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Health & Fitness

10 simple ways to get ready in less than 15 minutes...

For the ladies...here are some quick tips to help you get ready in less than 15-minutes in the morning!

If you have transitioned into the "real life" world (AKA: a full-time job, longing for the weekend, always exhausted), then you know exactly what it's like to want to stay in bed much longer than you are able to, especially on a Monday morning.

For us females, staying in bed longer than we should on a work day, can sometimes lead to some further complications. However, if you are up later than expected on a work night, the next morning is simply: dreadful. Once in awhile you might have the, "I don't care, I'm going with no make-up, pony-tail look today," kind of attitude.

But more often times than not, we drag ourselves out of bed, regardless of our grumpy, tired state and we primp and prepare ourselves to impress our fellow co-workers. Or, maybe it is just enough to look presentable. Either way, this process is typically involved.

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However, I have mastered the technique of getting ready in 15-minutes or less and I'm here to share my secrets! Yes, I wear my hair down almost everyday and yes, I sometimes wear make-up.

I'll break it down for ya. I start work at 7 a.m. everyday and I work 8 minutes from my home. I set my alarm for 6:15 a.m. everyday, snooze until 6:30, and I reluctantly drag myself out of bed at 6:35 a.m. My bed is made and I am dressed by 6:40, my car is started by 6:42 and I am out of the house by 6:50.

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Seems impossible, right? Here are some of my tricks:

1. Pack your lunch the night before.

This one is a no-brainer. If you are packing left-overs from dinner the night before, this is as simple as getting the container + snacks, etc. ready for the next day. Cut up all fruits, vegetables, etc. the night before. If you buy your lunch everyday, you are fortunate and do not have to fret about this step!

2. Pick out your work outfit the night before.

Even if you are exhausted the night before, and you cannot bring yourself to set your clothes out, at least have an idea of what you are wearing before you drag yourself out of bed in the morning. This way, you can easily get dressed in under five minutes.

3. Style your hair the night before.

Whether your hair is straight, curly, wavy, etc. you should prepare in advance for the next day. I am fortunate enough to be able to go to bed with my hair wet and wake up the next day with wavy curls. Another trick is to wear your hair in a french-braid all night and when you wake up, simply take out your pony-tail holder. Wallah! Pretty curls.

4. Rock the sock bun.

I have been recently introduced to the "sock bun," and it's simply wonderful. For those of you who are unaware of this, you can view this YouTube tutorial here! This allows you to do your hair in less than five minutes.

5. Start your car before you do all of your morning essentials.

After you are dressed for the day, throw on your coat and slippers and go outside to start your car. This will knock out the process (and time) that it takes to scrape off the ice or snow that accumulated from the night before. It also allows you to jump in your car and leave when you need to. If you have an automatic car starter, you are one lucky duck.

6. Brush your teeth while you make your coffee.

Kill two birds with one stone. I have a keurig, so this task is much easier than it sounds. Otherwise, if you have an "older" coffee maker, simply set the timer the night before; this way your coffee maker does all the work, you can solely brush your teeth!

7. Keep your breakfast simple.

Unless you are the type of person that likes to have a 3-course meal before a work day, keep your breakfast to a minimum. If you are a coffee drinker, your morning java can simply be accompanied by a banana and a breakfast bar. Otherwise, keep some cereal at the office and call it a meal.

8. Keep all of your belongings by the front door.

I always leave my keys, wallet and purse by the table near the front door.This A) prevents any "where are my keys!?" moments, and B) Allows you to grab and go!

9) Wear minimum amounts of make-up.

You can do it! Light foundation and quick mascara -- you're good to go! If you aren't comfortable with this, bring it to work to still save time. If you simply don't want to wear make-up or if you don't have to, more power to ya.

10) Nail down the routine.

If you're new to this, give yourself a little extra time each day to get into the swing of things. Once you've mastered the routine in 15-minutes or less, you're ready to commit! Keep your routine the same each morning and sooner than you know it, you'll be able to get ready in less time than you expect.

A couple of exceptions:

If you shower in the morning, this routine will simply not work for you.

If you are the "I-go-at-my-own-pace-" type of girl, this routine is out.

Next, if you spend fifteen minutes on hair and make-up, try for less than 30.

 

Lastly, good luck!

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