Hit the snooze button one too many times? Here’s how to get ready quickly– and still look like you got a full eight hours of sleep!
1. Pick your outfit the night before
You can shave a few extra minutes off the time it takes to get ready by taking a moment to put an outfit together the night before. In the past, I know I’ve worn some questionable outfits to class after rushing to get ready in the morning, so choosing what to wear the night before will also help you look more stylish and put together.
2. Avoid bedhead
If you’re like me (and most other people), your hair probably looks a little crazy after sleeping on it. To save time taming tangled hair in the morning, try sleeping with your hair tied up in a ponytail, bun or braid. All you’ll have to do in the morning is take your hair down, spritz it with some leave in conditioner and quickly run through it with a comb, which will give you neat, effortless waves and save you a lot of stress!
3. Keep your bag packed
When you have a busy morning, the last thing you want to do is frantically search your room for your homework ten minutes before you have to be in class. The night before, make sure you know where all your must-have items are and get them packed and ready for the next day. Before you head out, take a moment to double check your bag just to be one hundred percent sure that you have everything you need. You’ll feel so much better knowing that you are fully prepared and organized.
4. Take Care of Basic Hygiene First
When you only have a small amount time to get ready, the key is to prioritize which steps are most important. It’s perfectly fine if you show up to class without nicely styled hair or the perfect accessories, but if you show up with bad breath and no deodorant, you may get some dirty looks from the people around you. When you’re getting ready in the morning, the first order of business should be to wash your face, brush your teeth, put on some deodorant and whatever else you need to do to feel clean and refreshed.
5. Have a quick breakfast
As tempting as it may be to skip this step when you’re in a hurry, don’t do it. Powering through a long day of classes without a good breakfast will make you feel tired and irritable. Some quick and easy breakfast ideas include cereal, oatmeal, yogurt or you can quickly grab some breakfast food to-go from Starbucks or the dining hall. If you’re really pressed for time, you can also just stuff a granola bar and some other snacks in your bag to eat on the go. Like many college students, I can’t function without my morning coffee, so here’s a tip that will save you some precious time and money at Starbucks. If you have a coffee maker in your dorm, set it up the night before by filling it up with water and setting out everything you use to prepare your coffee. Then in the morning, pretty much all you have to do is press a button and you’ll have your daily dose of caffeine ready to go.
6. Do a quick makeup look using the “Four product rule”
Wearing makeup to class is definitely not a requirement, but if you want to look nice for a presentation or to match the fabulous outfit you put together the previous night, there’s nothing wrong with doing some quick, natural makeup. Since you definitely don’t have time to do a full face, as a general rule you should pick your four favorite products and focus on just those parts of your face so that you can enhance your best features for a natural, glowing-from-within look. I usually use a sponge to put concealer on my dark circles (All nighters really seem to make them stand out!), then I use mascara to make my eyes look more open and awake. After that, I put some highlighter on my cheekbones to give my skin a natural glow and finish the look with a bright lipstick, which can make any makeup look seem like it took longer than it actually did. This only takes me about five minutes and definitely helps me look more awake. Finding a quick makeup routine that works for you is a great way to show up to class looking and feeling your best.
If you follow these tips, you’ll be able to shorten your morning routine, get more sleep, and show up to class looking and feeling great.