Sayonara, Snooze Button: 6 Hacks to Give You More Time in the Morning

Implement these tips into your routine and you'll find yourself not only making it to your lecture on time, but having a few minutes to spare to sip that latte in peace and prepare yourself for the day ahead.
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by Marissa Miller, Teen Vogue

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Photo: Courtesy of PBteen.com

Getting up in the morning can be so miserable, there's literally a word for "finding it hard to get out of bed" (dysania, for those of you looking to impress your Scrabble opponents). But ride the struggle bus no longer, because the end of the semester is nigh and it's time to actually be productive so you can end the school year on a high note. Implement these tips into your routine and you'll find yourself not only making it to your lecture on time, but having a few minutes to spare to sip that latte in peace and prepare yourself for the day ahead.

1. Save the shower for before bed.
Between exfoliating, shaving, and leaving conditioner in for several minutes, a suds sesh can slowly become a major time-suck. No worries, though, because switching your shower to before you hit the sack can also do wonders for your hair. Work some texturizing mousse into slightly damp hair from root to tip, section it into several buns, and wake up to Rapunzel-like locks and proceed about your day.

2. Plan ahead.
So simple, yet so overlooked: Pick your outfit the night before and lay it out neatly on a chair. That means factoring in shoes and accessories as well, since leaving them to the last minute will inevitably cut into your time. The same goes for meals: Allot every Sunday evening for cooking lunch staples in bulk, and dishing them out into reusable containers. Start with a big batch of brown rice or quinoa, sautéed veggies and grilled chicken or tofu (and treat yourself to a variety of seasonings and low-sugar sauces to avoid an insulin spike and subsequent energy crash).

3. Listen to your alarm.
Seriously. Set the tune that jolts you from your slumber to that sweet jam from Zumba class or Taylor Swift's latest and greatest. Either way, the good vibes will leave you no other option but to get up and dance. Another pro tip: Put your alarm clock on the other side of the room so you're forced to get up and shut it off.

4. Simplify your makeup routine.
The easiest solution would be to go sans products and rock your "I woke up like this" look, but that's often not realistic when under-eye bags are so deep they could carry textbooks. Use makeup that serves two functions so you're not rummaging through your cabinets at the last minute, and make sure they're easily accessible the night before. Lip and cheek stains or concealer and tinted moisturizer BB creams are a great place to start.

5. Skipping breakfast is not an option.
Don't be deterred by the idea that it needs to be some grandiose feast for one. Opt for overnight oats to sneak in a blend of protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats for all-day energy. Not hungry in the morning? While your coffee is brewing, do jumping jacks and pushups against the wall to build up an appetite.

6. Tweet in transit.
Save all the social media perusing for your daily commute instead of letting it slow you down as you get ready. Spend the journey checking up on your favorite news outlets and retweeting anything with enough of a feminist slant -- just keep an eye out for your data limit! Drive yourself to school? Then skip this step and keep your eyes on the road. Now you just have to figure out what to do with all the added time in your day.

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