Everyone can use more time in the morning, especially if you face a monster commute like mine. In fair weather, I walk fifteen minutes to the train station. There I deal with the unpredictability of public transit, sometimes waiting up to fifteen more minutes for a train. Depending on system outages, on a good day the ride to my office takes thirty minutes. From there, its another ten to fifteen minutes to push through the crowds to get to my office–and that’s assuming the lights are in my favor and it’s not raining. On a magical, blessed day, I can get to my office in around an hour and fifteen minutes, but usually its closer to an hour and forty five. This is why I’ve mastered a morning routine that gets me up and out the door in just thirty minutes.
All of my friends think I must be lying, or skipping a crucial part of my morning (like breakfast) when I tell them from bed to door happens in less than an hour. But I promise, I don’t skip anything and I actually look pulled together! Are you intrigued? Read below to find out how I’ve mastered my morning routine.
1. Set up coffee and breakfast the night before
I cannot function without caffeine, so I take ten minutes every evening to get things ready for my java fix. I either grind the beans the night before, or I make a pit of cold brew and pop it in the microwave (or in a travel tumbler on ice if it’s warm outside.) This saves me at least ten minutes every day, and feels like a nice way to do self-care. Additionally, I have a few quick breakfasts ready to go: pre-made fruit and yogurt cups that I sprinkle a little granola on and dig in to, whole wheat bagels with peanut butter, two pre-made hardboiled eggs, or whole wheat toast with peanut butter and a mixture of slivered almonds and dried cranberries that I prep. All of these things take less than three minutes to get going, and leave me feeling quite energized.
2. Keep my cosmetic essentials ready
While I have loads of make-up, generally my work face is pretty streamlined. I keep a separate make-up bag on my vanity with the things I’m going to use every day: primer, fast-set foundation, cream blush that I also use as a lip stain, mascara, brow gel, and setting spray. By using products that multi-task, I can get my face on in under five minutes. If I want to do a little more, I play up my lips with one of a few pre-selected glosses or colors, which I toss into my bag and apply on the train. My goal is to look healthy, polished, and professional, so I avoid experimenting with new colors. If during my night or weekend primping I discover a great new look, I absolutely add it to my bag, otherwise I keep it simple. Don’t be afraid to put together a work-week edit on Sunday if you want to try a new lip color or a great new shadow, just be sure that you can apply it and feel confident in short order.
3. Build a work-week wardrobe
When I was figuring out ways to shave down my morning routine, I have to admit that my wardrobe was the largest time suck. Experimenting with outfits, looking for that one particular sweater, fussing with a zipper that doesn’t budge–all of it not only ate into my time but also left me feeling incredibly stressed. I spent a couple of weekends going through my wardrobe and creating a capsule one for work purposes. I’m not enough of a minimalist to truly have a capsule wardrobe, but I definitely edited one for my business casual needs. Every Thursday, I drop off my dry cleaning and do my laundry. From there, I pull together the pieces I want for the next week. I work around a few central pieces, like a pair of versatile pants, and make a couple of outfits. I add in a dress or a jumpsuit, a cardigan and blazer, and I’m ready to go. I hang my work clothes in my hallway coat closet so I don’t get distracted by other items.
4. Create no fuss waves
My hair is long, curly, and kind of a nightmare in the mornings. If I’ve washed it the night before, I let it naturally dry until its barely damp. I add in a conditioning balm and gently twist it into two buns on top of my head. Be sure that you aren’t damaging your locks with the twist, which is why I use the balm, and secure with coated bobby pins. When I wake up, I have tousled, pretty waves that look great down or in a pony tail. I slick on some hydrating liquid pomade, mist with hairspray, and I’m finished!