A few months ago, I realized I was kind of a gross mess in the morning. I was snoozing my alarm way too long, then jumping out of bed in a panic, forgetting a bunch of things I needed to do and grab on the way out the door, and starting each day off on entirely the wrong foot. The day started rough and it stayed rough: I was tired, cranky, and unproductive.
Slowly but surely, almost without actively trying, I fixed this by establishing a new morning routine and for the last few weeks, things have been much better. I made a lot of little tweaks, but two really stand out as what has made the difference, so here's what I did. My morning routine starts at night I am not a morning person and I never have been, either.
I teach a few spin classes each week at 7 a.m. and, for three years of my life, my regular job started at 5 a.
m., but these schedules were not my choice. Generally speaking, I'm more alert and productive at night.
Back when I used to have to be up at 4 a.m., I used this to my advantage by preparing for the next day every night.
I laid out my outfits, packed my bag, and pre-scheduled my Uber so there were fewer things to think about and do when I was bleary-eyed. I started getting eyebrow tints and eyelash extensions to lessen my makeup routine, relied on overnight hair curlers, and kept heels in my cubicle so I could commute in comfy shoes. I had it down .
But when I got a new job and started working from home and logging in with a later start time, all that went by .