Who knew so much could get done in 15 minutes?
The day our morning routines shake out, my husband leaves for work about an hour before I do — and I typically am ready in about 30 minutes, give or take, which often gives me an elusive 15-20 minute window to do whatever before I have to leave for work.
It doesn’t sound like much, but 15 minutes of focused energy on a single task is actually a lot.
Sometimes I clean.
Or watch a slice of “Good Morning America.”
Or pack up a lunch for the day.
Or grab my Kindle and read, read, read.
Lately I’ve been wrapping Christmas presents, participating in the 12 Days of Love Letters by writing out a card and packing up Etsy orders to ship.
My new favorite wind-down activity: reading magazines! As a lifelong book reader, I never bothered to pick up one of the many mags lining the tables at my parents’ house. But after a subscription snafu wound up granting me a year of Glamour, I’ve actually been sitting down with coffee — at home — and flipping through it before work.
It’s pretty glorious.
Lately I’ve actually been getting ready for work faster so I’ll have a little extra time to hang out on the sofa. As someone who once slapped her snooze button at least three times before finally pouring herself into the shower, then running around before eventually sprinting out the door, this new routine is surprising . . . but wonderful.
It feels nice to rush less, think more.
To have time for simple projects that mean something to me.
In the quiet mornings just after I wish Spence a good day, I sit in the stillness of our space and feel . . . good.
Whole. Happy.
And if I love my 15 minutes so much? Imagine how I’d feel if I had a whole hour.
Have a happy weekend, friends! I’ll be back Monday with a big, fat, sparkly post brimming with my tips on surviving — and thriving! — throughout the wedding planning process. Dec. 16 marks one year since we got engaged. Oh, how time flies! ❤
write meg! 
Beautiful post! I think you just inspired me to do the same. I am a chronic snoozer!
~Anna
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I can totally relate to the slapping the snooze button three (or more… many many more) times in the morning! But getting up in time to relax before work is so awesome! I remember when I first realized that I could realistically get up and actually, like, eat breakfast and breathe before leaving. It was magic. Amazing how these discoveries happen, eh?
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I find myself hitting the snooze button less and less these days, which means more time for the little things in the mornings and less rush! I love it! Now, I just need to learn to not be a night owl too because the combination of them both is not good on the amount of sleep I get!
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I go to bed so early I won’t even tell you what time, but I am an early riser. Always have been. All through high school and college, I had the job that required me to show up at like 5am. You can get so much more done when you wake up early. Also I just think it gets your day started in a much more pleasant way, versus the rushing. And mags are wonderful. Turn off the brain and just flip through.
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15 minutes can make a difference for your entire day!
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I get up at 5:30 during the week (I have to be at work by 7:30.) But I always grab a cup of coffee, crawl back in the bed, and read the news, Twitter, blogs, whatever for 30-45 mins. It gives me time to relax and wake up! Glad you are settling into married life!
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I so agree. I love my few moments to myself in the morning. It seems like forever!
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I so love having some extra time to just be. It’s so nice!
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I used to be good about giving myself a whole hour to get ready in the morning, just to give myself time to sit back and read or listen to music before it was time to leave my house.
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I’m happy you found the strength to take control of food. I’m fighting to do the same…. except the opposite. I’ve suffered from an eating disorder since I was 13 and I’m trying to turn my life around and take control, real control not what my disorder tells me is control. Good job on your achievement.
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This sounds like bliss! As the mother of 3 year old twins this wouldn’t be possible but once I’ve got them to sleep at night, I sit in their room for an extra 10 minutes and read on my Kindle!
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For awhile this year (spring and summer), I was good about getting up early and having some quiet time before the day started. Now that it’s winter and so dark in the morning, I’ve been hitting the snooze button a lot more than I should. I miss that little extra time to wind up for the day.
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I wish I had an extra 15 minutes in the morning, but I can’t barely get myself out the door as it is!! It is amazing what you can get in that time though if you’re just focused! It’s about like when company is about to come over and you can suddenly clean the entire house in under 5 minutes!
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