If You Inherited The 'Chronically Late' Gene, You'll Probably Find These Products So Helpful

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21-03-2025

1. A curling headband you sleep in so you can walk into work *on time* and with flawless heat-free curls.
Promising review: "This product is phenomenal. When I tell you, I have tried EVERY heartless curl product. The sleepy tie? The (basically) pool noodle method, the foam rollers you sleep in. They all claim to be easy, comfortable, etc. None of them lived up to the hype for one reason or another, whether it be results or using it being impossible. This product is so easy and comfortable, and my hair stays so much cleaner for longer . I've used it every day since I got it, and it saves me so much time getting ready each day. Buy this." — Christina
Get it from Amazon for $27.99 (available in five colors).
2. An auto-shutoff outlet for the person who's chronically late to the 9 a.m. team meeting because they realized halfway to the office that their flat iron is still on and plugged in. Instead of having a mini heart attack on the expressway trying or dangerously U-turning like you're in an action movie, take a deep breath and remember that you own this gadget and it's on a timer, so it will shut off automatically. Phew!
You can set the timer on this for one, two, four, or eight hours or just put it on hold.
Promising review:"I'm very pleased with this. I use it mainly for at-home hair styling. I often like to leave my styling wand on for last-minute touch-ups before leaving early in the morning, but in haste, I often get on the freeway and worry that I forgot to unplug it. No more worries with this attached to the plug. I wish I'd gotten it sooner." — JDubya
Get it from Amazon for $11.79.
3. An Echo Show 5 if your routine could use some streamlining. This virtual assistant can tell you about the weather or current traffic, control lighting, show you a live feed from a home security camera, and so much more. No more turning home to pick up an umbrella or close the garage door! Now, you can be prepared for the day ahead.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I am a mom with ADHD and autism, and my kids both have ADHD. I have been struggling to manage our schedule and get all of our tasks done each day. My son is 4 and not fully potty trained. I have to remind him to go every hour, and it has been a struggle. Enter Alexa. Alexa has been a game changer. I scheduled out every single task like brushing teeth, going potty, getting dressed for the day, etc. My kids jump right up when Alexa tells them to do a task. They seem to listen so much better to her than they do to me. Our days are going so much smoother, and I don't have to worry about remembering all the little things." — Dillon
Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (available in three colors).
4. A HyperChiller because there's no way you're remembering to prep your cold brew the night before — and now you don't have to. This machine will cool down your hot coffee, tea, and wine in 60 seconds.
Amazon
Promising review:"I have a cold brew set to make concentrate, which is nice, but it takes 24+ hours. Sometimes, I forget/run out/am lazy, and you can literally brew hot coffee into this thing and have ice-cold coffee about two minutes later. From hot brewed to so cold in less than two minutes that the coffee doesn't even melt ice in the glass. Highly recommend if you're an iced coffee fan like me!" — Billy S.
Get it from Amazon for $12.42+ (available in five colors/styles).
5. An eyeliner stamp that'll simplify your winged liner routine if your wings look less like twins and more like distant cousins twice removed. One end is a triangular stamp for the wings, and the other is a felt tip to connect the wing to the inner corner.
Promising review:"Works the first time, every time! And that's super important cause I'm constantly running late and don't exactly have the extra time like I used to fuss with wiping it off and doing it over. Try it, and I know you're not going to be disappointed. Not to mention the black liner on the other end is one of the best I've ever used and trust me, I've tried close to all of them!" — Renee Terry Newman
Get two from Amazon for $14.97 (available in three sizes).
6. A weekly keyboard planner to help you organize your tasks and visualize deadlines and appointments. It's undated, so you can use it only when you need it instead of buying a dated planner and then feeling like you've wasted money because you only filled half the book.
Promising review: "I love lists. Usually, I don't use paper calendars because the squares are either too small or too 'timed appointment oriented' for my listy lifestyle. Sometimes, I just need to write down a lot of information on a certain day. This calendar is organized just right. I love that you can start it at any time of the year. The paper quality is really heavy and smooth, so pens don't bleed through. Cuz on the back of each calendar page? More space for lists!" — Sonya W
Get it from Amazon for $9.62.
7. Or a daily to-do list so you don't overwhelm yourself and spiral thinking about all the stuff you have to do before the week is over — just tackle it one day at a time.
www.amazon.com
Friends Kaylyn Minix and Michelle Askin founded Bloom, a small business creating the most adorable and productivity-boosting planners and desk accessories, after meeting at the University of Delaware.
Get it from Amazon for $8.95.
8. A time-saving breakfast sandwich maker for a quick and hearty breakfast sammie and minimal clean-up. If you absolutely need to eat breakfast, you'll appreciate this all-in-one machine — as will your boss now that you're not 15 minutes late every shift because of time spent waiting in a drive-thru.
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Promising review:" It is perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 'fast' meals. I fix bacon in the microwave, and it cooks the egg and melts the cheese on bagels, English muffins, hamburger buns, and other round bread. If I had one with squares, I would make sandwiches like grilled cheese and ham. It can even cook a round omelet!" — Bonita
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in four colors).
9. Or a truly ~egg-cellent~ rapid egg cooker if eggs are more your jam. Enjoy an omelet (or a soft-, medium-, or hard-boiled egg — so many options!) in mere minutes. The best part = no supervision necessary, and you won't dirty a single pan.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Easy to use, easy to clean. I love the small size. With a small household, it's all I need. Have used it several times for hard-boiled eggs, and they have been perfect every time. I have never been too keen on specialty appliances, but this one is worth it." — brownnc
Get it from our Tasty collection on Amazon for $12.74 (available in three colors).
10. A pack of Downy wrinkle-releasing spray because looking presentable at your monthly presentation shouldn't come at the cost of being late to said presentation because you're ironing your clothes.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "We no longer use an iron at our house! We bought this originally for a cruise but were so impressed we continue to buy this! If you are on the fence, just do it. This is amazing stuff. All you have to do is spray, stretch/tug out the wrinkles, and go. So easy. Saves me so much time!" — absmobley
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $11.96.
11. An Apple AirTag that'll help you find a pet, wallet, or anything else that always seems to go missing the minute you need to head out the door.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "These were a lifesaver, from losing my wallet and keys and being late for work because of it. It would be a severe understatement if I said I'd lose my own head if it wasn't attached to my neck. Now I can easily locate anything I own while using these. I would definitely recommend if you're someone like me." — Anthony Fisher
Get it from Amazon for $23.99.
12. A moisturizing hair treatment to give your thirsty strands a quick burst of hydration. In just eight seconds — eight! — it starts working to leave your mane feeling silkier, softer, and smoother after washing. I know, I know — I'd like to spend longer in the shower, too, but you got things to do, buddy!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I don't usually do reviews on products, but for this one I absolutely have to. I have 3c type hair and struggle with a lot a breakage, unmanageability, and moisture. When my mom mentioned this product to me I didn't take her seriously because of the simple fact that we have two completely different hair textures. I have never in my 22 years felt my hair like this. I feel like I have a completely different head of hair. This product is so amazing and I will FOREVER be using this product in my hair regimen. Thank you so much!! ♥️" — Theressa Hailey
Get it from Amazon for $8.97.
13. A Revlon hot air brush so you can go from wet, tangled, frizzy hair to a shiny, salon-worthy blowout in minutes.
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The brush has special vents that allow air to flow so hair dries faster. Plus, it's quicker than using a dryer and then a flat iron or curling iron, which equals less heat damage.
Promising review:"I have four kids (so not a lot of time) and like seven people's worth of stubbornly wavy/curly and long hair on my head. It's a giant pain and takes a lot of time. Except today when I tried this! Unbelievable easy and I didn't even have to go back over it with a flat iron! Dry in record time and looks naturally straight! (None of those odd bumps.)" — Megan Fanelli
Get it from Amazon for $34.88. If you've tried barrel-shaped hot air brushes before without success and have tighter curls or coils, you may want to try the paddle brush version, which reviewers with 3A–4C hair swear by.
14. Plus, a Kenra blow-dry spray for protecting against heat damage and breakage — *and* it's designed to dry your hair 50% faster. The result = smooth, soft, frizz-free hair.
Promising review:"I am very, very impressed with the performance of this product! It reduced my drying/styling time from 12 minutes to 6 minutes! It actually saved even more time if you count the fact that I did not need to follow with a straightener after drying with a hairdryer and round brush because it was already straight and silky smooth. My hair was significantly less frizzy, shinier, and so soft after using this product. Also, it smells amazing (in my opinion). It seems like magic in a bottle! Even my husband noticed the difference immediately. I will certainly be buying this product again and again! THANK YOU, Kenra, for an amazing product! For reference, my hair is fine with some body. A little wavy when dried naturally and tends to frizz." — Lkdav
Get it from Amazon for $16+ (available in two sizes).
15. A makeup protector hood if you're rushing to finish your makeup before leaving the house and — WHOOPS! — you smeared your blush and highlighter while wriggling into a top before heading out. Welp, looks like someone's gonna be late to brunch...again. Next time, try this funny-looking hood — it'll help keep your makeup intact while getting dressed.
Amazon
Promising review: "My daughter bought a slip-on wedding dress...yep you heard me right: No zipper, no ties, just slip on over the head. All I saw was $$$$$ with makeup all over it and I was worried. This saved the dress!!!!" — TINA ANDERSON
Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in white and beige).
16. A 10-quart slow cooker because you're always staying late at the office and then kicking yourself when you get home, and — surprise! — dinner's not ready. This roomy pot can cook your dinner while you're at work, so your wallet isn't mad at you when your 9 to 5 becomes a 9 to 8, and you just can't bear to go home and cook, so you stop at a drive-thru on the way home.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "It's perfect for large families. I used this as soon as it came in and love it. I have a family of seven and we had enough to eat leftovers the next day. Huge time saver for me." — Kandy
Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (also available in a 6-quart version).
17. A light therapy alarm clock that'll gradually lighten your room and gently wake you with the "sun" — a peaceful alternative to waking up five minutes before your first meeting. Just as it gets brighter minute by minute to wake you, it also darkens your room over time at night so your body prepares itself for sleep.
Amazon
Promising review:"This thing seemed pretty expensive at first, but it has totally transformed my morning routine. I wake up with a smile on my face instead of a desire to murder my annoying alarm clock. Instead of being jerked awake by a horrible sound, I'm slowly drawn from my dreams with the soft light and the eventual sound of birds chirping — even when it is still pitch dark outside. A total game changer for me!" — Anna Lyman
Get it from Amazon for $108.95.
18. Alternatively, a heavy-duty alarm clock to literally shake the bed because the sweet sounds of birds chirping aren't anywhere close to loud enough to wake you. Even the heaviest sleeper won't miss its 113-decibel scream. (This is the equivalent of a live rock concert taking place in your bedroom.)
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I basically sleep like a dead person, and I've tried EVERYTHING. I was tired (no pun intended) of sleeping through classes, work, and just about everything else, so I decided to give this one a try. I have slats under my mattress, so I had to put the bed shaker under my pillow instead — and I'm glad I did! The bed shaker feature works extremely well. If you're like me and you hit snooze while you're still sleeping without realizing it, YOU NEED THIS. The bed shaker will make you feel like you are falling off a mountain; it's very strong, and you may end up on the floor. Now on to the sound; this is the first alarm clock I have ever purchased that wakes me (and the rest of the neighborhood) up 100% of the time. I work full time on an ambulance, and honestly, I can't decide what's louder, my siren or this alarm clock! The very first time I used it, my neighbor came knocking on my door because it also woke him up. Sorry, Mr. D, but I'm keeping it." — TJ Fox
Get it from Amazon for $34.29+ (available in four colors).
19. A magical makeup-correcting stick so you can easily clean up small messes — like smeared eyeliner or flaky mascara — and not have to whip out the makeup remover and start all over again.
Amazon
Promising review: "It's nice and soft, it glides on gently without pulling, and mistakes easily wipe off without ruining my makeup." — H H
Get it from Amazon for $7.97.
20. A Zipuller for zipping up dresses, blouses, boots, etc. quick and easy. Outfit changes and contorting your body trying to reach the zipper just wastes time you simply do not have.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:" I never write reviews, but for this item, I had to share. Why did it take so long to find this tool? I was almost ready to give up a lot of dresses. I tried rigging up a paper clip and even bought another device which cost almost twice as much and really didn't work. Living alone for the first time in my life, I needed help and would occasionally run to work with my zipper half undone! Never again with this lifesaving device. Now I need to get another one so I will always have one with me wherever I am! No more contortions, yay! I highly recommend" — Joana H. Magno