Ahhh the morning routine. Mornings are critically important to setting the tone for the rest of your day. As we all know, they can also be incredibly chaotic. From the moment your alarm clock goes off until you sit down at your desk, there are precious minutes being wasted here and there. Between taking the dog out, packing school lunches, putting kids on the bus, the morning rush hour, etc a morning routine can take 2 hours before you ever get to work. Here are a few tips on how you can save some time and reduce the stress of your morning routine:
- Plan and prepare. If you have kids in school, you know they’re going to need lunch every day. Try making the lunches and packing their bags the night before to help save time. If they’re old enough, have them do this themselves or help out. This can be a great way to teach them about planning and managing their time!
- Automate. Invest in a coffee maker that allows you to set a timer for when to start making coffee in the morning. You’ll save yourself time and besides, who doesn’t love a fresh cup of coffee first thing in the morning. For those of you in cold weather states, a remote starter for your car is another good investment for the winter. It beats trudging through the snow to warm it up.
- Organize. Keep your keys on a hook, your shoes by the door, your briefcase in your office, etc. You have no idea how much time is wasted by people looking for lost keys. Just like with kids, prepare as much as possible the night before so everything is where you need it the next day.
- Analyze and adjust. If you commute to work and constantly get stuck in traffic, try an alternate route or public transportation. Listen to the traffic report before you leave or get on the highway so you know what to avoid. If possible, leave a few minutes early to try to beat traffic or at least account for the time you’ll spend in it.
Try tracking your morning routine over a week or a month and see if any improvements have been made. Even if you only save yourself a few minutes, it will give you enough time to eat a healthy breakfast which will help your performance. If you already have the timing of your morning routine down, think about the stress that can be reduced with these tips.
Until next time,
Mary Agnes Antonopoulos
Blogger for OfficeTime, Your #1 Time Tracking Solution
http://bit.ly/OfficeTimeFree