Do you find yourself in a constant rush each morning, always struggling against the clock? Have you wished for a magic wand to slow down time just a little, so you can have a breather? We’ve all been there.
Luckily, there are many ways you can save time in the morning to reclaim your sanity and step out the door in control and on schedule.
In this post, we’ve compiled the best of our knowledge to provide you with thirty of the most efficient morning routines, morning time-saving tips, and time-saving hacks for morning activities.
Related: 21 Time Saving Hacks for Business and Everday Life
The Night Before
The key to streamlining morning tasks is investing time the evening before. It’s all about using your evenings effectively to reduce the morning workload and anxiety.
1. Prepare Your Clothes
Deciding what to wear each morning can eat up valuable time. Have you ever found yourself rummaging through your closet, struggling to decide what to wear?
Use the calmness of the evening to select your outfit for the next day. Doing so eliminates this decision-making process in the morning, saving precious minutes and reducing stress. It’s one less decision to worry about in the morning rush.
This can be particularly helpful on important days when you want to look your best and feel confident.
2. Pack Your Bag
How often have you left your house only to return because you forgot something important?
To prevent this, spend a few minutes packing your work bag each night. This includes everything from important documents to your laptop and even snacks.
Having everything ready to go will ensure a smooth exit the next morning.
3. Meal Prep
Spending a little time preparing lunches or breakfasts for you (and your kids if you have them) the night before can significantly reduce your morning hustle.
As a bonus, you’re more likely to prepare meals that are good for your health. Experiment with quick breakfast ideas to save time in the morning, such as overnight oats or grab-and-go fruit and nut bars.
4. Write Your To-do List
Take some time each evening to jot down tasks for the next day.
Having a clear action plan will help you start your day with purpose, avoiding time wasted on deciding what to do next. It also gives you a sense of control and helps reduce anxiety.
5. Shower Before You Go to Bed
Showering the night before can be a significant morning time-saver, especially if you share the bathroom with other family members.
Plus, it can also help you wind down from the day and improve sleep quality!
6. Prepare the Coffee Maker
For the coffee drinkers out there, prepping your coffee machine the night before means you can wake up to the smell of fresh coffee.
It’s not just about saving a few minutes; it’s about starting your day on a positive note.
7. Ensure Your Commute is Sorted
Whether it’s filling up your gas tank or checking the balance on your transit card, doing this the night before can prevent unpleasant morning surprises.
This is especially important if you commute during peak hours when every minute counts.
8. Organize the Essentials
Have a dedicated place near the door for your keys, phone, wallet, and other necessities.
You’ll save time searching for these items in the morning, and you’ll be less likely to forget something important.
9. Wind Down Properly
Establish a calming pre-bedtime routine to improve the quality of your sleep. This could involve reading, meditation, or gentle stretching.
Good sleep hygiene leads to a more restful night’s sleep, making waking up less of a struggle and making your morning more productive.
In the Morning
With your preparations done the night before, let’s look at some efficient morning routines and time-saving hacks for a productive morning routine.
10. Stick to a Routine
Routines can be transformative. By performing tasks in the same order daily, you’re programming your brain to go on autopilot, reducing decision fatigue.
An established routine can make your morning flow more smoothly, saving precious minutes.
11. Keep Your Space Tidy
Waking up in a clean and organized space can save you time and stress in the morning. Take a few minutes each night to tidy up and start your day on a positive note.
12. Set a Time Limit
Allocate a set time from when you wake up to when you need to leave. This will help you stay on track and prevent time from slipping away unnoticed.
For a more advanced version, setting a specific time frame for each task can prevent you from getting sidetracked. Use a timer on your phone or a kitchen timer to stay on track. Before you know it, you’ll be out the door, right on schedule.
13. Opt for Quick Breakfasts
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it doesn’t have to be the most time-consuming. Have a roster of quick, nutritious recipes ready.
Think smoothies, overnight oats, boiled eggs, or whole-grain toast with avocado.
14. Avoid Screen Time
Resist the urge to check your social media or email first thing in the morning.
Make your mornings screen-free to stay focused and prevent wasting time.
15. Use Sunlight to Wake Up Faster
Natural light is a powerful signal for your body to wake up.
As soon as you wake up, open the blinds or curtains. The sunlight will help you wake up faster, making you more alert and effective.
One of the best uses of the time you save from the other tips would be to go outside for a quick walk or sit down to have your cup of preferred beverage in your garden to soak up sunlight early in the day.
This helps stimulate your circadian rhythm and keep your energy levels high throughout the day. Even a few minutes of daylight exposure on a cloudy day has a proven effect.
16. Hydrate Quickly
Hydrating first thing in the morning is essential. Keep a bottle of water next to your bed and drink it when your alarm goes off. It’s a quick and easy way to start your day right.
17. Listen to Uplifting Music
A lively playlist can do wonders for your energy levels and mood in the morning. It can also serve as a timer — you could aim to finish certain tasks by the end of a song.
18. Consider Quitting Coffee
No, I have not gone crazy!
Speaking from personal experience, ditching the morning cup of joe was a pivotal shift. I found it significantly reduced my morning grogginess, providing a sense of clarity to start my day.
Besides, it also stabilized my energy levels throughout the day, eliminating the mid-afternoon slump. As a bonus, it even improved my sleep quality.
It’s not a fit for everyone, but worth a shot if you’re dealing with morning fogginess and inconsistent energy levels.
19. Simplify Your Makeup Routine
Cut back on non-essential steps, or consider multi-purpose products. For instance, a BB cream is a moisturizer, sunscreen, and foundation all in one.
20. Don’t Snooze
The snooze button may be tempting, but it’s a time thief. Every snooze cycle you cut out can save you precious minutes in the morning.
Place your alarm clock across the room so you have to physically get out of bed to turn it off.
21. Consider Intermittent Fasting
If you spend much time preparing and eating breakfast, intermittent fasting might be a good option.
Consider skipping breakfast and having your first meal at lunch. This approach can save you time and offer health benefits, such as improved mental clarity and weight loss.
22. Batch Similar Tasks
Task batching is an excellent strategy to maximize your morning efficiency. The idea is to group similar tasks and do them in one concentrated batch. This reduces the mental load of switching between different activities and can save you considerable time.
For instance, if you’re preparing breakfast, doing all the related tasks together is much more efficient. So, while your toast is in the toaster, you could be preparing your coffee, or even better, if your coffee machine has a timer, set it to brew while you’re still in the shower.
Similarly, grooming tasks can be batched for better efficiency. Brush your teeth while the shower is warming up, or apply your skincare products while your flat iron or curler heats up.
Similarly, while waiting for your car to warm up, use those minutes to do your makeup or quickly check your to-do list for the day.
It’s all about making the most of your time and reducing idle moments in your morning routine.
23. Be Vigilant With Your Time
It’s astonishingly easy to lose track of time in the mornings. We can easily get swept away in our thoughts or slip into daydreaming during our shower, or spend too long scrolling through social media while brushing our teeth.
These seemingly insignificant moments can add up, resulting in a rushed, stressful morning.
A practical tip to counteract this is to place a clock in your bathroom. Having a constant visual reminder of the passing time can help maintain awareness and keep your morning routine on schedule, preventing these unconscious time-wasting activities from creeping in.
Tips for Those with Kids
For parents, the morning hustle is even more challenging. Here are a few time-saving hacks for morning activities to help streamline your family’s routine.
24. Communicate about the schedule
If there’s a special event at school or a change in the routine, discuss it with your kids the night before. This can prevent morning meltdowns and ensure that everyone knows what to expect.
25. Involve the Kids in Prep
Encourage your kids to pick their outfits or pack their school bags the night before. This can save time and also teach them responsibility.
If they are too young, just like you do for yourself, prepare your kids’ clothes and lunches the night before.
26. Have a Breakfast Menu
Let your children choose their breakfast from a list of options you prepare beforehand. This saves time spent on morning decisions and ensures they eat a nutritious meal.
27. Create a Morning-Routine Chart
Kids thrive on routines. Establishing a consistent morning routine can help children know what to expect and reduce morning chaos.
Kids respond well to visual cues. A chart with their morning tasks can guide them and help you avoid having to constantly remind them of what they need to do next.
28. Delegate Tasks
Teach your children to handle age-appropriate tasks, such as getting dressed or packing their school bag. This not only saves you time but also fosters independence in your kids.
29. Sync Your Schedules
If possible, sync your morning routine with your kids’. This way, you can manage your tasks in parallel, saving valuable time.
Wrapping Up
By preparing well the night before and using these time-saving strategies, your mornings can transform from stressful to smooth. Remember, the key is consistency. Try implementing these tips and enjoy a more efficient, relaxed morning.
