Jun 22

5 Ways To Expedite Your Morning Routine

The Fit Dish link up this week (hosted by Jill Conyers @ JillConyers.com, & Jessica Joy @ TheFitSwitch.org) is…a free topic!

I don’t know about you, but I am not a morning person. A while back, after hearing a fellow classmate talk about makeup, it sparked a rant discussion on my end about self-worth, which, to me, should be more about how you feel about yourself and how you project yourself to the world vs. what you look like.

Granted, if putting on makeup makes you feel great, then by all means, do it! Just don’t put others down for not having class and not being a lady because they happen to place more value in getting more sleep. It’s like the whole “real women have curves” nonsense that keeps getting blasted all over “fitspo” images.

Newsflash: Skinny people are real too! (ya don’t say…)

I am all for self-love, but it annoys me when people feel the need to put down other people in order to achieve it.

But! Back to the matter at hand…

Truth be told, the only reason I get up any earlier than 6:30 is so that I can schedule my posts and social media awesomeness for the day. It takes me longer to get out of bed than it does to actually get ready in the morning because I’ve gotten my “morning routine” down to a science. These days, I’ve been rolling outta bed at 6:40 and making it to the hospital somewhere between 6:55-6:59. >_>

morningroutine

(Translation: The extent of my morning “beauty” routine is brushing my teeth, washing my face, [sometimes] brushing my hair (it looks the same whether or not I do), and putting on clothes.)

We have didactics almost every morning at 7 a.m., which isn’t as horrible as it could be, but is still pretty early in my book, because in my perfect world, 3-4 a.m. is a perfectly acceptable bedtime. I’m just a lot more awake at night, but to be a functional member of society, I gotta conform to said rules! Here’s how I do it!

Not a #morning person? 5 tips to expedite your #morningroutine! #productivity #dishthefit

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Figure out how much time it takes for you to get from home to wherever you need to be.

For me and the hospital I’m currently rotating at, that’s aboutttt 7 minutes. 10-ish if I get stuck behind every red light there is along the way, along with a slow car or two. Plan accordingly!

Establish a routine.

When you have a planned schedule that you stick to, it’s easier to auto-pilot your way through your morning until you’re awake enough to function.

Pack everything you need the night before.

This includes your wallet, keys, phone, meal(s), gym bag, books, notes… If you know you’re going to need it, pack it beforehand!

Lay out the clothes you plan to wear the next day.

Unless you have a cat that may opt to lie on top of your black clothes, in which case, I’d hang it somewhere, just have them ready! It’ll be one less thing to worry about.

Eat breakfast!

Don’t skip your breakfast! There are a billion quick breakfast ideas floating out there in the blogosphere, and if you really don’t want to do much of anything in the morning, prep it the night before! I prep my breakfast while I’m brushing my teeth so that by the time I’m done with that/putting on my contacts/combing my hair, my food is ready. I’ll likely follow up with a subsequent post on that, but for now…

  • How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
  • Are you a morning shower-er or a night shower-er?
  • What’s your favorite to-go breakfast?

Dish The FitClick the image to read my other Dish The Fit posts! :]

Permanent link to this article: https://www.fairyburger.com/5-ways-to-expedite-your-morning-routine-2/

68 comments

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  1. In regards to the beginning of this article, people really can be absolute jerks and a$$holes sometimes, can’t they? Sheesh. On a typical morning, to actually get ready and do everything in my routine, it takes me about 45 minutes. That is only because I also get a 1-2 mile power walk on an incline on the treadmill each morning (helps to wake me up) and a shower (also necessary to wake me up) besides getting dressed and such. But I do hardly anything in the bathroom to get ready! I wash my hair and let it air dry, no styling at all (perks to straight hair!) and I rarely wear makeup. Yay for being confident in ourselves and having fast morning routines!

    1. Ah, I aspire to be at that level again! I used to do my workouts in the morning back in college, and when I was training for my powerlifting competition, I used to powerwalk on an incline in the morning too! (That definitely helped with the waking up, and I got some studying in then too, hence why I really need to get that back into my life!!) I’ve always been a night shower-er though, hehehe. The lack of blowdrier/wanting to sleep in + super long hair makes that partly necessary! :P!

  2. These are great ideas. I’m more of a night person too, but like you I have to conform. I’ve got my routine down too! I usually wash my hair (& straighten it, depending if I’m feeling it) the night before then spring out of bed around 6:25. It’s working so far, except for tonight.
    Leslie recently posted…I Want To Go CampingMy Profile

    1. Yay! I definitely have nights/mornings where I don’t manage to do my usual routine either, but…gotta learn to roll with the punches, I guess! :O

  3. Haha that timing I impressive! Basically I extend my morning routine because i just love mornings so much (I know..) but without a routine I’d just be stressed. Like planning the night before what I’m going to wear etc, I still don’t trust myself to make those decisions in the morn!
    Cat recently posted…Outside Exercise in LondonMy Profile

    1. It speaks volumes for my hatred for mornings, I think. :P Planning it out the night before definitely takes out having to think in the morning! :]

  4. I think the routine aspect is what takes it home. The first time you try anything new, it can take an extra few minutes, but soon, you’ve got it down pat and find short cuts. Alex’s routine in the morning is meant to maximize his time asleep, so I think that you and he would be in very similar camps!
    Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Fresh, Healthy Meals Delivered (Cooked Chicago Review)My Profile

    1. Agreed! And hahaha, yes indeed! I’m sure he definitely understands the need for maximizing sleep opportunities! :P

  5. Yea I totally need this advice! I’m so SLOW in the mornings… and a routine procrastinator! I hope I can put some of these into action to add greater efficiency to my life :)

    Kristen

    1. I hope they help! <3 I feel like I'm extra slow in the mornings too! My brain doesn't want to function yet! :x

  6. i’m not a huge planner except when it comes to night time – definitely helps with the morning routine thing!!
    Linz @ Itz Linz recently posted…All American 5K | American Flag TankMy Profile

    1. I exhibit majorrrr type A tendencies when it comes to planning, but I guess this is one of the cases where it’s really beneficial! :P

  7. I have to plan like this on an early morning, or I forget everything!!! Great tips!
    Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Quick Hilton Head WeekendMy Profile

    1. Same! My brain doesn’t seem to want to function early in the morning! :x

  8. I’m a huge fan of routine–that way I don’t waste time thinking about what I have to do, I just do it. Which is probably why I tend to eat the same things for breakfast–lately it’s Greek yogurt and granola, although I love a green smoothie for breakfast, too.
    Beth @ Running with the Sunrise recently posted…How Barre Classes Help RunnersMy Profile

    1. Agreed! It makes life a whole lot easier in terms of knowing what I need to get done too (yay for to-do lists)! I did the Greek yogurt + granola thing all through March, but lately, it’s been all about the green smoothies! :P

  9. I have had to get better about this since going back to work full time. My days have to start not on the fly so I plan at night and have everyone’s clothes laid out and breakfast half cooked. If I’m going to workout in the AM i lay out my clothes accordingly for that as well. Great tips, to a better day everyday!
    Renee recently posted…Blueberry & Pistachio Summer SaladMy Profile

    1. Ah, it’s definitely more challenging when you’re planning not just for yourself, but it looks like you have a good routine down! :]! Best of luck to you in transitioning back to full-time!

  10. I’m a morning shower-er. Great tips Farrah and they all fit nicely with my morning ritual. Thanks for sharing with and inspiring the #fitfam! xoxo
    jill conyers recently posted…10 Tips for Healthy Grocery ShoppingMy Profile

    1. I think my lack of a hair dryer and the fact that I suck at mornings makes it so I can’t be a morning shower-er, hehehe. I suppose it all works out though! :]

    • Ricardo on June 23, 2015 at 10:24 am
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    My morning routine is very similar. Gym bag is ready from when I originally got home and exchanged it out. I use the restroom and then face, teeth, towel. Finally I’m usually out the door in 10ish minutes. As far as breakfast, I have it all at my office. I get in, check emails and make toast for my pb sandwich or I’m warming up oatmeal.

    The car ride I’m more excited about since I usually bump this https://youtu.be/RbSYgSOZHqI or this https://youtu.be/WS6-vI70oc0 to get me started. Heh, who needs coffee after those?

    1. Good stuff! :D I definitely started eating breakfast during didactics so I’d get to sleep in…even later…

      hahaha, those are awesome songs to listen to! :P Lately, I’ve been listening to board review podcasts on my longer drives to/from WV.

  12. It takes me forever to get ready in the morning! I am a morning showerer and my favorite go-to breakfast is STILL overnight oatmeal. Chocolate! with 2 cups of coffee :)
    diane@runninrocker recently posted…Summer Fitness HappeningsMy Profile

    1. Overnight oatmeal is an awesome breakfast! :D! I need to start making that again!

  13. Awesome tips – I’m exactly the same, I am out of bed at 6:07 and out the door at 6:15 for a run if I want to go to November Project or need to be somewhere, like work, on time. And once back, I shower fast and change – no makeup for me either just because I don’t like wearing it! My mom always wants me to because she thinks it’s more professional, but I say I’m lucky to have good skin and I do me :)
    Alyssa @ Renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…Peaches n’ Cream Oatmeal CakeMy Profile

    1. Nice! :D My mom wants me to as well because she thinks it’s more professional/I’ll be more likely to find someone (…), but…my philosophy is, if he doesn’t like my face as it is, proobbbbably not gonna work out between us, haha.

  14. Great tips!
    Cheyenne @ Rosevine Cottage Girls recently posted…Keeping TurkeysMy Profile

    1. Thanks so much! :]

  15. This is good post for me:) I am not a morning person, not even a little.
    I used to tell people, just don’t talk to me until after 10am, LOL Sadly it’s still kinda true:) I have still been forcing myself to get up at 7 and get out the door for a run, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have to pep talk myself into it each day:)
    Your list is great, getting ready the night before, whether it’s a workout or work you head to first thing, is really the key. I always say the more I do the night before, the more minutes I get to sleep in the morning, LOL
    Great post!!!
    Kristy @Runaway Bridal Planner recently posted…Westwater Canyon White Water River RaftingMy Profile

    1. I applaud you for being able to get up in the morning for a run! :O I definitely have to give myself pep talks in the morning too, haha.

      Those extra minutes of sleep in the morning are definitely awesome motivators for me to get everything done the night before! :P

  16. thanks for the awesome tips!!
    Tianna recently posted…The Best Sun Cream for Oily and Acne Prone SkinMy Profile

    1. Anytime! :D! I hope they help!

  17. I am a morning person and that is the best part of the day for me- it is quiet and the time is all my own. When I was young I could roll out of bed and go but now I need a little more prep time :) nice post!
    Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…An interview with the man behind the scenesMy Profile

    1. Ah, I really need to be able to do that. I think for a time during college, and also during my 2nd year of med school, I was a lot better at it, but these days…nope. ._.

  18. I am usually a morning person but the nights up with our newborn have me milking the morning for every extra minute of sleep! NO EXCUSES – I need to get back into my morning routine ;) Soon, I tell myself… soon.

    You shared such great tips for a morning routine, Farrah! My “getting ready” in the morning sometimes consists of a shower (that’s the best start to my day!), a quick hair comb and mousse for the curls, teeth brushing and maybe mascara if I’m lucky. My biggest thing is getting the kids ready in the morning… the process takes a little longer now that there are TWO and the littlest one spits up on me daily!
    Amy @ Life to the Full recently posted…Baby & Body Update: One MonthMy Profile

    1. Ohhh goodness, that’s definitely a valid excuse though!! I hope you get to catch up on sleep at some point! Having to get yourself anddd two little ones ready takes a lot more time–you’re a trooper! :O

  19. I LOVE my morning routine! And I am a huge advocate for getting everything ready the night before! Seriously, one of the best things you can do!
    Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…The Best Gluten-Free, Allergy-Friendly Cereal & Granola ListMy Profile

    1. Agreed! Having less to worry about in the morning works rather well in my book! :]

  20. MAYBE IF MY ALARM CLOCK WAS NOT MUTED this morning, I would have expedited my morning routine today! ha ha ah! WHOOPS!!
    GiGi Eats recently posted…GMOs: They Might Be For DinnerMy Profile

    1. hahaha, that happens to me sometimes too! (Or I walk across the room and turn them all off and go back to sleep. .. Bad times for all.)

  21. Hi Farrah! Oh man, we are opposites. I hate being rushed in the morning, so I wake up way earlier than I need to, so I can have time to read the news while I eat breakfast, blog and make the bed, etc. hehehe I also set things out the night before though. I love that you’ve got your morning down to a science! Rock it, and enjoy that extra sleep! :)
    Ashley @ A Lady Goes West recently posted…Top five confessions of a fitness professionalMy Profile

    1. I love my super-expedited getting-ready process, but I feel like I need to try out the waking-up-earlier thing one of these days, just to see what not being rushed would feel like! :O But ah, that extra sleep…

  22. I recently started my morning routine and I’m already loving it. I think my favorite tip from this post is packing everything the night before. I hadn’t thought of this before & will be so useful in August when I start teaching full time! :)

    1. Yay! I hope it helps! Having one less thing in the morning to worry about (when my brain is still relatively nonfunctional) tends to make life better for me, hehe.

  23. I need to get a morning routine going again! After having my second baby all schedules feell apart, I sleep when I can. But he is getting close to 9months old so time to sleep train and get my morning back! I do always make breakfast though, eggs, veggues, and organic coffee, I love starting the day right!
    Amber@Eat2SaveYourLife recently posted…Carb Cycling 101My Profile

    1. Ah, best of luck to you! It’s definitely harder with a little one, but I hope you get to have your morning back soon! Your breakfasts sound delicious! :D

  24. omg girl, i love how quick you are in the morning! WILD! I am SUCH a morning person, I get up at 4:45 am…and it takes me about two hours total in the morning – NOT because I am getting ready, but because I have to take my medication, wait a specific amount of time to eat, then be able to perform my routine to “empty out’ my system, having IBS isn’t always glamorous, but I make it work :) OVERNIGHT OATS ARE MY GO TO, ALWAYS <3
    Amber recently posted…Protein Chocolate Chip Cookie Mug CakeMy Profile

    1. Oh em gee. o_o I applaud you, seriously. All the props in the world. :O That takes dedication, and I’m so glad you’ve found a way that works for you! <3

      I need to make overnight oats again! :D I keep forgetting that that would be a perfect snack/breakfast!

  25. I takes me between 30 and 45 for me to get ready in the morning – that means no rushing, enjoy breakfast, have a cup of coffee. Rushing takes about 20 hehe. Self-love should most certainly not include putting others down (in my opinion)!!
    Jess @hellotofit recently posted…Link Love #23 and how I like my froyoMy Profile

    1. That’s the one downside to this very expedited morning routine, haha. I feel like I’m always rushed/on-the-go (hello, type A…). Having a slower morning every now and again would be really nice!

      I definitely agree with that!

  26. I work at home so I’m not normally getting ready to go out in the morning so it takes about 30 minutes. If I had to get ready it would take about an hour. I shower at night so I can wet set my hair and because I don’t like blowdrying my hair.

    And to be honest I can’t face food in the morning haha, I just have tea. Sometimes I’ll have yogurt, fruit or toast but not often.
    Lisa Sharp recently posted…My Summer FavoritesMy Profile

    1. I don’t like blowdrying my hair either, so I’ve always let it airdry. (Hence, my failures at being a morning-showerer, haha.)

      I don’t have as much of an appetite in the morning, but I usually still try to scarf something down, because I don’t always get time to go eat lunch! :x

  27. These are some great tips. I’m great at getting out the door quickly but now I’m trying to establish a routine for summer when I’m not going anywhere. Oddly enough that’s proving to be more difficult for me!
    Pam @ Hodge Podge Moments recently posted…Tips for Summer Fun: Staying Safe in the SunMy Profile

    1. It’s a lot harder when there’s nowhere that you technically “have” to be! Part of what forces me up in the morning = obligations that I’m expected to fulfill, hahaha.

  28. Great tips! I love to take baths at night to help me relax but I have to also have my morning shower to help wake me up in the morning. I am with you about the makeup. It just takes to much time. I get up early so I can get some quietness in before the day start.
    JcCee Barney recently posted…5 Simple Ways To Encourage YourselfMy Profile

    1. Ah, baths! <3 I love those, but haven't been able to take one of those in ages! They're amazinggg for relaxation though. <3

  29. I love my mornings. It’s perfect time to do everything before everyone gets up.
    Tess recently posted…Get “Naked” With Gluten Free Nakd Bars Review + GiveawayMy Profile

    1. I wish I could turn myself into a morning person! :O

  30. I like to shower at night because I never know how that toddler of mine is going to behave in the mornings. ;)
    Earl-Leigh recently posted…From Bedpans to Diapers Pt 2My Profile

    1. hahaha, good on you for planning ahead! ;P

  31. Love these tips! I do t really have a morning routine right now, which kind of bums me out! Some nights I get to bed at a decent hour end get to sleep in until 7 or 8, but other times I’m in bed at 1am and up at 5. Not ideal, but occasionally it has to be done. On those days I keep everything packed and ready to go like you do!
    Ariana recently posted…Review of Ra Energy + a Giveaway!My Profile

    1. It’s hard to stick to a regular bedtime (I’ve definitely been having issues with that lately, especially on nights where I’m on a roll and actually productively studying)! I hope you get to catch up on some sleep! <3

  32. Packing things the night before always helps me. Do I always do it? Ehhh haha.

    1. hehehe, there are times where I don’t get to it either, but it makes such a big difference! :P

  33. I’m a morning person! I’m most productive in the morning. Before the kids I would get up at five in the morning so that I could get some reading and exercise done before everything else planned for the day. Now that I have kids my nights are not my own anymore. I often end up facing the morning with 3-5 hours of sleep behind my belt and in a state of dazed confusion. The only way to survive is to have a routine. I try to eliminate any decision making whatsoever. My favorite breakfast is my homemade granola with dried fruits and nuts that I eat with a soup spoon and wash it down with a cup of black tea. Does it sound weird at all?
    Eva recently posted…DIY Faberge Eggs with KidsMy Profile

    1. You’re a trooper! :O! I suck at waking up in the morning and I don’t even have kids! :O I can definitely relate to the 3-5 hours of sleep thing though. Having a routine makes it a lotttt more doable!!

      That doesn’t sound weird at all! I love tea (I usually have green tea <3 ), and granola is wonderful! <3

  34. Routine is so important. I have to get myself and my son ready in the morning and we have a routine in place down to the minute. When my husband goes into work late sometimes and sees us in action he is surprised by how efficient we are. Great tips!

    1. Thank you! And I feel ya, haha. Routine makes such a big difference (gotta maximize that sleeping time! :P )!

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