May is the devil.

Let me rephrase. May is the devil if you are a mother with kids in school.

I’m not sure why it is (or why I don’t plan for it better since May comes every.single.year), but May is the month when everything seems to need to get done, sometimes with less than 24-hours notice, and no one wants to do any of it.

Teacher Appreciation, School Carnival, Finals, Spring Activities, Planning for Camps, End of Year Projects, Planning for Vacation, School Plays, End of Year Concerts, Graduations, Parties, and Enrollment.

Oh, and did I mention in the middle of all of THIS, most of us realize the pool will be open at the end of the month and we will be required to showcase our white winter bodies in brightly colored fabric with the hint of Spandex?

Yes, May is the Devil.

In past years, I’ve let working out fall by the wayside during the Devil’s Month because I could just.not.fit.it.all.in.and.remain.sane during these 31 days. As a dripping-off-of-me-sweater by nature, I knew there was no way I would be able to handle all of the activities, commitments, plans and still get in a good 45 minute workout, plus get showered afterwards (so I could attend said activities, commitments, and plans). Something had to give…and that is what I chose. In the past.

This year, I vowed it would be different. I signed up for Bikini Body Mommy (it’s a six day workout plan where each day is only 20 minutes), I got an accountability group, and I researched and implemented ways to decrease my “get ready time after a workout “.

Ways to Reduce Time To Get Ready After Workout

1. If the thought of rewashing and styling your hair after every work out makes you skip a workout, put your hair in a high ponytail and use a headband. The high pony will keep your hair mostly dry and the head band will absorb lots of the sweat.

2. Choose workout clothing made from a “wicking” fabric (also called technical or performance fabrics). These are usually polyester and/or Lycra blends. This way your sweat will get “wicked” away from you and leave you less sweaty.

3. Spend at least five minutes in a cool down. If you heart is still beating fast, you will still be sweating while showering or getting ready. And being sweaty after you get ready is a bummer.

4. Have your outfit, accessories, and shoes already planned (or packed) and ready to go. Less time in the closet, means less time getting ready.

5. Use a high-absorbency bath towel to dry off (even if you don’t take a shower).

6. After a workout, choose simple makeup and hairsyle. If you are in a time crunch, use my everyday makeup in minutes tips to get it done in under five minutes and embrace a few bobbypins or pony tail holder to have a sleek look without a lot of fuss.

7. If time is really, really tight. Consider using Ban® Total Refresh™Cooling Body Cloths instead of taking a full shower. These little wipes are the bomb! What truly sets Ban® Total Refresh™ Cooling Body Cloths apart is the PowderSilk™ technology imported exclusively from Japan. I know it seems crazy, but these little cloths instantly transform hot, sticky skin into refreshed and reinvigorated skin with a translucent, superfine powder. So it’s like you took a shower, only you didn’t. And you saved 15 minutes. Which means you can go to Starbucks. (You can thank me later.)

So, the prognosis looks good. I’m in the first week of Bikini Body Mommy and have a perfect workout attendance. I’ve made it to my Mother’s coffee dates, an appointment, a luncheon, and a school play. (And on two of those occasions I used Ban Total Refresh Cooling Cloths and no one knew the difference.) And I’ve lost two pounds.

That’s right, Devil. I’ve got your number. You aren’t going to win this year!

How else do you shave time off getting ready after a workout? Leave a comment and let me know. I’ll take all the tips I can get!

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Ban via MomTrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Ban or Momtrends. Which is code for the opinions about the Devil’s month and working out are entirely my own. Want more information – check out my full disclosure statement.