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Let’s face it: Getting out of your home in the morning is hard. Even the most savvy morning person has to strategize in order to effectively use their time in the early hours of the day. If you’re trying to work out before heading to the office, you don’t need any obstacles standing in the way of you getting out that door. You already have a gym bag packed and your outfit picked out, but what else can you do to make sure to get to class on time?
Here’s a list of smart strategies to shave some time off your morning routine.
Use dry shampoo the night before
Dry shampoo is the ultimate time-saver after your favorite yoga class, but using a little extra the night before can help you get to that yoga class with time to spare. Spray hair with dry shampoo before bed, and then style hair into a braid or bun that is comfortable enough to sleep in. When you wake up in the morning you’ll be ready for class without having to do any hairstyling. After your workout, spray a little more dry shampoo, brush or shake the braid out with your fingers, and be prepared to have the most perfect waves for the rest of the day.
Multitask in the shower
It would be lovely if we had all the time in the world to relax in our morning shower. Truth? Most of us are out in 10 minutes or less, especially if you have a line of people behind you at the studio. The good news? You can make your shower work for you with all the great new moisturizers that are specifically made for wet skin. Now there’s no need to wait until you’re dry to moisturize your skin.
Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer
There’s an in-shower moisturizer perfect for any skin type, whether you’re dry or acne-prone. Skin feels moisturized, not sticky, afterward so there’s no need to rinse after use. Just pat dry and go.
Buy it now: Ulta, $8
St. Tropez In-Shower Gradual Tan
Gradually fake a summer glow with this in-shower solution. This formula is also moisturizing, so there’s no need to buy a separate tanner and moisturizer to use in the shower.
Buy it now: Sephora, $25
Decrease hair drying time
If you shower after a workout, one of the only things standing in the way of getting you from workout to work quickly is hair drying time. Fortunately, there are a few items you can toss in your workout bag made for precisely that issue.
Goody Quikstyle Paddle Brush
This brush has microfiber bristles that absorb water from your hair, helping with drying time. It also has side vents to allow air flow from the blow dryer while the microfiber helps soak up the water. The microfiber is antimicrobial, so just toss it in your gym bag without worrying about germs.
Buy it now: Target, $12
Luxe hair towel
Dry hair fast without the friction of cotton towels you’ll find in most locker rooms. This ultra-absorbent hair towel is super gentle and speeds up your drying time, making your hair healthier in the long run.
Buy it now: Aquis, $30
Take your greens on the go
Grab-and-go food can be a lifesaver if you’re trying to get out the door in the morning. Try keeping fruits like bananas on hand, which you can grab as you’re running out and are great for workout recovery. Not everyone has time to make a nutrient-rich smoothie in the blender before they leave, but anybody has time to mix powder in a water bottle. If protein powders aren$t your thing, try some of the new green juice solutions in powder form.
Hum Nutrition Raw Beauty Powder
This probiotic-packed powder tastes great when mixed with water or your favorite almond milk. It’s perfect for an energy boost before or after your workout, and the chocolate mint flavor will satisfy any sweet tooth.
Buy it now: Hum Nutrition, $39
8 Greens
If Alka-Seltzer and green juice had a baby, this would be it. Drop the effervescent tablet into your water bottle and watch it dissolve into refreshing green juice in seconds. The eight greens it’s named after are kale, spirulina, spinach, blue green algae, chlorella, wheatgrass, barley grass and aloe vera, yet it is a shockingly light and tasty beverage to start your morning with.
Buy it now: 8 Greens, $12.50 for 10 tablets
Create an early morning support group
Making pals in your early morning classes creates accountability. You definitely don’t want to be the person who ditches Pilates in the morning when you have people on your side who want to see you there. Just one more reason to exchange numbers with the other regulars you see in class.
ClassPass is a monthly membership that connects you to more than 8,000 of the best fitness studios worldwide. Have you been thinking about trying it? Start now on the Base Plan and get five classes for your first month for only $19.