When you're finding it tough to get up in the mornings ...

When you’re finding it tough to get up in the mornings …

consider ...

getting more sleep?

But of course, your hesitancy to start your day is likely more involved than getting more sleep. I've been re-reading Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (free MIT version) and the following passage struck me:

"In the morning, when you rise unwillingly, let this thought be present: I am rising to the work of a human being. Why then am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist and for which I was brought into this world?"

As I thought about all the times I didn't want to get out of bed, I realized that it's usually because I had to do something that someone else wanted me to do, and not something that I wanted to or chose to do. Often, when I find myself feeling forced to do something, I try to remind myself that every action I take is one that I have chosen to take on. This recognition gives me the choice to either continue doing what I am doing or to make a change.

I've found this simple reframe as a quick way to compel myself to start the day I've chosen. Of course, there are times when I choose to sleep in as well.

About the Author: Robert Chen

Robert Chen is the founder of Embrace Possibility, where he writes about the practical skills behind reaching your full potential — getting clear on what you want, and following through on it. He's a lecturer at the Wharton School, author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Selling Your Expertise, and the founder of Vana Lab, where he now teaches teenagers the same skills the executives he coaches wish they'd learned sooner. If something here resonated, join his free 52-Week Success Habits series — one short, practical email a week, with The Dreams to Reality Fieldbook as a welcome gift. Or explore more of his work at robertchen.com and read more of his posts here.