How to Start and End a Busy Day So You Don’t Feel Totally Frazzled

Instead of hitting snooze three times and then panicking and rushing out the door, try stretching under your cozy comforter. Any type of movement when you first wake up, like a full-body stretch, sharpens your mind, notes Rebecca Scott of NYU Langone’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center—Sleep Center. Plus, it lets you slowly wake up, as opposed to bolting out of bed.

On the busiest days, it’s easy for nutrition to get left on the back burner. (Hello again, office pastries.) Avoid falling prey to those empty-calorie scenarios by stocking up on V8 Original 5.5-ounce cans. They’re super convenient (fit right in your purse) and have one full serving of vegetables, not to mention as much potassium as a small banana (but fewer calories, with only 30 per can). Our favorite nutrition hack is to grab one before leaving the house in the morning. That way, you can enjoy it on your commute and rest easy knowing that—since it’s satisfying and wholesome—you’ve already crossed “balanced breakfast” off your list and it’s not even 9 a.m.

Nothing’s worse than putting on your mascara in the car while you’re stopped at a red light. (Seriously, don’t do this.) According to psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert, establishing a structured makeup routine can actually help soothe anxiety. It’s worth it to build in a stress-free 15 minutes for your makeup in the morning; add an extra layer of relaxation by sitting down.

Surprise: The first two hours after you wake up are often your most productive of the day, says Dan Ariely, a behavioral economist at Duke University. Instead of wasting them on social media (well, unless you’re an influencer), choose two things to get done and do them. You’ll not only do them well but also feel so accomplished for the rest of the day.

Instead of writing about your crush like you did in middle school, take several minutes at the end of the day to write down whatever’s on your mind. According to an article from Michigan State University Extension, a number of studies reveal that journaling is one of the best ways to clear your mind. It helps release your emotions, check out from everything else around you and focus on your own thoughts.

According to Ronni Eisenberg, an organizational expert and the author of ten books about getting organized, it’s totally OK to bring home work at night if you have a demanding job. Let’s be realistic. But instead of steadily working all night, split your work into shifts: Enjoy quality time with your family, then go back to work. A real break will often give you a fresh perspective too.