10 Ways to Streamline Your Morning Routine

The secret to being a morning person? Use a "less is more" approach when getting ready to walk out the door. You'll save a minute here, a minute there and before you know it, you're ready to go. Give these ten tips a try:

1. Dress for success.

Keep it simple. Don't fuss with finding the right blouse, sweater, pants, and jacket. Just toss on a dress for a one-piece perfect outfit. Dress it up with a structured blazer or make it casual with a funky cardigan.

2. Quit streaking.

Avoid liquid roll-on or white pasty deodorant/antiperspirant. They'll leave streaks on your clothing. Go for a clear gel instead. If your go-to brand still streaks a little, then tuck a tissue into each armpit immediately after applying deodorant. It'll absorb excess and keep it off your blouse.

3. Shave less.

Save shaving for days when people will see your legs or armpits like when you're wearing a dress and showing off your bare legs. On pants, tights, long sleeve, or maxi-dress days, who's going to know you skipped a step?

4. Forgo the full blowout.

Blow dry and style just the hair around your face and let the rest dry naturally. You can save even more time with a great wash-and-wear haircut that works with your hair's natural texture.

5. Wear less makeup.

Professional makeup artists advise that you emphasize one feature like your mouth or eyes and go natural or neutral on the rest of your face. By wearing a bright lipstick, you don't need to spend time on your eyes. To streamline even more, try using one product for several purposes, like cream blush for cheeks, eye shadow and lipstick or tinted moisturizer with sunscreen in it to cover three steps in one product.

6. Shower at night.

If you shower and shampoo at night, you'll save bathing time in the morning and won't have to blow dry your hair. If you're really crunched for time, skip your shower altogether and freshen up with a washcloth.

7. Skip shampoo.

Use dry shampoo at the roots to absorb oil and add a bit of texture to your style. Or, pull it back into a smooth ponytail.

8. Opt for natural nails.

Instead of applying and repairing colored nail polish, just go natural. Buff your nails to a subtle shine or apply a coat of clear polish.

9. Bag it.

Don't bother changing purses with each outfit. Invest in one great bag that goes with everything. Or keep all your essentials clustered into a transferable pouch that you can grab from one purse and stash in another.

10. Go for quality over quantity.

Purchase and put together a few great outfits you know will work for any occasion. Invest in a few good quality, classic accessories that go with several outfits like gold hoop earrings, a simple black belt or a pendant and chain. Spend a few minutes at the beginning of your week getting your clothes, accessories and other essentials organized and you'll save time and energy for things you enjoy more—like a few minutes extra sleep in the morning.