As women, we spend an average of 55 minutes a day working on our appearance. This equates to 335 hours every year, or to put it another way, a two-week vacation!
While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look nice (and let’s face it, we all function better when we’re feeling our best!), it’s important to be reminded that our self-worth doesn’t hinge on our appearance, and there’s no need to spend an hour each day on our looks to look our best.
“It is not a bad thing to be invested in our appearance,” says Jonathan Rudiger, Nashville-based clinical psychologist. “Appearance is only one aspect of the self. In our culture, we spend too much time focused on the external while neglecting the internal.”
If your beauty routine is eating into your day or if you’d like to ease up on your morning rituals a bit, there are ways to streamline things—allowing you to claim back some of your time. Let’s take a look at a few easy ways that you can simplify your routine and get out the door faster each morning.
1. Plan Ahead
Much of our time is spent looking for misplaced items and struggling to put an outfit together. One way to slash the amount of time that’s spent rifling through drawers and hanging clothes is to take time to plan things out the night before. Rather than having to hunt for things first thing in the morning when you’re tired and possibly rushed, getting your clothes and accessories ready at night will help you to grab things and go the next day.
2. Choose Time-Saving Products
Talk about multitasking at its finest; double out products are amazing time savers! While you may want to pass on the two-in-one shampoo and conditioner, there are other multi-purpose products that can help to streamline your routine. Body wash and shaving gel combos can make showers faster, and makeup options that can be used on your eyes, lips, and as a blush for your cheeks are key to a fast, breezy morning routine. For hair, eliminate a blow-dry here and there with dry shampoo. It absorbs natural oils while adding body, allowing you to extend the life of your hair style for another day or two.
3. Set a Timer
Having trouble staying on track? Consider setting the timer. By allotting a specific amount of time to your routine, you can eliminate the ‘extra five minutes’ here and there that quickly add up. Plus, when you map out your routine, you’ll know what to do first, second, third, etc. as opposed to getting distracted or off track!
4. Shower in Cool Water
Speaking of showering, you might consider turning the temperature of your shower down if you are looking to save some time. Not only will it discourage you from lingering under the hot water, there are many benefits that can come from showering in cooler water. Easing up on the hot water is good for your skin, and you’ll also feel more refreshed and awake after a cool shower—allowing you to continue your routine alert and ready to go!
5. Consider a New Hairstyle
How much time do you spend styling your hair? From showering to blow drying to applying product and more, hair care can take a lot of time. If you’re serious about simplifying your routine, you may want to consider a new do! There are plenty of great hairstyles, both long and short, that require minimal maintenance and styling time. Find one that works for you!
6. Organize Your Space
Finally, the best way to save time is by being well-organized. Having things scattered around the bedroom, bathroom, and closest can cost you valuable time. Instead of fighting an uphill battle, have a designated place for each item to be stored, put things back when you’re finished using them, and build in time to tidy up each day. Consider arranging everything logically so that things are easy to grab. Arrange your closet so your outfits are easy to pair up, and invest in some baskets or organizers to keep products neat and tidy. Remove items that you no longer need or use. These simple steps will help to save you a considerable amount of time and frustration in the morning!
While we all want to look our best, there’s no reason to spend more time on our appearance than necessary. Looking for ways to simplify your routine can help to free you up from the monotony of a drawn-out routine and will help you to look and feel your very best, ultimately getting your day off to a fantastic start. Build your self-care routine into your daily plan and allow the right amount of time in your Day Designer!
How will you streamline your routine?