The Most Common Morning Routines Across America

Waking up for work in the morning is a struggle many Americans know all too well. From pressing snooze and desperately needing that cup of joe to rising early and beating rush-hour traffic, morning routines vary. While some individuals take the leisurely route, leaving themselves time to catch up on the news or relax in front of the TV, others spend their mornings rushing to get themselves and their children ready for the day.

Do parents living with children spend more time getting ready in the morning compared to non-parents? Does the industry in which one works affect the amount of time between waking and leaving for work? We surveyed 1,000 Americans to find the answers to these questions. Read on to see how your morning routine compares to others in your industry and state.

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

When the alarm goes off, many people would rather hit snooze and roll over, yet getting to work on time doesn’t seem to be a struggle for most Americans. In fact, residents of most states arrived early or on time for work.

Only four states missed the mark with tardiness – residents of New Mexico and Vermont arrived the latest – an average of 2 minutes and 30 seconds behind schedule. Residents of Kentucky, on the other hand, tended to arrive to work an average of about 18 minutes before they were due.

Although arriving early to work can be beneficial, so is extra sleep. Instead of being the early bird, setting one’s alarm just 10 to 20 minutes later could result in better health and a boost in brainpower.

Parent or Procrastinator?

There is a common misconception that women take longer – much longer – to get ready than men. But the stigma that women are high maintenance may not be so true after all. As it turns out, women didn’t spend more time on their morning routines when compared to men, unless there were children still living at home. On average, mothers spent 1 hour and 48 minutes getting themselves and their children ready to head out the door, while fathers spent roughly 10 minutes less.

Women who only had to tend to themselves, however, spent an average of 1 hour and 34 minutes getting ready each morning – 25 minutes less than non-parental men. It may not be applying makeup that’s keeping women from walking out the door sooner, but the simple fact that getting more than one person ready takes a bit of extra time.

Preparing in the Powder Room

The bathroom is usually the first stop in the morning. Visiting the porcelain throne was the most prevalent activity among survey participants, with 96 percent of respondents going to the bathroom after waking. In a close second for frequency, 95 percent of people brushed their teeth in the morning, spending an average of about two and a half minutes to do so. Showering took the longest – an average of almost six minutes – but was only a part of 69 percent of all morning routines.

Making Time for Media

Technology has become a part of everyday life for most Americans, and morning routines are no exception. Over 50 percent of respondents reported browsing the internet or checking social media, text messages, and emails before leaving for work. Only 16 percent of respondents spent time watching TV each morning, and they spent an average of about 6 minutes doing so. If individuals were to decrease the time dedicated to technology during their morning routines, they could take advantage of the extra minutes and stock up on sleep, potentially increasing the productivity of their workday.

Get More Sleep; Your Emails Can Wait

No matter how long it takes to get ready in the morning, the real trick to feeling refreshed and ready for a long day at work is a good night’s rest. Leave the emails for on-the-clock time so you can snag some extra zzz’s. Best Mattress Brand can help you with your mattress needs to ensure you’re getting the most out of your bed. Our guide to the best mattress of 2024 will help you decide which bed is right for you.

Methodology

We surveyed 1,000 working Americans about how long they take to get ready for work in the morning. We asked questions related to self-care, time spent helping children get ready, and morning media usage.

Sources

• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/18/men-women-getting-ready-morning_n_3933689.html
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/26/sleep-work_n_5869168.html
• http://www.businessinsider.com/benefits-of-getting-to-work-early-2015-4
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinecomaford/2013/11/24/get-horizontal-20-more-minutes-boosts-your-brain-power/#3f769fc38a08

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