Fitting Remarks: How To Get Ready Quickly After a Morning Workout!

Sorry to any male readers out there- this post is written primarily for the ladies!

A reader asked me for tips for getting ready before work as quickly as possible after you work out. 

I feel like I am always crunched for time in the AM, so I have tried to decrease my “primping” time for the morning. It seems as though the less time I have, the quicker I can manage to get ready!

These tips can also work if you’re meeting up with friends after a workout, and you don’t have a lot of time to transition.

  

Can you go without a shower?

I personally am a sweaty runner, so for me, a shower is a must. But you can take a super fast shower like in 2-3 minutes (a “military shower”, as my friend Monica calls it!)   

"No-Shower Wipes:" I know plenty of AM fitness fanatics skip a shower completely, and opt for shower wipes like these…Honestly, I just can’t pull that off...but if you’re not a heavy sweater like me, you might be able to use them in lieu of a shower.

Is that sweat, or did I wet my pants?

No time for shaving your legs in the AM- save that for another time!

Prep The Night Before:

-Prep your gym bag the night before, and be sure to double-check that you didn't forget anything!

-If you're going for a morning run, lay out your running clothes the night before. 

-Pick out your work outfit as well- no need to waste time picking out something to wear with such limited time in the morning! 

-Be conscious about what you choose to wear- pick clothes that allow for a quick change. Forget about tights or leggings, as they take too much time to get on.

-And now that summer is almost here, DRESSES all the way. Fast and simple.

Hair:

-Skip washing your hair-- wash it the night before. Dry shampoo to the rescue!

-Most of the time, I say forget the blow-dryer.  My biggest time saver is a ponytail/headband. I know this isn’t the most glamorous look, but BIC bands and Sweaty Bands have saved me in many time crunches. 

My signature "get ready quick" look- BIC band and side braid.

When I don’t have time, I usually go with a side braid/BIC band or a sock bun. For information on the sock bun, check out this post! This obviously only works if you have longer hair. Although a huge benefit of short hairstyle is that it is quicker to style and dry!

Makeup

-Purchase duplicates of all your makeup. 

This is a good tip if you travel a lot too. If you have duplicates of everything you don’t have to pack and unpack your gym bag every day. You’ll always have those goods in your bag, ready to go. This includes all your hair accoutrement as well- flat iron, blow-dryer, etc.

-Liquid! Forget all the brushes and applicators. Try to simplify by using a BB cream, a no-fuss foundation, and liquid blush.

-Save the fancy for later. Every lady wants to look her best at the office, but there’s no need for the smoky eye or extended lashes during a regular work day. Less is more and looks more professional.

The Two-Part Process: 

Sometimes, I do the bare minimum (mascara, some powder) and then zip to work. Then, once I’ve made my appearance, said hello to everyone,  and logged into my computer, I take 15 minutes to go to the bathroom (on a different floor than my office) and fix myself up a bit more….my coworkers are none the wiser! (unless they read the blog...I think two of them might read occasionally, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't care). Seriously,  doing the two-part process saves me a lot of time, without letting me be "late" for work.

Eyelash Tint

This is more of an investment, but if you have blond hair like me, an eyelash tint can go a long way to make it look like you’re wearing mascara and save you time. A tint is also a great idea when you’re heading to a beach vacation. I have had one done at Extrados Salon in Linden Hills. The procedure costs about $35, and it lasts up to six weeks. Check out some before/after pictures HERE. This saves a lot of time, and I think it’s worth the relatively low cost.

Those are the tips that I have, but please share if you have any others! 

What are your secrets for getting ready in a jiffy?

Fundamental Fit: Making a Morning Workout Fit

By: LL
When do you exercise? Are you a crack-of-dawn sweater or do you prefer burning the late night oil? Would you ever think about switching? For me, my exercise time really depends on the season. In the summertime when it is light enough outside to go for a run at 5:30 a.m., then I am up at dawn throwing on my sneakers. However, I do find it to be a challenge to get myself out of bed when it is cold and dark - even if I am working out inside. I am sure that there are a few of you who are nodding your heads (and some who are thinking, "Why would you ever forfeit an extra hour of sleep just to work out?"). For those of you us who struggle to get up in the morning, here are a few tips to help you get out of bed. 

1. Lay out your gear the night before. By setting out what you will need, it will not only reduce the time that it takes for you to get ready, but then you also won't have the excuse that you don't want to wake your partner/roommate when you are going searching for everything in the dark. 
2. Put your workout on your calendar. By putting it down on your calendar, you are making a concrete plan to work out in the morning. You are also making yourself accountable. Think of bad you will feel if you had a missed workout glaring back at you all day.
3. Find a buddy. Making a date with a friend to go to the gym or go for a run early in the morning makes you accountable as well. You may think that it will be hard to find a friend willing to get up early. Trust me, everyone has a friend that is bright-eyed by 4 a.m. I know that Jess even has a friend who is willing to get up and run with her at 6 a.m. in 6 degree temps on the friend’s day off! (Now that is true dedication…can we all borrow this friend?)
4. Pay for it. If you pay to take a morning class or pay for an early morning personal training session, you will be more likely to go. Laying in bed for an extra half an hour instead of working out will seem like a waste when compared to the amount of money you will be losing by not attending the class/session.
5. Make it a habit. The rule of thumb goes: It takes 32 days to make a habit and 64 to break it. Stay on it for 32 days and bet you won’t even notice how early you are getting up each day.
6. Make it about you. Use this early morning workout as “me” time. Make the workout something that you enjoy and add to it other things you enjoy. Listen to your favorite music. Watch your favorite TV programs. Gather your thoughts and prepare for the day. Think about the good you are doing for yourself by getting up and working out.
7. Use your imagination. Get into your own head to make the workout happen. Whether you need to find motivation by imaging what your body will look like after sticking to a workout, regimen  or you need to envision the end of the day and coming home to relaxing on the couch or grabbing drinks with friends instead of working out at night, do it.
8. Reward yourself. As is the case with any good workout, give yourself something to look forward to at the end. Find something small to reward yourself with during the hard mornings.

Whatever you need to do to get out of bed in the morning, do it. Go beyond a simple alarm that can easily be turned off. Try out some of these tips so that you have no choice but to work out. Your body and your mind will thank you for it. And think of all the fun things you can now plan for the evenings, which were normally taken up by a workout and subsequent shower and primp time if you planned to go out.