I have tried almost everything to get up in the morning. I have done things like placing the alarm in the bathroom at the same time as telling my wife to kick me out of bed.
Different people have told me not to make such a fuss about this, to relax a little when it comes to getting up in the morning. I have tried that as well.
One thing I have learned, and I understand more often as I get older is that it pays physically and mentally to get up at the same time every day.
I’m always wrestling with myself on this. I fight with a thousand (sometimes perfectly reasonable) reasons that speak against leaving my warm bed. Every morning. I’ve realised just as I’m sure you have, that it’s a never ending struggle that will not end.
Wanna know why I don’t give up?
1) I get to spend some time with God.
That doesn’t happen every single day. Once the kids are awake the silence is dead and gone in an instant. Finding a quiet spot to read my Bible and pray isn’t that easy anymore.
And yet a kind of “spiritual breakfast” the most important thing I can have in the morning. It’s even more important than a cup of coffee, although that’s second right after my devotion time.
2) It gives me peace enough to complete a few things before the day begins.
This isn’t really about the tasks themselves. It isn’t about how much I accomplish either, but the fact remains that you can do more in the morning when there’s less around to bother you – like actually answering that important e-mail that you’ve been putting off.
What normally occurs is a nice sense of peace. Probably due to the fact that I feel like I’m ahead of my to do-list, not behind.
It’s a great start to the day, and you know what? It relaxes my approach to my family and to others throughout the day. It’s like a pre-stress chill out.
For further thoughts on this topic check out this blog post.
3) My head feels clearer.
It has to be somehow contradictory that purposeful less sleep causes a bit of a shift in well-being.
That´s at least what I experience. Even if I went to bed late and slept less than I normally do, it has the same effect.
What can be better during the day than not having to fight against tiredness and an unclear head? I know it sounds backwards, but less is more, at least in my experience.
My mind is generally clearer, and I see more efficiency, more self esteem and more joy in my life as a result.
4) It´s more likely (but far from certain!) that I’ll get a chance to do my workout.
If I don´t get to exercise in the morning, I probably don´t get a chance the rest of the day. Going for a quick run or working out for a couple of minutes really fuels your energy levels, and there’s no better time than in the morning.
Let me just say, I can’t do everything I’m saying in a day. This is a list of things that I sometimes get the chance to do, not my daily routine!
5) I can get creative.
The morning is the best time of the day and it should be a time to do the most important things. I don´t get to do that as often as I would like to, but I am improving on this.
Studying the Bible, preparing the next message, writing a blog post, … all these things I do best when the busyness of the day hasn´t kicked in yet. When the quietness of the morning is allowing me to concentrate on what I am doing.
What makes you get up in the morning? If you sleep in and have good reasons for it, what are they?
Please note: I haven´t mentioned a certain time in this article. I did that on purpose. It´s my conviction that it is healthy and productive to have a rhythm. Yet it´s different for every person. I don´t want to encourage you to sleep less and neither do I think that everyone is a morning person (even thought I heard that you can learn to become one).
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