Getting to Work On Time

Get organized so you can stop being late!

May 21, 2007 Heather Levin

It's another typical Monday morning: you've lost your cell phone, your shoe is missing, the car is out of gas, and you can't find your favorite "To Go" mug for your coffee. It's going to be another late one to the office. Yikes.

Getting organized can pay off in many different ways. By learning some time management skills you'll have, you guessed it, more time and usually more money (because you'll be more productive), but the biggest payoff is with your stress level. Spending some time to prevent morning meltdowns can have a huge impact on your day as you try to get out the door. Always a good thing, right?

So let’s get going. Our key to a stress-free morning is advance prep. Spending just 20 minutes the night before getting ready for the morning will really help get you out the door faster.

• The most important thing you can do for yourself is to create a "Launch Pad". This is going to be one spot where you put EVERYTHING you need to get out the door the next day. It should be located at the door you use most often, and preferably in a back hallway or the mudroom. You'll want a hook for your coat, and a basket for your keys. You'll also want to charge your cell phone and PDA here overnight. Make a list of everything you need everyday, and make sure it's all here before you go to bed at night.

• Have a supply of emergency breakfast items for the days that don’t quite run so smoothly. Anything that can be eaten in the car could stay in the “emergency bin” in the pantry. You could consider breakfast bars, trail mix, Carnation Instant Breakfast drinks, and really anything that you can "grab and go". There's a reason why everyone says that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so don't miss it because you're running late

• Play some music in the mornings! It will lift your spirits and break up the routine a bit. It will also get you moving a bit faster for those days when the coffee just ain't doing it.

• If you do have to have that cup of joe before you get out the door, make sure you have a coffee pot that can be preset to start brewing at a certain time each morning. These are heavenly, and will save you from spending time making coffee in the morning.

• If you normally watch TV or spend time on the computer, then cut it out for a while in till you are consistently getting to work on time. Many people are late to work because they start watching TV and just lose track of the time. Any news you need to hear you could listen to on NPR while you drive to work.

• Always make sure that your car is filled up. Make a rule for yourself that when you reach a 1/4 tank, you go fill up. This way you'll never be stuck in a situation where you absolutely MUST get gas, no matter how late you already are.

As you can see, just spending a bit of time the night before prepping for the next day can really lower your stress level and enable you to get to work on time. Remember, Advance Prep goes a long way!