Always running late? Use these time-saving tricks to get out the door stress-free.

Always running late? Use these time-saving tricks to get out the door stress-free.

It is not necessary to be a morning person to start your day stress-free and on schedule, but you do need a good routine. For starters, buy yourself some precious time by making your evenings more productive and streamlining your morning obligations.

1. Organize before bed
There’s never enough time in the morning, so use evenings wisely to plan for the next day. Prep school lunches. Pack up paperwork, gadgets, and keys and leave everyone’s bags and backpacks by the front door so they can be easily grabbed on the way out.

2. Wake up earlier
If you’re always running 15 minutes late in the morning, set your alarm 15 minutes earlier. Make up the lost time by also moving up your bedtime. Also, as tempting as it is, avoid hitting the snooze button. Research shows it can leave you feeling groggy up to four hours later.

3. Drink some coffee
There is nothing wrong with a cup of coffee in the morning. The caffeine boost helps you feel more focused and awake. Set your coffeemaker the night before so you can wake up to the smell of a fresh pot brewing.

4. Prep breakfast before pillow time
Even on hectic mornings, don’t skip the most important meal of the day. Research shows that eating breakfast improves concentration and helps manage weight. Prepare a batch of smoothies at night so they’re waiting in the refrigerator in the morning. You can even put them in to-go cups for everyone to sip on their way to work or school.

5. Workout
Working out in the morning has a positive effect on your energy, it improves your mood and concentration, and decreases stress. You may sleep better too. To make early exercise easier, you could sleep in your gym clothes.

6. Get dressed faster
Plan out your wardrobe the evening before. If you have kids, take the time to lay their outfits out as well. Don’t forget to iron shirts and pick out shoes and accessories. Mornings have never been so relaxed!