It's been a long time since I've been what you would call a morning person. The first hour after I wake up, no matter whether I lay in bed or get up immediately, I speak, think and move at the speed of molasses. Since I tend to take much longer to do anything and get confused easily when I've just woken up, I try to do as much of my morning routine as possible the night before.

Breakfast is limited to a bowl of cereal, since anything more elaborate is just too confusing. Oddly enough, my...