Are You Always Running Late? Learn How to Get Out the Door in a Flash!

Running late is a fact of life. Whether it is to a meeting or appointment, to drop the kids off at school or meet up with friends for drinks, chances are you'll end up running behind for some event or another.

There honestly are times when you legitimately cannot control the circumstances and you end up running behind. Usually this happens when you run into a traffic jam, you're held up by an appointment that ran late by no fault of your own. Being perpetually late however, like, uh, myself, is the most annoying kind of lateness. It's really just plain rude to consistently keep people waiting, no matter what your excuse.

This is something that I've been working on as of late and part of my game plan involves preparing the night before. I lay out the clothes that both the kids and I will wear, I make sure to stock up my diaper bag and I fill cups & bottles, snack bags, etc. and store them in a convenient place so I can easily grab them on my way out the door. I also make sure that I keep my gas tank full and that everything I might need is in the trunk of my truck at all times, such as the stroller & carrying wraps, first aid kit, extra diapers/swim diapers, wipes, clothes, hats, cups, books and entertainment items, etc. Preparing in advance easily cuts down morning prep time by twenty minutes or more, depending on how much time you have to spend looking for things!

Lastly, I've mastered getting ready in the morning in less than twenty minutes, tops. This is really the key to being on time when you're perpetually late like myself. I shower, shave and dry/straighten my hair at night, so in the morning, I wash my face, brush my teeth, then simply wrap my hair in a towel to keep it dry and shower as usual. Since my hair is already partially styled, I can quickly re-straighten or curl it. After I style it, I rub a little pomade in my fingers and drag them through my hair to finish the look.

As for my make-up, well, I keep it pretty simple. I use a teensy bit of liquid foundation around my eyes and I blend it well with a sponge. Next, I dust on my powder foundation lightly, and then blend it in using a large, soft make-up brush. I apply a light layer of blush to my cheekbones and plump up my eyelashes using an eyelash curler. I then sweep a light colored eye shadow over my lids, apply a darker color in the crease of my eye and blend well with a soft eye shadow brush. Lastly, I apply two coats of mascara and a light layer of lip-gloss.

After I've completed my hair and make-up routine, I'm generally just about to be on time. So, I quickly apply deodorant, lotion and perfume, and then dress as quickly as I can before grabbing the kids, my keys and purse and rushing out the door.

By preparing well the night before and getting the time it takes to complete your morning routine are the two best things you can do for yourself if you're one of those people who are always late. Don't keep people waiting anymore, learn how to manage your lateness and still arrive looking fresh and put-together.