How long does it take you to get ready in the morning to begin your day? Are you happy with that amount of time, or do you feel you could be a bit more
efficient? Here are a few tips to help you have an organized start.
1. Organized mornings begin with planning. Most people need seven to eight hours of quality sleep to function efficiently each day. Determine the time you need to wake up in the morning so you're not rushing around.
Then, calculate the time you need to go to bed the night before to achieve that.
2. Shower the night before. If you can, it will save you oodles of time in the morning.
3. Wash your hair every two to three days. On the days when you're not washing your hair, just wear a shower cap. In most cases, those will be quicker days since you won't have to blow dry, style, etc.
4. Air out your bed. When you get out of bed, pull the covers down and allow the bed to air out. If it's not freezing outside, I'll usually open a window just for a bit to let in some fresh air.
5. Floss first, then brush. Flossing first, and
brushing second, is the best way to get rid of plaque. It also helps to increase fluoride concentration between the teeth. By the way, I just learned that 32% of Americans don't floss. That's a pretty high percentage of folks risking their future dental health. Don't skip flossing. It's a very important part of dental hygiene.
6. For men who shave in the morning...be sure to change the blades in your shaver weekly. Blades get dull, which can end up in irritation, cuts, and maybe even an infection. Always wet your skin to soften it, apply a foaming shaving cream...and then WAIT! Allow the cream to sit on your skin for at least
3 minutes to further soften your skin before you begin shaving. You can always brush your teeth or comb your hair while you're waiting.
7. Line up your cosmetics. Place them all in a row on your counter in the order in
which you'll be applying them. Apply each, and as you do, proceed to put that item back into your makeup holder. In doing so, you won't forget to apply any of the items, and everything will be back in place when you are done.
8. Get dressed. If you choose your outfit the night before
(and handle any necessary repairs or ironing), you should be able to get dressed fairly quick in the morning.
9. Make your bed. The final step of your morning prep should be making your bed. This sets an organized tone for the entire day ahead. Plus, it will be welcoming when you're
ready to get back into bed in the evening.
Happy "organized" start to your day!
