How a night owl can fly with early birds

Beep, beep, beep, time to get up.

The alarm clock going off is possibly the worst sound ever.

OK, there are worse sounds, but alarm clocks are right up there at the top of my list.

Are you a morning person, bouncing right out of bed to take on the day? Or, are you like me, with three alarms on my phone set to go off every 15 minutes?

I would love to be a morning person and embrace the start of the day with anticipation and enthusiasm.

I think it’s an awesome feeling when I am out and about early, knocking out a bunch of tasks in the morning. The reality is, most mornings my eyes may be open, but I won’t come alive until about 10 a.m.

We all have our own rhythms and may find our energy levels are highest in the morning, middle of the day or the evening.

I believe most people tend to be either early birds or night owls. What’s a night owl to do?

You may not be able to control when you feel the most alert, but you can control your environment to help you perk up and get out the door on time.

Don’t sacrifice sleep

How do you feel the next day after only five hours of sleep? Probably not bright eyed or bushy tailed. Sleep is vital to our health and energy levels, yet it’s often exactly what we sacrifice in order to get everything done in a day.

Don’t skip sleep to create more time. Instead, get the proper amount of sleep so you will have more energy the next day to get everything done.

Be sure to create an electronics blackout every evening by turning off all stimulating screens before bed. Off with the TV, computer, laptop and the phone at least 30 minutes before bed. Instead, read a good old fashioned book that you hold in your hand, drink a cup of herbal tea or take a warm bath.

Stop drinking caffeinated beverages late in the day. Caffeine is a stimulant and that’s why you started your day with it, right?

Dress the night before

We’ve all heard the tip before, choose your outfit the night before for the next day. This is now the single biggest efficiency tool I use to help me get out of the house on time. Lay out your clothing, jewelry and shoes and it will simplify your morning tremendously. If you’re not sure what you want to wear, put together two or three outfits that are ready to go at any time.

Don’t forget to place anything else that you need to take with you in the morning by the door.

Create a coffee station

You don’t want to get hopped up on caffeine late in the day, but chances are good that you do want to kick start your day with it.

Create an organized coffee and tea station with the supplies you need at your fingertips: coffee mugs, tea, sugar, honey and the coffee maker all in one area.

Determine drive time

What will happen if you leave the house five minutes late? You will guarantee yourself red lights, slow drivers and a nifty traffic jam. Stress levels skyrocket when we run late and then run into further delays.

Make sure that you are realistic about how long your drive will take, factor in red lights, a stop at the coffee shop and potential delays.

Make it your goal to allow yourself enough time so you will arrive 10 minutes early.

Start preparing your day the night before so even the most habitual night owls can become birds of a feather with early birds.

Monika Kristofferson is a professional organizer and productivity consultant who owns Efficient Organization NW in Lake Stevens. Reach her at 425-220-8905 or monika@efficientorganizationnw.com.