UrbanUpdate

No matter how much sleep you’re getting, be it a solid eight-to-nine hours or what one might would be tempted to call deprivation, getting out of bed in the morning can be a struggle, to say the least. Whether you’re waking up at the asscrack of dawn, or simply trying to be on-time to your mid-morning brunch date, your sheets never feel cozier than during those first few moments after your alarm’s gone off. Alas, we manage to find the strength, and heave ourselves onto our feet in order to get clean, get dressed, and get out the door.

But what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if you could set your alarm just a little bit later, extend that beautiful half-asleep-half-awake state just a little bit longer? Well, you can. All you need to do is make a few key changes to the grooming steps in your morning routine, so that it runs that much more efficiently.

Shower—and Shave—After Dark

Let’s start with the basics. To speed up your morning routine, you first need to stop doing things in the morning that simply don’t need to be done in the wee early hours. The most time-intensive of which are showering and shaving. We’ve spoken of the benefits of showering at night before, but to recap: a) it means you get to shower as long as you like, b) your sheets don’t get as dirty, so you don’t have to clean them as frequently, and c) it frees up a few precious extra minutes in the morning, to do with what you see fit. As for shaving, the fact is that most guys, aside from those among us with the fullest and darkest facial hair follicles, can get away with shaving the night before without anyone noticing at all. Plus, doing so gives your face the night to recuperate from having a blade dragged across it, which definitely isn’t the worst perk.

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If you follow our advice and start showering at night, then when you wake up in the morning, all you need to do is cleanse your face and you’re ready to hit the day. Now, you could go the scenic route and wash your face with soap and water. Or you could streamline the process and instead, take a disposable wipe to that punim of yours. Anthony makes a great option with their Glycolic Exfoliating + Resurfacing Wipes, which serves all the same functions as a cleanser and a washcloth in a fraction of the time.

Cut The Heat

If you can’t help but to shower in the morning, then you better at least do what you can to make sure that bathtime is as quick as possible, and nothing’s quite as effective at ensuring that case as ice-cold water. Just think: the last time you were showering and ran out of heat, how long did you last before calling it quits? Thirty seconds? A minute? The same basic principle applies here; by willfully plunging yourself into a deluge of frigid H2O, you’re basically guaranteeing that you’ll be in and out in under five minutes. And bonus: it’s hella good for your skin, too.

Choose A Two-In-One

No, we’re not talking about using a shampoo-conditioner combo, because using those on a regular basis can lead to a buildup of silicone-based conditioners on the hair. This weighs down the follicles, leaving them looking dull and lifeless—you know, the opposite of what you’re going for with regard to your mane. However, what we are talking about here is two-in-one skincare products, such as SPF-infused moisturizers and daily anti-age creams with acne-fighting retinoids. Products like these are just as effective as single-function creams, and the simple act of not having to apply multiple different serums for the same effect will shave valuable moments off your regimen. Every second counts, after all.

Opt For Electric

Still brushing with a manual toothbrush? Time to call it quits and hook yourself up with a piece of hardware that get the job done automatically. You see, there’s a reason that so many people are going electric, and it’s that battery-powered options can scrub away plaque and tartar build-up with little to no effort on your part, and in a fraction of the time that your regular brush requires. Now that should make you smile.

Cut Your Hair Short (Like Really Short)

Face it: styling your hair may be the most unpredictable thing you do each morning, time-wise. Sure, sometimes you may get it right the first try, every hair managing to find it’s exact right spot after only a few moments, but a lot of the time, that’s not what happens, and you’re forced to sit there in front of the mirror blow-drying, combing and tousling for what feels like hours before your head comes to resemble anything you’re willing to present when you walk out the door. The solution? Simple: just buzz it all off.

Don’t worry, you’ll be in good company.

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