The Ultimate Morning Wake-Up Routine

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Presented by Gillette

Looks like the summer is over and with that comes some pretty demanding fall and winter months. Sure, getting to Summer Fridays was a breeze but good luck making it to 5 p.m. in the weeks and months ahead. Luckily for you, we’ve got the ultimate morning routine and this one starts the night before. It will guarantee you not only look good during the first few hours in the office, but that you also have enough energy to stay fresh and energized throughout the day. The most successful people have solid morning routines and that’s why you’ll have one, too.

Get your outfit in order the night before

I’ll be honest, it’s hard picking out what you’re going to wear the next day the evening before. You don’t know what mood you’ll be in. Heck, even if you check the weather, it doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed, right? We recommend you pick out a few options. As seasons dictate what you’ll most likely wear already, going the extra bit to ensure that one or two of the button downs you had in mind for the next day are ready to go can save you a ton of time in the AM when you kick the day off.

Get a good night’s sleep

One of the biggest hurdles to having a productive day is being able to get a good night’s sleep. Some people overwork themselves to the point where they can’t sleep because of stress or all these thoughts running through their heads. Help your mind disconnect by turning off TV and putting your iPhone down an hour or so before bedtime. This will help you get relaxed as you clear your mind and drift off to sleep.

Wake up right

If you can get your sleep into a cycle or pattern, you’re well on your way to not just sleeping well tonight but conquering tomorrow as well. Consider adding a sleep-monitoring app to your iPhone roster. Look for an app that gives you feedback on your sleeping habits and analyzes sleep quality. Some will even wake you up at your lightest sleep time using soothing tones.

Check your email

Many would argue to say that you should hold off on checking email for as long as possible, we think it’s best you get it out of the way so you can go on to tackle more pressing matters. Scan your inbox for any urgent messages that need immediate attention and shoot out some important emails while your mind is fresh.

Schedule your day

It all comes down to time management, folks. Plan your day as best as you can so that you have the ability to be flexible later on when things start to heat up.

Before all else, exercise

Working out in the morning ensures it doesn’t fall off the priority list when important work meetings, dinners or family obligations come up. How you exercise will vary but we’d recommend some cardio to get that heart rate up so you can go at whatever the day throws at you.

Brush your teeth and wash your face

Though it may not need to be said, brushing your teeth and washing your face are the first two things you should do when getting ready. Use a face wash that reacts well to your skin type. A toner and cleanser combo really helps to leave your skin clean and even.

Shave

To me, shaving has always delivered a massive boost in confidence. If you want to crush that all-mighty presentation, it’s going to weigh heavily on the content as much as the confidence you exude while presenting. If you have a mustache or goatee, make sure the rest of your facial hair is shaved to perfection. Use appropriate pre-shave product to get your face ready, especially if you’re just trying to get rid of the weekend scruff, and make sure you’re pairing it with a high-quality, 5-bladed razor.

Shower after shaving

I’ve never been the one to shave after I hop out of the shower. I usually like to leave my hair damp until after I’m dressed at which point I’ll towel dry and style it to my liking. Take a cold shower to give you that needed burst of energy. Other benefits of a cold shower include increased circulation and keeping your skin and hair healthy. Cold water helps to make your skin look healthier by closing your cuticles and pores. If you shave before showering, any little nicks you might’ve had will heal a bit faster so you don’t need to spend time trying to stop any bleeds.

Get dressed

This will be easy since you’ve already identified what you’re going to wear the night before. Now, all you need to do is pick the already pressed shirt and toss on the rest of your outfit. Make sure to spray your favorite cologne and put on some lotion to protect your skin from the elements.

Enjoy breakfast with the family

We leave too much to dinnertime when it comes to our family. Being involved with their day as much as possible is as important as that fire you just put out via email while you were on the treadmill. Take breakfast time to see what everyone has going on. Maybe you can help.

The morning commute

Alas, some alone time. Depending on your morning trek to the office, it’s a good time to listen to music or even read the news so that you’re relaxed and polished for when you get the day started. Little does everyone know, you’re well ahead of schedule and they’ll need to catch up.

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