It’s certainly tempting to stay in bed. Sleep feels so good, and our mattress is extremely comfortable. We even use a black-out curtain, so the early light of June and July doesn’t wake us up at 5am.
But for a while now, I’ve been finding it impossible to sleep in. Once I’ve had enough sleep, I just can’t stay in bed any longer.
Sometimes, it’s because I have a lot to do. My to-do list is long, and I want to get those done as quickly as possible, so I’ll have more free time to enjoy with my wife. Or I need to finish my chores and my work in time for the fun plans I have.
More often though, I’m genuinely eager to do the work. I have projects I’m excited to complete. I’m eager to do my morning workout and continue making progress toward my fitness goals. Because progress is the most powerful form of motivation, the more progress I make, the more I feel motivated to get up and get back to work.
I love my life, even when it’s hard. So, more often than not, I’m excited to start my day. When morning comes, I’m eager to start another bonus day.
Also, I want to see my cat.
It’s not that I’m go-go-go all day long. Often, I’ll slow down in the afternoon and take a nap. But first thing in the morning, when I’ve been in bed for 7 or 8 hours, I just can’t wait to get going.
So I get out of bed because life is out there, waiting for me to live it.
Chris Loper has been writing about self-improvement and helping busy adults with habit formation since 2017.
He also writes an education blog for parents and students for Northwest Educational Services.
Along with Greg Smith, Chris is the cocreator of Parenting for Academic Success, a series of transformative classes that create empowered parents, confident students, and harmonious families.
His most recent endeavor combines his academic and habit-formation expertise to help students thrive in college. Visit SmartCollegeHabits.com to learn more.
In 2021, Chris published a humorous memoir titled Wood Floats and Other Brilliant Observations, a book that blends crazy stories with practical life lessons.
He lives in Issaquah, WA where he is the owner of South Cove Tutoring.