Morning Challenges My Resolve!

**daughter of pearl** · 03-18-2010, 11:08 AM

I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this, and I know, to those of you who have kids to get out to school, etc., this is going to sound like the most ridiculous whine, but here's my dilemma:

I live alone (kids are grown and gone) and getting out of the house in the morning is a MASSIVE challenge for me. Not because there is lots to do, but more because I can't get it together! I seem to need about an hour and half of "easing into the day" time before I am prepared to leave the house.

I procrastinate, get side-tracked, etc., to the point where I am so late that I have to take a cab ($12) to get to work on time (I usually take public transit).

I have tried going to bed earlier, waking up earlier, taking vitamins, etc., etc., and NOTHING seems to work!

Any suggestions? Commiserations?

**krbshappy71** · 03-18-2010, 11:21 AM

I have a checklist on the table of things I need to do each morning and each bedtime. These are things that I must do or I will be on the way to work and have to turn around. I do not let myself do anything but the things on the list. I do not add to the list, this is not a wish list of things I would like to do, these are absolute must-do things that would greatly impact me or my pets.

For example: feed dogs, let out, bring back in

Lock doors, close windows (in summer). (as that affects the safety of my home and my heating/cooling bills)

The list goes on as you can see the list of pets I have, ha! But try it for just a couple of days and keep it VERY short. Once you have the peace of mind that the must-dos are done, you might have an easier time relaxing and doing other things before you leave. I just know if my alarm doesn't wake me, I have a short list of must-dos and I'm out the door.

**daughter of pearl** · 03-18-2010, 11:24 AM

Thanks for the tips, and although this does not really go with this thread, I have to ask: what are hedgehogs like as pets?

**krbshappy71** · 03-18-2010, 11:58 AM

I love 'em but the life span is too short. 3-5 yrs. on average. I'm head-over-heels in love with one of mine and he's already 2 1/2 yrs old, irk! So I might not get more after my two have passed. I just get so attached and medically they can get really expensive as they are "exotics".

To learn more about them: Hedgehog Central They have a fun forum too.

**WV_mom_of2** · 03-18-2010, 04:00 PM

Do as many things the night before as you can to help speed along your morning routine. Pick out what you wear, iron or fluff and lay it out ready to go. Choose any accessories that you want and lay them out with your outfit, and shoes too! Pack your lunch the night before, set out what you will need for breakfast(unless it will spoil), get your coffeepot ready so all you have to do is turn it on. That should help some!

Then set a routine and stick to it. This is what I did as soon as my oldest started Kindergarten and we've stuck to it for years(she's a senior this year). My alarm goes off at 6. I get up and yell at the kids to start waking up. At 6:15 I yell at them again and they get up. At 6:30 they start eating breakfast. By 7 they are done and start on brushing teeth, fixing hair, getting dressed, etc. Off to the bus stop at 7:20.

If it takes you a while to wake up then get up earlier than usual. You can go to bed earlier to make up for it. Set your alarm an hour earlier than usual. Then you have an hour to chill and get woke up. Once that hour is up, make yourself stick to the routine!

**ladykemma2** · 03-18-2010, 05:34 PM

i pack my lunch the night before (intentional leftovers).

i examine, iron, mend and lay out my clothes, socks and shoes the night before. my alarm goes off at 3:45 am but the cats start to wake me before that. i stumble around, feed the cats, eat a piece of fruit (hypoglycemic), do the dishes from the night before, do a load of laundry, hit the bathroom, put on the dave ramsey dvr-ed from the night before, and get showered and groomed.

i pack two peanut butter on whole wheat for hypoglycemic episodes while teaching. pack portable breakfast to eat in my classroom (melted cheese on toast, ham sandwich, must have protein), vitamins, glucophage, keys, purse, lights out, heat or a/c adjusted, leave.

my cell phone is set to start ringing at 5 am which is when i need to be going out the front door.

if i get on the computer, guaranteed half an hour late.

**ml2620** · 03-18-2010, 05:49 PM

Sounds strange, but I don't let myself watch tv, read and sit until 830 or 9 at night after I get home from work.

I do all those things everyone suggests the night before and can get myself out the door in about 20 minutes.

Of course, my mother in law lives with us and has taken over the house and kitchen so I only have myself to worry about. Perhaps I could send the MIL over to your place for a while? LOL!!!