LONDON — The morning rush inside the house might be more frustrating than the one that awaits many of us on the way to work. According to a new survey, the most stressful time of day is 8:15 a.m.
The poll of 2,000 British adults shows that 35 percent of people typically experience stress during the first part of the day. Yet 51 percent say they feel “often overwhelmed” after getting out of bed. The prospect of the working day ahead, running to leave the house on time, and oversleeping are the most common early morning challenges. Getting kids ready for school, looking for lost house keys, and figuring out what to wear are common anxieties too.
Parents agree that dealing with the unpredictability of kids’ emotions — in addition to both feeding and dressing them and making packed lunches — can turn the morning routine into chaos. And at a time of the day when every second matters, those polled typically lose 20 minutes and 28 seconds to morning trials and tribulations.
The survey, commissioned by UK yogurt brand Onken and conducted by OnePoll, also found that about half (51 percent) of adults feel there’s “never” enough time in the day to get things done. Nearly the same number (47 percent) claim to be busier now than ever before. This might explain why 35 percent “don’t know” how to find time to do things that make them happy. Moreover, 37 percent have “forgotten” how to make time for themselves.
It also emerged those polled aren’t experiencing happiness as often as they think they should. According to the research, the typical adult “needs” 27 moments of happiness a week (roughly four daily). However, those polled actually get 20, or around three a day.
As a result, 57 percent think they should make more effort to prioritize doing things that make them happy. These include getting lost in a good book (54 percent) and enjoying a truly delicious meal (48 percent).
If you’ve got some good suggestions on how to make those stressful mornings more enjoyable, most people are likely open to hearing them. According to the survey, 63 percent of respondents want tips or advice on how to find more time for fun.
5 Ways To Make The Morning Routine Less Stressful
Streamlining your morning routine to reduce stress and ensure everything runs smoothly can make a significant difference to the start of your day. Here are five ways to help make your mornings more fluid and less stressful:
1. Prepare the Night Before: Lay out clothes, pack school bags, prepare lunches, and set up breakfast items the night before. Also, consider showering or bathing in the evening. This reduces the number of tasks in the morning and prevents last-minute scrambles.
2. Establish and Stick to a Routine: Create a consistent morning routine that suits your family’s needs. Use a schedule or a checklist that includes time for waking up, eating breakfast, getting dressed, and leaving the house. This helps everyone know what is expected and can make transitions smoother.
3. Get Up Before the Kids: If possible, wake up at least 30 minutes before your children. Use this time to get yourself ready and have a moment of peace before the day begins. This can help you feel more in control and less rushed when it’s time to wake the kids.
4. Delegate Responsibilities: Assign age-appropriate tasks to your children, such as making their beds, dressing themselves, or putting dishes in the sink. This not only teaches responsibility but also lightens your load. For younger children, turn these tasks into a game to make it fun and engaging.
5. Limit Technology in the Morning: Keep mornings free from the distractions of TV, tablets, and other electronic devices. This helps everyone focus on getting ready instead of being sidetracked. If you need to keep track of time, try using a kitchen timer or a traditional alarm clock.
Implementing these tips can significantly decrease morning chaos and ensure everyone starts their day off on the right foot. Adjust these strategies to fit your specific family dynamics for the best results.
SWNS writer Rob Knight contributed to this report.
Always be lights out before 9pm and wake up before 4:30 am. Easy to do and greatly improves happiness and health but few people have the will power to shut down before 9pm.
People that work graveyard simply swap the am’s and pm’s.
I agree. Most people are simply watching television after 9 PM.
The simple solution? Get up earlier. I wake up 2 hours before I have to leave for work. Stress free.
I get myself off before work. That reduces my stress.
In my more than 30 years of working full-time, I have never woken late and my alarm is not even set. I get up well before I have to each morning, usually between 4 am and 5 am. I relax, have a couple cups of coffee, and I arrive at work 90 minutes prior to my required time. I workout most mornings in my classroom for 45 minutes, prep my directions for the day, and have another cup of coffee. I am very organized and my life is free from day to day stresses that most people deal with. Organizational skills and the ability to plan are two traits that should be emphasized in school as they translate across all aspects of life.
It’s a good thing that I’m never awake at 8:15 am. Nothing good happens before noon!
For the thirty years that I taught High school, by 8:15 I was already halfway finished my first class. Finished breakfast, fed the cat, drove to school, got the classroom ready, and greeted 35 sleepy students by 7:35
Rushing was never an aspect.