Late Again? Eliminate the Things Holding You Up in the Morning

Being the person who is consistently running late is not a great personal trait. I should know; I’m one of them! Developing naughty morning habits that keep people waiting, fail to impress the boss and make you miss important appointments — these are all classic signs of late-to-the-date syndrome. Don’t fret, though; it isn’t deadly or catching, and with a few simple lifestyle changes, you can transform into a punctual, stress-free person. Here is how to avoid being late in the morning.

Plan Ahead

Consider these tips for saving time and stress in the morning.

1. Day before:
Make sure your coffee filter, kettle and juicer are ready for action. Put water in the kettle, prep the coffee machine with ground coffee beans and chop the ingredients for the juicer. If you buy a coffee on your way to work, consider investing in a quality coffee machine at home instead. No more waiting in lines!If you have pets, make sure they are ready for the next day by filling their bowl with food and water.Check the forecast. You don’t want to step out the door in thongs and a T-shirt only to realize hail is in the cards.


Prepare lunches the night before. If you cook a big batch of food on the weekend, you can use leftovers during the week for packed lunches. Being prepared can mean you and your kids have a healthy, hearty lunchtime feed you’re proud to show off.If you’re a gym junkie and need to fit in a workout before a day at the desk, make sure you have your gym bag ready, so you can grab it and go.


2. Weekend before:

Some forward-thinking prep on Sunday afternoon can make a huge difference to your workweek.
Do your washing and ironing over the weekend. There’s nothing worse than realizing midweek that you’ve run out of clean clothes. Map out what you plan to wear on the weekend and make sure it’s clean and wrinkle free for the week ahead. Get your grocery shopping done over the weekend and make sure your pantry and fridge are stocked for the week ahead. What will make you really late is having to stop by the supermarket to pick up breakfast. If you take vitamins or other supplements each day, it’s worth taking out a week’s worth and dividing them into a sectioned pillbox to save you from sorting through bottles every morning.


Stop Snoozing

We’re all guilty of sleeping in. Sometimes the bed is just too comfy, it’s cold outside or you choose to ignore the alarm. Whatever the excuse, it needs fixing if you want to avoid hanging your head as you arrive 20 minutes late for work.
One of the most effective solutions is to put your alarm clock on the other side of the room, so you have no choice but to get up and turn it off.For more extreme snoozers, try Clocky by Nanda Home (not seen here). It jumps off your bedside table and wheels itself away, so you physically have to get out of bed — just like with Yanko Design’s Carpet Alarm Clock, which you have to stand on to stop.Exposing yourself to natural light can also help you wake up, so instead of shutting your curtains to avoid the sun, leave them open.


Give Things a Place

“I’m so sorry; I couldn’t find my keys.” “I was searching and searching for my phone and couldn’t find it.” The list of excuses for lost things that make you late goes on and on.
Keep your essentials at the door. Hang your keys on a key hook, keep your purse or wallet on a side table in the entryway, and keep your bag in a basket or tray ready for action.Organizing Starts at the Door


Organize the Kids

If you have kids, you have a pretty good excuse for being late. You chase them around, dress them and pack their bags, only to realize you still need to get yourself ready. By the time you’re ready, they’re back to their former states. Here are some time-saving changes you can make:
Lay out their clothes the night before.Coordinate shower time and tooth brushing.Get yourself ready while they eat breakfast.


Manage Your Morning Workout

If you’re one of those inspiring people who like to fit in a quick workout in the morning, you may also find that you run late to things. Keep track by sticking to a strict plan.

People often forget to include the time it takes to get to the gym, set up and get back into regular clothes afterward. Work out how much time the whole session takes you and plan to leave earlier if need be. If you have a class to get to, consider taking an earlier one so you don’t cut it close to get to work. You don’t have to compromise on your morning exercise; just make sure you are disciplined.


Limit Your Tech Time

Every morning after my alarm goes off, I lie in bed scrolling through Facebook, emails, Instagram and Houzz (of course) before I’ve even gotten out of bed. I can be there for half an hour without thinking about it.

Are you guilty of this? If so, limit the time you spend checking your phone and laptop. Or even better, take a pass altogether. It will make you feel healthier and more connected with the real world. Chances are, you will be spending all day on the computer anyway, so some time offline to start the day will do you good.


Narrow Your Options

Deciding what to wear is definitely my biggest downfall when I’m racing out the door in the morning. While a personal stylist would do the trick, another solution if this is your issue too is having a separate section in your closet set aside for work clothes. Rifling through all your clothing options encourages time-consuming outfit debates. Instead, hang only your tried and tested work looks in there and find joy in pairing up outfits ahead of time.

Smart Solutions for Clothes Closets


Manage Your Compulsions

Hands up if you’ve ever been halfway to work and have had to rush back to check that your iron is turned off, or that your window is closed or that your door is locked. Do you see where I’m going with this? The following tips might help you curb behaviors that are making you late:
Take pictures of flat irons or curling irons. I know someone who swears by this. The advantage of this is, while it steals a second or two in morning prep time, you can always check the evidence of its being unplugged on your phone if you have any doubts.Invest in Wi-Fi technology in your home to control power sockets from your phone. Belkin has a particularly great product family called WeMo, which allows you to turn your home electronics on or off using your smartphone. You can even set up email alerts to notify you if, for example, your front door opens.


Figure Out Your Transportation

Traffic and public transportation mishaps are classic excuses for lateness. There are only so many times you can use them before someone tells you to simply leave the house earlier. Always have in your mind that you will need 15 minutes more than you actually do.
If you use public transportation, consider the many apps available to help you in each city. They can even tell you exactly how far away your bus is from your stop. Make sure you also check public transportation websites to see if any delays have occurred. Always remember to top up your transportation pass before your trip. You can also register some cards and have them top up automatically when your balance is low. If you drive, check the traffic conditions on your phone as soon as you wake up. Google Maps shows high-traffic zones to avoid. It also may be worth investing in a parking space. Another option could be carpooling. Find a colleague who lives near you or join a community site. You’ll save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

Tell us: What makes you late in the morning? Have you come up with any tricks to make sure you’re on time? Tell us in the Comments.

More: To-Dos: Your February Home Checklist

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