The Time It Takes to Get Ready in the Morning: Personal Experiences and Tips for Productivity
Many people might wonder just how long it takes to get ready in the morning, from waking up to starting work. The duration can vary significantly based on personal habits and responsibilities. Depending on factors such as showering, getting dressed, having breakfast, and commuting, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours. If you're looking for tips on optimizing your morning routine, feel free to read on!
Personal Preparation Routines
Some individuals, like myself, don't have strict morning routines. For me, the time it takes to 'get ready' varies greatly depending on the level of discomfort I feel when I wake up. On a good day, I make my bed, go for a quick jog, take a shower, and eat. However, even on such days, I typically allocate an hour for getting ready for work, while also ensuring I have time for my morning jog. This process is interrupted if my baby starts crying or needs a diaper change. That's when the time turns into 30 minutes or more!
For my significant other, waking up at 7:00 AM and leaving at 9:00 AM is a challenge. On most days, it's possible to align our schedules. After waking up at 7:00 AM, the first priority is washing my hair, which often takes around 8 minutes. By 7:08 AM, I’m in the bathroom, where I also do my makeup, which usually takes 5 minutes. However, these tasks can stretch to half an hour due to interruptions from the baby. By 7:50 AM, we are both ready to leave except for socks and shoes. We then spend 10 minutes preparing our daughter and her diaper bag, followed by a 60-minute meeting to plan our day and weekly agenda.
Remote Work and Theatrical Commitments
My current situation as an operations analyst at Morgan Stanley requires me to sign on at 9:00 AM, but my girlfriend's theater rehearsals run late into the night. This means we often aren't sleeping until 1:00 AM. Consequently, I can't wake up at 7:00 AM to exercise or read. Instead, I set my morning alarm for 8:40 AM, allowing time to feed our cat, put on my work clothes, make a coffee, and check social media before clocking in at 9:00 AM.
Most of my non-work activities, such as exercising or writing, occur after work, which ends around 5:00 PM. Like many, I need to make compromises to ensure that my relationship with my girlfriend and my productivity are balanced. My primary goal is to complete these non-work activities daily, regardless of the time.
Conclusion
In essence, it's important to understand that productivity and success are not solely dependent on waking up at 4:30 AM. It's all about prioritizing and making choices that align with your goals. Whether you spend 30 minutes or a couple of hours getting ready in the morning, what matters is whether you accomplish what you need to and make the most of your time.