Q&A for How to Get Ready for School Quickly

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  • Question
    How can I stop running late for school in the mornings?
    Alicia Oglesby
    Professional School Counselor
    Alicia Oglesby is a Professional School Counselor and the Director of School and College Counseling at Bishop McNamara High School outside of Washington DC. With over ten years of experience in counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. She also studied Race and Mental Health at Virginia Tech. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events.
    Professional School Counselor
    Expert Answer
    The best thing you can do is to get as much ready as you can the night before. Get your book bag ready, lay out your clothes, and pack your lunch and put it in the refrigerator. Also, be sure you're in bed at least 8 hours before you need to be up the next morning to be sure you're getting enough sleep.
  • Question
    Can I have some breakfast ideas?
    Community Answer
    Some good breakfast meals include: Cereal, toast with spread, cut fruit, a smoothie, some warm oatmeal or waffles/pancakes.
  • Question
    If I am in primary school, will these tips still work?
    Community Answer
    Yes, of course. Just ignore any steps that don't apply to you, like the part about wearing makeup.
  • Question
    Can I not have breakfast if I'm late?
    Community Answer
    You'll have to grab something to eat on the way: a granola bar or piece of fruit work great.
  • Question
    How can I get used to these routines if I failed in the first place?
    Community Answer
    It doesn’t matter if you failed in the first place. Keep trying and eventually you’ll get there. Just believe in yourself.
  • Question
    Should you shower before you go to school?
    Community Answer
    This is entirely up to you. You might prefer to have a shower the night before, or in the morning. Either way is fine. If you can't shower, at least wipe your face and armpits with a face cloth (separate face cloths).
  • Question
    What should I do if I don't have time to make my bed?
    Community Answer
    Make it in the afternoon so you can have your bed ready at night. Make it after your homework is done.
  • Question
    What if I'm late for school?
    Community Answer
    Apologize and promise to be on time again. Then, make a routine to stay on time for the rest of your school year.
  • Question
    Can I have some quick breakfast ideas if I don't have much time in the morning?
    Community Answer
    If you don’t have very much time in the morning, you can have cereal, yogurt, granola, oatmeal, eggs, and toast.
  • Question
    How can you brush your teeth if you are holding all of your bags?
    Community Answer
    It is suggested that you put down your bags, then clean your teeth. That way, you won't have anything pulling down your teeth-brushing hand and it'll be faster than trying to juggle everything.
  • Question
    Why do I need to brush my teeth right before school after breakfast?
    Community Answer
    Brushing your teeth is necessary for your hygiene. Nobody wants to be around someone with bad breath!
  • Question
    Why is a shower at night healthier than in the morning?
    Community Answer
    There really isn’t a difference! If you shower at night, at least it's out of the way. However, you can do whatever suits you.
  • Question
    What time do I need to wake up for school as a kid?
    Community Answer
    It depends on what time you need to leave for school and how old you are. Kids need at least 8-10 hours of sleep, depending on age, and you should probably wake up at least 40 minutes to an hour before you need to leave the house.
  • Question
    How do I get ready for school if I have dark circles under my eyes?
    Community Answer
    Apply a bit of concealer to the area under your eyes, that should help make them less visible. Make sure you're getting plenty of sleep at night.
  • Question
    What if I really don't want to get up?
    Community Answer
    You have to. Remind yourself that it's a huge hassle if you're late for school and you might get in trouble, have to make up work, etc. Your life will be a lot easier if you just get up and go. If you're always tired in the mornings, you probably need to go to bed earlier.
  • Question
    Do you have any suggestions for easy hairstyles to help me get ready for school more quickly?
    Community Answer
    You can do messy buns, ponytails, buns, half-up half-down, braids, or just brush your hair out or put a clip in it.
  • Question
    Should I put on my makeup before I eat breakfast?
    Community Answer
    No, do the important stuff first! Also, if you put on lipstick first, it may get smeared on your cup, on your food, etc. If you run out of time, pack your makeup and do it in the restroom before class starts.
  • Question
    How can I remember to set my alarm for the morning?
    Community Answer
    If you're using your phone, you could just make it a recurring event. You'll just have to remember to turn it off during the weekends if you want to sleep in.
  • Question
    How do I get ready for school quickly if I have trouble sleeping?
    Community Answer
    Try establishing a solid bedtime routine. Let’s say it takes you 30 minutes to fall asleep. Go to bed 45 minutes earlier than usual. Put away all electronics at least 30 minutes before bed. Read a book for a little while to wind down.
  • Question
    Does having a uniform affect getting ready for school quickly?
    Community Answer
    Having a uniform will make getting ready quickly a little easier because you don't have to worry about what you're going to wear. Just make sure your uniform is clean, ironed, etc. and ready to go the night before so you don't have to worry about anything in the morning.
  • Question
    I usually do not eat breakfast before school; should I start eating breakfast? Is it OK to not eat breakfast?
    Community Answer
    You should start eating breakfast. You will not have enough energy for the day if you don’t eat breakfast.
  • Question
    How do I get ready for school if I get distracted?
    Community Answer
    Try using a timer. If you need ten minutes in the bathroom, set a timer for ten minutes. When you're getting dressed, set a timer for five minutes, then set a timer for 10 minutes for hair/makeup. Make sure the timer is in your line of view so that you are reminded. Making a list of each step may also help, and you can check off each step after it's completed.
  • Question
    How can I get ready for school quickly if I don't have someone to help me do my hair?
    Community Answer
    You can learn how to do different hairstyles that are easy and quick. For example, if you have long, thick hair, then you can put your hair in a braid right before you go to bed so your hair is brushed out before you leave.
  • Question
    How can I stop sleeping through my alarm?
    Community Answer
    Set it to go off every few minutes, and choose the most annoying sound available, like a loud, obnoxious beeping. Turn the volume all the way up.
  • Question
    What can I do to get up on time when getting ready for school?
    Community Answer
    If you are struggling to get up on time, try setting multiple alarms five or six minutes apart. You could also switch up your morning routine every few days, to get you looking forward to your mornings.
  • Question
    Should I eat breakfast?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Breakfast is a very important meal, and you will not be able to get through the day without it.
  • Question
    How do I get ready for school quickly if I shower in the mornings?
    Community Answer
    There are two options: 1. Try shortening the time it takes you to shower. 2. Shower at night instead. Either way, it would also help to pick out your outfit the night before.
  • Question
    How do I comb my hair more efficiently when it's long and thick?
    Community Answer
    I have the same problem, what I do is brush my hair before I go to bed and put it in a messy bun, then in the morning my hair is not as hard to brush.
  • Question
    What if I keep getting up late for school?
    Community Answer
    If you're oversleeping frequently, that means you're not getting enough sleep and you need to go to bed earlier. If you use an alarm clock to wake up, set it and place it across the room so you have to get up to turn it off. Then jump straight in the shower so you don't go back to bed. Ask a parent or sibling to make sure you're up.
  • Question
    What time should I start getting ready for bed?
    Community Answer
    It depends on what time you go to bed and how long your nightly routine takes, but you should probably start getting ready for bed about 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime (give yourself more time if you like to read a book, etc. in bed for a little while to wind down).
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