If you’re someone who hates waking up early in the morning, then it must be a real struggle for you to get out of bed and start the day right after sunrise. Well, waking up in the morning is a tough challenge even for a morning person actually.
Below are some tips we hope you find useful if you’re trying to be efficient during your morning routine so that you may avoid getting late for school, work or any of your appointments.
1. Avoid hitting the snooze button.
The first mistake you’re going to make is to hit the snooze button. You’re not being realistic if you think that sleeping for another 10 minutes will make you feel better. If you ever manage to fall asleep again in that span of time, it is more likely that you will feel more sleepy and tired when the alarm goes off again.
Make it a habit to get out of bed once you hear the alarm so you can start your day on the right track.
2. Control your shower time.
It would be good if you have a shower timer, but if not, your cell phone alarm will do. This way, you can streamline your shower process. You will then end up using less energy and water as well. By being aware of how long you have been in the shower, you will know if you’re spending too much time in there or not.
3. Get yourself an inexpensive coffee maker.
If you’re someone who needs coffee to start the day, then a coffee machine with a built-in timer will be a good investment. This will ensure that you have freshly brewed coffee that will not take much time to prepare.
4. Prepare your clothes before you go to bed.
Many of us waste a lot of time in the morning trying to figure out what to wear. What you can do to avoid spending too much time in front of your closet is to check the forecast for the next day and prepare the entire outfit before you go to bed. This will spare you from the time it would take to choose the perfect attire.
5. Cold breakfast is not a bad idea.
On the days you must leave the house early, it will be bothersome to cook breakfast. A cold breakfast is easier to prepare, and it can be as healthy, too. A big bowl of fruit salad, for example, would be enough to give you the energy you need to last throughout the day.
6. Leave notes for yourself.
It’s not a good idea to rely completely on your brain to remember everything that you have to do for the day. If there is something important that you have to do, write it down and stick it to your fridge the night before. This will prevent you from forgetting things and having to return home after you realize that you left what you had to bring with you.
According to life coaching experts, it doesn’t require much to start the day right. All you need to do is be aware of what’s ahead of you so you would know how much you need to prepare for that day. Also, try hard to be disciplined in doing the things you do in the morning so that you will not waste any precious time.
Cecile Peterkin is a certified career and retirement coach, and a registered member of the Career Professionals of Canada and the International Coach Federation. She is also the Founder and Senior Career Strategist at Cosmic Coaching Centre, provider of career and life management services for middle managers and mid-career professionals across Canada, United States and Europe.