The Real Secret to Enjoying Your Morning Again
As someone who has never been a natural early riser, the adjustment to 5:30am alarms and long commutes hit hard when I started full-time work. Factor in a 90-minute commute each way, and I quickly realised that chaotic mornings weren’t sustainable.
So I flipped the script. The biggest shift? I stopped focusing on how to make my mornings better in the moment, and started building habits the night before. The result? Less stress, more structure, and a smoother start to every day.
If you’re trying to reclaim your mornings, here are the nighttime prep habits that have made the biggest difference:
1. Sort Breakfast the Night Before
If you’re someone who eats at the office (or even just prefers not to fuss with food prep first thing), prepping breakfast the night before is a game changer. I cut up fruit, portion out yoghurt or oats, and pack it all in containers so I can grab it on the way out the door. It’s minimal effort, and it means I’m not hangry before 9am.
2. Prep Your Lunch and Snacks
Even if you meal prep on Sundays, it’s still worth setting aside five to ten minutes each night to portion out snacks like crackers, veggie sticks or salad toppers. It’s faster, less stressful, and keeps me from spending money on last-minute takeaways I don’t actually want.
3. Stay On Top of Laundry
Waking up to a mountain of laundry or realising your go-to outfit is wrinkled in the basket is not the vibe. I try to get laundry done by the weekend and make sure it’s folded and away by Sunday night. That way, I’m not digging through piles at 6 am wondering where my good black pants went.
4. Choose Your Outfit Ahead of Time
Decision fatigue is real. Picking your outfit the night before removes one more thing to think about when your brain’s still booting up. It also gives you time to iron, swap things around, or double check that everything’s clean and fits the way you want it to.
5. Reset Your Space
Before bed, I do a quick 5-10 minute tidy of my room. Not a deep clean, just a reset. A clear floor, organised desk and minimal clutter helps me find what I need the next morning (especially when I’m moving on autopilot) and gives me one less thing to stress about when I get home.
6. Pack Your Bag in Advance
No more frantic hunts for your headphones, keys or train card. Pack your bag the night before with whatever you need for work, the gym, errands—whatever your day holds. It sounds small, but it saves time and minimises that horrible “did I forget something?” feeling halfway to the train.
None of this has to be complicated. Most nights, this whole prep process takes less than 30 minutes. But the payoff? More sleep, less rushing, and a smoother, more grounded start to your day. And honestly, that’s worth everything when your mornings start in the dark.