Tips for waking up early.

This past week, I started my new job. It is totally different from any job I have held previously. My job experience in the past has never included a job that I have worked five days a week during the day. I have either worked the second or third shift, or just worked weekends. This is an adjustment period for me. I have to be at work by 7a, so that puts me getting up a little bit before 6am. I am lucky that this job is only about 15 minutes away from where I live. I am do not wear makeup on a daily basis, so I can get ready in about 5 minutes. So here are my tips for helping for waking up early and getting ready quickly.

• Get as much ready the night before as you can.
•  I figure out what I am wearing the next day. Even to the shoes and jewelry I plan on wearing. Then I put it in my bathroom, so when I go to the bathroom first thing, I can go ahead and get dressed in there as well.
• Shower. I have always showered of a night, unless there is something that is keeping me from showering, it's hot in my bedroom and I am sweating, or if I am sick, I will not shower until morning. Typically, I shower at night.
• Pack Bags or Lunches. Right before I am about to head to bed, I pack my lunch and make sure everything that I need for work is in my purse.
• If your a coffee drinker have you coffee set to brew the next morning with your cup sitting beside your coffee. If you use powder cream, so ahead and put it in your cup as well.
• Place things that you need by the door:
• I have everything, except my lunch, placed by my door, so I can just grab it and I am more likely not to forget it if it's at the door.
• Leave things in your car.
• If you have a badge, or specific things that you can't leave at work, but need at work, leave them in your car. If they are in your car, you won't forget to pick them up the morning of work. Now, if it will get damage by heat or cold , don't leave it in your car. When I was wearing a uniform, I often left my shoes in my car.
• Set several alarms.
• I have five alarms set. I have three on my phone, and then I have an actual alarm clock set with two. Now only three of these alarms are to wake me up. I have one on my phone and one on my alarm clock as backup, set for the same time. This is the time I wake up. I have another on my alarm clock set up for 10 minutes after the initial alarm. The alarm clock is only really a backup alarm incase something happens to my phone during the night, but my alarm clock tends to not be loud enough to wake me up with one alarm. Now the other two alarms on my cell. One is set for the time I need to be completely ready by. Then another one 15 minutes later, for when the latest time is that I need to be heading out the door of my apartment. These are just reminders for me, cause once I am ready I tend to turn on the television, so I can loose track of time every easily.

These are just some of the things that I do to help me get out the door faster in the morning, and not have to get up even earlier than I do.

Peaceful and Happy Thoughts,
--Rue.

Rue's In College: My Backpack Essentials

In my backpack there are always things that I keep in it no matter what classes I am taking.

•  Black Pen, Highlighter and Pencil.:Even if you carry a pencil bag, which I do, keep a black pen and pencil in your front in the pen loops. This is for emerengencies, I have left my pencil bag plently at home, so if I have my pen and pencil I will be fine. Also some teachers require you to write in your name on class role.
• Hand Cream: My hands get extremely dry, and if my hands are dry, I am not comfortable, so I keep hand cream in my backpack to keep that from happening.
• Floss: I always have to have floss. When I get food between my teeth, my teeth can hurt because my teeth are extremely sensitive.
• Eye Drops: When looking at a computer screen for several hours, my eyes get dry, so eye drops help with the dryness.
• Chap stick: Keep those lips from getting chapped.
• Water: must stay hydrate. I suggest buying a water bottle instead of buying bottled water. Save your money.
• Headphones: When you need to watch a video or listen to music while studying.
• Cheap Sunglasses: In case you want to study outside, and protect your eyes from the sun. I keep these in my backpack. So I make sure they are cheap incase they get broken.
• Umbrella: You never know when their may be a pop up shower and need one.
• Deodorant: This is one of the things I always forget in the morning. So I keep a mini one in my backpack in case.
• Mint, Gum: Keep your mouth minty fresh.
• ID Case: I do not carry my wallet while at school. I have a small ID case that I keep my college ID, Drivers License, a small amount of cash for vending machine, and my debit card.
• Pain Medicine: This in case you get a headache. I know I cannot focus when I have a headache.
• Snack: Keep something that like a granola bar, or something that will hold up really well in your backpack. Keep a snack in there so you don't have to use your money for the vending machine.

During school, my backpack becomes my purse, so I keep in there what I would a purse. This is not what I keep in my backpack all the time. I do also have books, notebooks, and other things I need for school, but this is what I keep in my backpack besides school related stuff. Some of these is what some people may not realize they need.

Peaceful and Happy Thoughts,
--Rue.