This post has been sponsored by Coffee-mate. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’m not exactly a morning person, so after hitting the snooze button a million times I’m sometimes left with only 20 minutes to get ready for the day. That’s okay though because it’s all about efficiency and planning! When I was working at my corporate job I had my morning routine down pat and knew the exact minute I had to get out of the door to beat traffic. Even though my mornings are a little less rigid now that I work from home, I still try to keep a schedule and routine. I wake up when my husband does around 7:30am and then get ready for the day. Then I make a quick breakfast and pour a cup of coffee before heading up to my desk. It would be easy to stay in my pajamas and work from the couch all day (and yes this sometimes happens), but I find that I’m most productive when I look put together and get right to work in my home office. Whether you rush off to a 9 – 5 job or make your own schedule, here are some of my tips for getting ready in under 2o minutes.
Lay out your clothes the night before. There’s nothing worse than staring at your closet while still wearing your comfy pajamas and having to pick out a business casual outfit. Okay, there are a lot of things that are worse, but still this is no fun. To eliminate the “I have nothing to wear” problem I like to pick out my entire ensemble the night before, including shoes and accessories. My go-to combo when I had a corporate job was a dress and heels or flats. My attire has changed now that I work from home, but I still force myself to get dressed in the morning even if it is a little more casual. This wakes me up and makes me feel more productive.
Have your go-to makeup routine. My makeup routine has been the same for quite some time. Anyone else get stuck in a makeup rut when you finally find what works? I admire the beauty bloggers who know exactly what products and brushes to use, but I’m clueless when it comes to most beauty trends and techniques. I start with loose powder foundation and a little bit of bronzer. Then I use a neutral eyeshadow, grey eyeliner and black mascara on my eyes. My eyebrows are really thin and light-colored, so I fill those in with a brow gel and then finish my look with a natural-looking lipstick. All of this takes me five minutes at the most.
Learn to love dry shampoo. I like to wash my hair as little as possible, so dry shampoo is a life saver! If my hair isn’t too greasy I’ll spray some at the roots and then touch it up with a curling iron. When it’s one of those days where I probably should have washed my hair but didn’t, I opt for dry shampoo and a topknot. Either way, this saves you from shampooing, drying and styling your hair in the morning.
Make overnight oatmeal. Instead of spending time cooking and eating at home, I prefer taking my breakfast to go. In the evenings I’ll mix oatmeal and milk in a mason jar and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. Then I put it in my lunchbox with either a banana or a container of blueberries and heat it up at the office. Even though I work from home now this is still one of my go-t0 breakfasts because it’s healthy and quick to make—just pop it in the microwave and then I start answering emails.
Have your coffee ready to go! During the summer I love starting my day with iced coffee and right now cold brews are all the rage. I finally tried it when my sister, who is a barista, gave me a sip of hers while I was at home and now I’m hooked! Instead of brewing my own or stopping by a coffee shop in the morning, I save time (and money) by drinking Coffee-mate® Natural Bliss® Sweet Cream Cold Brew. It’s all natural and made with 100% Brazilian Arabica Beans and responsibly sourced cocoa. Plus it tastes amazing! It’s steeped cold for a smooth, bold flavor and uses real milk and cream. This cold brew is really convenient because it’s ready to drink and has multiple servings. I grab one in the refrigerated drink section at the grocery store on Sunday and then it lasts me the entire week. It’s only available on the west coast, so click here to see if it’s available at a store near you!
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What are your tips for getting ready quickly in the morning?
