myself that time. I get up earlier than I need to. If you want to sleep longer and don’t want time to scroll then don’t even look at your phone when you wake up. Make yourself shower, get dressed, etc before you even look at your phone. Once the phone is out productivity plummets.
I hope you found these 6 ways to save time in the morning helpful. I know it can be hard but the more you get in the habit the more of a lifestyle it becomes. You will be amazed at how much time you save!
I’ve set my alarm clock (I don’t bring my phone into my room!) across the room for as long as I can remember. It’s partly because my room is too small for a bedside table, but it’s also because it makes me physically get out of bed to switch off the dang thing. Wakes me up every time! 😉
These are great tips, I’m most productive in the morning as well so I’m trying to transition into going to the gym around 3pm when I want a work break instead of first thing in the morning when it takes up so much of my productive time. Having a plan really helps me as well, I usually write out my work to-do list for the day the night before so I know what I have to accomplish when I get up.
I try and know what I’m going to wear the night before too, because it does save a lot of time. I have to get up to turn my alarm off too so it means I’m up when it goes off.
I see that getting my kids to stay at Grandma’s didn’t make your list, but that would save me lots of time. Instead I’ll try your tips to cut back on the time it takes to get out the door.
Wow! You wake up early! I’m so not a morning person, now we sort of have to be since we have a kid… but the second she’s away we go back to owl ways. Great tips, thank you 🙂
I’ve set my alarm clock (I don’t bring my phone into my room!) across the room for as long as I can remember. It’s partly because my room is too small for a bedside table, but it’s also because it makes me physically get out of bed to switch off the dang thing. Wakes me up every time! 😉
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
I depend on lists for everything. Without them, I’d be an even bigger disorganized mess than I am.
Yes a list is always good for each day. I sometimes lay my clothes out too .
Yes! I’m all about list making!
These are great tips, I’m most productive in the morning as well so I’m trying to transition into going to the gym around 3pm when I want a work break instead of first thing in the morning when it takes up so much of my productive time. Having a plan really helps me as well, I usually write out my work to-do list for the day the night before so I know what I have to accomplish when I get up.
Yes these are all so important! My hubby likes to set his alarm clock in the other room too haha.
I am sooo a list person! I have to do mine the night before- makes life better lol
I definitely feel that having a clear plan helps me in the morning. Putting the alarm a cross the room is such a classic trick!
These are such great tips! Preparing the night before really helps me in the morning!
Belle | One Awesome Momma
I try and know what I’m going to wear the night before too, because it does save a lot of time. I have to get up to turn my alarm off too so it means I’m up when it goes off.
-Lauren
Yes to all but particularly to don’t look at my phone. If I just glance it sucks my brain out for 30 minutes.
Stepping away from the email and phone in the morning is a big one for me. I tend to drag my feet these days and this really helps!
The mornings are rough around here. I know I can get easily distracted so avoiding my phone is a great idea.
I see that getting my kids to stay at Grandma’s didn’t make your list, but that would save me lots of time. Instead I’ll try your tips to cut back on the time it takes to get out the door.
I need to buy an alarm and I need to leave my phone downstairs.
Wow! You wake up early! I’m so not a morning person, now we sort of have to be since we have a kid… but the second she’s away we go back to owl ways. Great tips, thank you 🙂
Great tips!! Alarm clock in the bathroom is genius!!!!
i feel like there is not enough time in the day to get things done especially in the morning when i am getting myself and 3 kids out the door