# Morning Routine: Which would you do first? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 6, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485 "2010-05-06T05:16:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/1 "2010-05-06T05:16:13Z")
Each morning after waking up while preparing to leave for the office, I go to our bathroom sink and perform three routine tasks: - Brush/floss teeth. (then rinse, and wash hands) - Apply deodorant to underarms. - Apply a dab of gel to my short hair. (then wash hands) I don’t do these three tasks in the same order each morning. Sometimes I’ll do deodorant last. Other days, I might do my hair first. I have never understood my logic for choosing to do one before the other. Just out of curiousity, I have a few questions: **In which order would you do them? And what is the most effective order to do them? What’s your reasoning for choosing that order?** Also, if you like, please indicate if you’re male or female. Thanks for participating in my MPSIMS thread. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/2 "2010-05-06T05:24:37Z")
I don’t know about you, but the first thing I need to do every morning is pee. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/3 "2010-05-06T05:30:28Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I don’t know about you, but the first thing I need to do every morning is pee. Hehehe, well you got me. Yes, that’s my priority after getting out of bed. What I mean to say: Each morning after waking up _ **as part of my preparation before leaving for the office** _ … ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/4 "2010-05-06T06:46:12Z")
Shaving is not in there? I take my pills I have to take before eating first, then brush, then shave, and then apply deodorant. If the dog is awake I sometimes do some or all of these steps (except the pills) after feeding the dog and eating breakfast, to not get my wife up. I don’t put anything in my hair, since I go for that Einstein look. OTOH, at 58 I still have all my hair, so it seems to be working. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/5 "2010-05-06T08:27:03Z")
You missed out “feed the cats”. That’s the first job of the day, they won’t let me do anything else without risk of serious injury until they’ve got food. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/6 "2010-05-06T11:36:34Z")
Female. Out of the three things you listed, I’d put the gel in my hair first, while it’s still wet from the shower. Then, after I’m dry, I’d put on deodorant. Brushing my teeth is always last, because it makes me feel all fresh and “ok, now I’m ready.” ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/7 "2010-05-06T12:44:36Z")
I’d do them in the order you listed them- brush/floss, deodorant, hair gel. But I don’t know why you would wash your hands after brushing/flossing. After gelling, yes- you have to get the gel off. But do your hands really get that messy from brushing/flossing? ETA: Male. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/8 "2010-05-06T13:19:23Z")
Once my bladder is happy again, I brush my teeth, shower, moisturize my face, deodorize my pits, comb my hair, and get dressed. That’s on a work day. Other times, I definitely need to brush my teeth first thing, because my morning mouth offends me. Then I may lounge around in my robe, surf, do some chores, or get back in bed and watch TV. However, once I hit the shower, the rest of the routine is the same. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/9 "2010-05-06T13:45:33Z")
I shower at night, so I would put on the deodorant first; I keep it in the drawer in my nightstand, so I don’t even have to get up out of bed to user it. Just sit up and open the drawer. Then the other things I would go into the bathroom for. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/10 "2010-05-06T13:47:13Z")
Female. I’d brush/floss first, because morning breath bugs the hell out of me. Then deodorant would come next, because my B.O. isn’t terrible like my morning breath is, but it’s still a more urgent matter than making my hair look good. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/11 "2010-05-06T13:53:49Z")
I feed the cats and dog, pee, take my pills, brush my teeth, take a shower, moisturize, deoderize, and blow dry my hair. If I’m putting anything in it it goes in after I’ve half-heartedly blown it damp. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/12 "2010-05-06T14:03:40Z")
Female, and my order is basically always the same. For just what you listed, it would be: hair deodorant brush/floss I always brush last, since I don’t like to have coffee breath. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/13 "2010-05-06T14:04:52Z")
> [@ScareyFaerie](#): > > You missed out “feed the cats”. That’s the first job of the day, they won’t let me do anything else without risk of serious injury until they’ve got food. Yep. Even before peeing. There are priorities, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/14 "2010-05-06T14:54:05Z")
Male. Get out of bed. Stretch. Pee. Wash hands. Wash face. Shave. Take a shower. Put on deodorant. Get dressed. Brush hair (no gel). Put things in pockets (wallet, calendar, pen, cellphone, keys, penknife, security passcard). Drink OJ. Brush teeth. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/15 "2010-05-06T15:46:08Z")
Female. Drink espresso. Drink some more espresso. Wait for caffeine to kick in. Shower, deodorant, mousse & style hair, brush & floss teeth, makeup. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/16 "2010-05-06T15:51:15Z")
Wait a minute- people here actually drink coffee before brushing their teeth? [insert pukey smiley] You don’t \ eat before brushing, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/17 "2010-05-06T16:00:47Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > You don’t \ eat before brushing, do you? I used to do it this way, figuring I’d brush my teeth after I eat and kill two birds with one stone. Sometime in the last 20 years I switched. Probably because I don’t always eat in the morning, but I always want to brush my teeth. Back to the OP. I vary the routine as well. Sometimes brush teeth before shower, sometimes after. Always shave after shower. Usually comb my hair before shaving. Deodorant can be any where after shower and before getting dressed. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/18 "2010-05-06T16:10:42Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > Wait a minute- people here actually drink coffee before brushing their teeth? [insert pukey smiley] > > You don’t \ eat before brushing, do you? If I eat or drink coffee after brushing rather than before, then I have milk or coffee breath on my morning commute on public transport. Bleah. I prefer to not inflict that on myself and on my fellow commuters, not to mention on my husband who I kiss goodbye before leaving the house. ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/19 "2010-05-06T16:21:29Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > You don’t \ eat before brushing, do you? That’s always made more sense to me than doing it the other way around. 😉 I brush to get the food out of my teeth… Maybe I don’t notice my own morning breath stank, but brushing my teeth is one of the last things I do before leaving the house in the morning. On days when I don’t insert a workout pretty much right after the pee: Get out of bed Pee Shower Shave Deodorant Dress Final brushing of hair Eat breakfast Prepare travel mug of coffee Brush teeth, floss, swish with mouthwash Kiss wife Leave ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485/20 "2010-05-06T16:39:34Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > You don’t \ eat before brushing, do you? No. And almost an hour goes by between drinking espresso and brushing teeth, at least in my case. Besides, gagginess is reserved for drinking orange juice or eating fruit after brushing teeth. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-routine-which-would-you-do-first/538485.md?page=2)