Getting out in the mornings...

Many of us work, or need to get out of the house for appointments o'dark early. Here are my pointers for making it out the door quickly. I teach, so need to be not only functional but in charge, and semi-professional looking. I generally can get out the door in 40 minutes, make-up included.

Please add yours to give some aid to others who might be struggling!

The night before, I pack everything. Lunch, bags, gym clothes, whatever I will need. I lay the bags by the front door. I place my coffee cup by the coffee maker. I lay out clothes, shoes, jewelry, and accessories. I have had too many non-matching moments to do otherwise.

The morning: First thing shower. No excuses. Second, start coffee and breakfast. I do a huge pot of steel-cut oats every week, and so prepping breakfast means slipping a bowl into the microwave. As these things do their magic, I add my lunch to the pile by the door and lay out meds. Breakfast and meds, and then upstairs to dress. No sitting on the bed, ever. Hose and shoes get put on with the aid of a stool/chair.

By the time I am ready to leave, the meds, coffee, and shower have made me semi-human. And awake. And functioning. Of course, I have no pesky family or children to trip over, but this schedule can be adapted to other needs.

The real kicker, IMO, is no other things can intrude. No check email. No watch a show. No lay down for a little. No reading. No phone calls. I do not know about you, but I am too easily distracted.

Happy Friday!

Mornings used to be my best time of day. Now they are the worst. I usually shower the night before a early appt. I am usally to stiff and sore to shower early in the morning. I take my meds when I first get up and by the time I have had my first cup of coffee and watch the news the meds have kicked in enough for me to be able to move.

We bought a hot tub after my lymphoma and

lupus diagnois. Its the best investment we ever made. I use it daily. I can stretch in it as well as the heats does wonders for my pain.

I have always been a shower in the morning person as mornings was my best time of day til now. I can make myself shower if I have to but am so stiff and sore its per pain.

Now it just takes me awhile to move in the mornings.

All great ideas, Myself! (Not that I implement them most of the time, but my reason tells me they make good sense.)

I'm highly distractible, too. In fact, I manage to sabotage myself nearly every night when it comes to going to bed. No matter how many times I tell myself I'm NOT going to get back on the computer before bed, I do.

Big mistake.

Do you have much of a commute?

Debbie

I find the computer a huge distraction. In fact, one of my new year's 'resolutions' is to stay off of the computer, except for occasional checking emails or a good forum like this one. It's just too easy to see the hours click by, while sitting and finding more good stuff to explore. Recipe sites are especially dangerous to me!

I shower in the mornings because it helps loosen up my muscles. I usually eat breakfast when I first get up. Then I feed the cats and while they are scarfing down their good I clean their litter box. I take all the trash out to the dumpster. When I get back in I take my shower. After I shower I do my stretches and low impact exercise.
Of course this all nice and calm because I have to get the kids up and out on time. I do Kay out their clothes the night before. While they get dressed I make lunches. They brush teeth while I set coats on the back of the couch. They get shoes and coats on the we make sure backpacks have homework and then we load up and get to school. Then I get home and start the "just mommy" routine. I used to try and get ready when they did but it left me feeling too stressed out.

Yep, I have horrible fog in the morning. It takes about 2 hours for it to clear for me.