Simple Advice to Make Your Mornings Easier
A productive morning starts the night before
An ironed uniform was laid carefully on a dining room chair. The white socks were ready, extended on the seat. A pair of shiny black shoes were perfectly alined at the floor, next to a backpack ready for the school day.
In my house, you couldn’t go to bed if you didn’t have everything ready for the next morning.
That was the fist productivity tip I ever learned and I didn’t even know it. I was told from a young age, that to avoid insanity and chaos, getting things ready for the next day was something I must do every night before going to bed.
Turns out this advice is a thing now. You see it everywhere. From self-help books to YouTube videos about morning routines: a productive morning starts the night before.
It’s a cliché, and it’s a cliché because it works.
Making decisions in advance will help your “future me” accomplish those things you struggle with the most.
Arriving early? Pick tomorrow’s outfit. Check if your bag is ready to go out so you can run outside without forgetting anything important.
Having breakfast as a family? Decide what you’ll eat and make sure you have everything you need. Prep whatever you can and clean the kitchen and dining room so you can use them as soon as you wake up.
Exercising? Sleep in your gym clothes and place your shoes right by the door. Have a water bottle ready and download an audiobook. Nothing can stop you now!
Reading? Clear your desk and place your book, pen, and notebook right in the middle. Don’t forget to preset your coffee maker!
If you take 10 minutes before you go to bed to get everything ready, your mornings will be much less chaotic and you’ll be able to make the most of them. Believe me, your “future me” will thank you for it.
A version of this article was originally published in Spanish on Medium.
