TIL my morning routine was wasting 20 minutes a day for 18 months

I used to wake up, check my phone for 10 minutes in bed, then slowly get ready. Last week I timed myself and realized I lost 20 minutes every morning just scrolling. That adds up to over 120 hours a year, which is basically 5 full days gone. I started putting my phone in the kitchen before bed and making coffee first thing instead. Now my mornings feel like I have an extra half hour before I leave. Anyone else cut out a small habit and see big changes in their day?

3 comments

3 Comments

tessawebb1mo ago

I read that people who do a quick 5 minute tidy before bed save way more time in the morning than they think, so I tried it. Now I empty the dishwasher and set out my clothes the night before, and it shaves off a good 15 minutes of stumbling around half asleep. Your mileage may vary but I swear by that little swap.

zara_allen1mo ago

Thank you @tessawebb for that tip about the night before! I started doing the SAME thing after reading about the "5 minute tidy" concept and it changed everything. I used to waste TIME hunting for my keys and wallet every morning, but now I have a little basket by the door where I drop them before bed. It sounds SO basic but saving that 5-10 minutes of scrambling makes the whole start of my day feel calmer and more put together. You and the OP are totally right, those tiny time savings really DO add up.

lucas1599d agoMost Upvoted

Zara, that basket trick is a lifesaver. I do the same thing but with my phone charger. I always used to wake up with a dead battery and then spend 10 minutes untangling cords or looking for a spare. Now I just plug it into the same spot on my nightstand before my head hits the pillow. The time I save fumbling around in the morning is ridiculous.