So you rush out of bed and get yourself into a right state trying to complete your normal routine. You forget everything when barrelling out of the door, especially your beloved cup of coffee, and you set off for a day that’s just as confused as you are right now!
But waking up late doesn’t have to be an irreversible mistake. You can still have a good day ahead - you just need to know the ways to salvage your good morning mood (and the good will of the people you’re meeting up with!). Here are our tips for doing just that.
Leave Your Phone Alone
It’s just going to distract you right now! Even if you’ve got a few confused, concerned, or even angry voicemails or texts from people, leave it alone until you’re out the day and on your way. After all, the person on the other end would much prefer to hear that you’re only going to be 10 or so more minutes, not that you’ve just woken up and haven’t started getting ready yet.
So leave the phone on your bedside table (or take a moment to plug it in if you forget to charge it), and then get up and get on. No matter what you might catch a glimpse of on the home screen, it can wait! Your morning routine, however, cannot. Plus you can get easily sucked into a hole of checking through your emails and messages and just piling a load more stress onto your shoulders - avoid this as much as possible!
Forget About the Shower
Showering is going to take you too much time right now, even if you only need 5 minutes to whip in and out. So, no matter how much you hate the idea, forget about using the shower for just this once. You’ll be fine for this one day! After all, you don’t have to feel dirty while going into work or meeting up with a loved one thanks to modern hygiene conveniences.
For example, you can spray and/or rub some dry shampoo into your hair. You can make your hair feel less greasy and look a lot more put together with just one application and a brush through. And if you’re not sure, here’s a guide on how to use dry shampoo paste that you can quickly skim through if you’re in a real rush!
Other than that you can flannel wash in a minute or two in areas like your underarms, and there’s always deodorant if you haven’t got time for that either. Plus it’s always a good idea to keep some baby wipes in your car for a very quick freshen-up just before you head into work!
Grab a Snack Before You Leave
Literally, anything as long as you can eat it quickly! A chocolate bar, an oat and grain bar, a bag of chips, etc., are all good contenders here. As long as you can open it up and immediately eat it, it’s going to help you get to where you’re going with a much clearer head on your shoulders.
And this is especially true if you’ve got no time to stop for a coffee or quickly make some toast. A partially full stomach is much better than a completely empty one, and you’ve got to give your brain and body something to work with!
Don’t Lie About What Happened
When you finally do get to speak to the people who might be waiting on you, don’t lie. Don’t try to make something up on the spot - it’s the easiest way to get caught out, which is just embarrassing all round. It could also make you seem disingenuous if you’re speaking to your manager or employer, and that’s not an impression you want to set.
You can just admit you slept in or that you didn’t hear your alarm, and then you don’t have to justify yourself any further. Or if you don’t even want to be that frank, you can simply say you got caught up and then just apologize for being late. Be brief and sincere, but don’t dig yourself into a hole about things.
Make a Missed Alarm Easier to Deal with Next Time
You’re going to miss the alarm again someday - that’s a fact of life. So for the day it does happen again, prepare yourself. Make sure your bag is packed and ready before you head to bed the night before, and make sure the clothes you want to wear are already out for you. Similarly, make sure there’s always some dry shampoo in the bathroom, and that you’ve always got a spare deodorant or small perfume bottle in your bag for emergencies.
And if you’re a commuter with a car, try to double-check things like your tire pressure and how full your gas tank is before you head home for the day. You don’t want to have to deal with these emergencies when you're already late for something important! They’ll just add unnecessary hassle to your day, take an hour or two to deal with, and you’re trying to stay calm and collected here.
If you woke up late today, don’t let yourself worry about it too much! It happens to everyone, and it’s always an accident. You just need to keep calm and keep moving, and the tips above can help you do just that. Waking up late doesn't mean a wasted day, and you can still have a good time if you missed some of the mornings or were late to an appointment.
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