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Save Personal Grooming

Time

by Maria Gracia Join our newsletter to be notified when the newest Organizing Article is available. Do you resent every minute you spend getting ready for work in the morning. Do you wish you could do everything at night so you could sleep until the last minute and then rush out the door, or find your morning personal grooming a relaxing way to start your day, but wish it didn’t take quite so long? In any case, a few time-saving tips can help you save personal grooming time and make your day start better. 1. Group your products. Organizing grooming products is probably the easiest way to save personal grooming time. For instance, all of my facial cleansers, moisturizers and the like are in one canvas pouch, and all of my cosmetics are in another. All tooth care products are in one of the drawers, and all of my hair brushes, combs and clips are in another. 2. Avoid lots of equipment. Does your hair-styling routine consist of straightening or curling in the morning? If so, consider simplifying your hairstyle by cutting your hair short or letting it grow so you can pull it back into a ponytail. When I feel like straightening my hair, I wash, dry, style and straighten my hair the evening before. When morning comes, I quickly brush it and do simple touchups. 3. Simplify your skin routine. Do you follow a complicated skin routine of washing, toning, and moisturizing, followed by foundation and sunscreen? Try washing, toning, and moisturizing at night. Then, in the morning, simply rinse your face or wipe with toner or witch hazel and apply a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen. 4. Just a touch of color will do. Try to simplify your makeup routine. Add some color to your face with a swipe of blush. Then apply a bit of tinted lip gloss. If you have time, add a neutral eye shadow and possibly one coat of mascara. You’ll be set to go in no time. 5. Choose your outfits the night before. Another way to save time in the morning is to choose, iron, and put out your clothes the night before. In doing so, you can ensure that your shirt doesn’t have a spot on it or that the hem in your skirt or pants isn’t unraveling. If you see either problem, you can either handle it at night, or choose something else. 6. Make a wardrobe change. A woman I used to work with had a basic wardrobe of black. She never had to waste time making sure her clothes matched. They all did. She softened her look with colored sweaters, shirts, scarves, bags, and jewelry. If black isn’t your color, find one that’s right for you and make it your “base” or signature color. 7. Once a week is fine for some things. If you set a certain day, like Saturday afternoon, for all weekly grooming- related activities, you’ll save time during the rest of the week. Waxing, trimming your nails, shaping your eyebrows and the like take time, so these are best not scheduled for busy weekday mornings. Getting ready in the morning used to be a chore. Since I’m a night owl, not an early bird, I’m generally not fully awake until I walk out the door. Following these shortened and nearly automatic routines keeps me from looking like I got ready in my sleep and reduces any stress I used to get from rushing to get done. Back to Organizing Articles Index