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We’ve all been there. You hit snooze a few too many times until your alarm gave up on you. You’re late! You’re scrambling to get out the door, panicking from the onslaught of disorganized priorities streaming through your head while every task in your morning routine seems to be a hang-up. You don’t have time to iron your clothes, take a shower, brew coffee, and… oh yeah, you forgot to fill up the car with gas last night.
Professionals have so much to contend with on a daily basis, yet sometimes the battle just to get to the fray can be the most challenging part of the day. Losing time to prep for that early-morning meeting can have a domino effect, throwing you off your game and tossing you into a funk that reverberates through everything the entire day.
As a responsible, working adult you should always plan ahead, right? Have your outfit picked out and prepped, put your keys and such together in one place, and, of course, set your alarm to give you plenty of time to get ready in the morning.
However, here in the land of reality, things don’t always get planned the way they ought to, and you might find yourself in a state of aforementioned lateness. If you ever land yourself into such a scenario, I hope the following tips shave off those precious minutes that make the difference between total tardiness and punctual perfection.
1. FLAT IRON THOSE WRINKLES
So you didn’t get your outfit put together last night, and the only (clean) clothes you have are wrinkled as a pug’s face. If you’re a woman or a man with a significant other living with you, then you might have a flat iron hair straightener on hand. If so, plug that baby in and use it to press out the most wrinkled areas. It works especially well on collars, sleeves and pant legs. If you do have time to take a shower, hang your clothes up on the showerhead and let that steam do the work for you.
2. TRADE COFFEE FOR LEMON CHILI WATER
Some of us find it hard to get going without our morning cup of joe, but if you find yourself in the late zone, then it may become a plummeting priority. A quick alternative that might be your saving grace is cold lemon water with chili powder. Sounds crazy, but a splash of lemon juice and a dash of chili powder (cayenne works best) in ice water can give you the perk you need to make it through until you get to the office. Also, munching an apple on the go can help a lot too. The natural sugars and fibers can get your metabolism going as fast as you are out the door.
3. BABY POWDER THOSE LOCKS
This may seem gross but desperate times call for desperate measures. If you’re pressed for time and taking a shower simply isn’t an option, you can tame those greasy strands with a dash of baby powder in your hair. Just make sure you blend it in fully. You don’t want to have the “what’s that white stuff in your hair?” conversation. If you don’t have any powder on hand, you can at least drag a comb through and part your hair on the opposite side you normally do. While the ladies might be able to do a quick braid or ponytail, the guys can always do the slicked back gel look and deal with it later.
4. KNOW WHICH SIDE OF THE PUMP IS YOURS
So it may not be a huge time saver, but when every minute counts and you still have to gas up the car on the way to work, it’s good to be sure you know which side of the pump to park on. If you’re like me, you may sometimes forget which side your gas cap is on, especially when you’re in a frantic scurry to get to work on time. It seems like there should be a way to instantly know without having to crane your neck out of the window. Well, there is. On your gas gauge, there is a little arrow next to the gas pump icon in every car that points to the side you fill up on. Never have to question yourself again as you roll up to the pump.
5. TAKE THE FAST WAY UP THE ELEVATOR
Finally, if you work in an office building and have to park in a multi-level parking garage, the time spent waiting for the elevator can be painful. If taking the stairs isn’t an option then once you’re in the elevator, there’s a way to get to your floor without the worry of any stops along the way. Most elevators have a built-in “express” mode that can bypass others waiting for the elevator. “Sorry people, I’m late.” If you press and hold the door-close button then press and hold the button for your desired floor until the elevator starts moving, then it should take you straight there.
