coffee

SD: I am an avid lover of coffee, but you can't drink it if you are unwilling to get out of bed!

Terri | October 18, 2007 10:19 AM

Having babies did it for me, at least while they were babies. Now that they can sleep later than me or don't need me when they do wake before me, it's much harder!!! Of course, waking to take care of babies doesn't lend itself to great prayer time, either.

Try going to bed earlier. Too much sleep can make me as groggy as not enough, and I have less excuse (the mental reasonings I use to justify staying in bed) for not getting up.

And pray for HaShem's prodding in the mornings :-)

From a fellow non-morning person.

Pati in WA | October 18, 2007 10:38 AM

I must admit I feel a bit hypocritical giving advice since I too am not an early riser. But--a friend once told me that the time you wake up is determined the night before by the time you go to bed. "Early to bed, early to rise" so to speak. It is the early to bed part that keeps me from the early to rise part. It takes time to develop good habits, but you have to start somewhere. Good luck!

cynthia m | October 18, 2007 11:00 AM

I understand perfectly. I used to be able to get up early until I taught night classes one semester until 9pm. And then it would take me until 10 or 11pm to wind down. For me, the key is going to bed early, like 8:30 or 9pm. And no late night television. I read an article about the bad effects of television on your nervous system. If you watch tv at night and then try to sleep, your subconscious doesn't rest well.
If your body and mind has enough sleep, getting up early is MUCH easier.

AZ | October 18, 2007 3:39 PM

I have been struggling with this same thing for months! I always tell myself I will go to bed a little earlier, wake up earlier - spend time reading and praying - no rushing to work...those rare times I do accomplish getting up early really do change the entire day! As I go to sleep I have every intention to rise early! you wouldn't believe how determined I am! then...when my alarm goes off...you wouldn't believe how determined I am-to stay in bed.

I know it's all habit...routine...the more you do it the easier it gets...but I need help starting too.

Rob | October 19, 2007 1:17 PM

To get up early, I have to go to bed early. It also helps if I keep up a routine and go to bed as close to the same time every night. The thing that really enables me to get up early, is hunger! I try not to eat anything after 7pm. It is hard for me to sleep in, when my tummy says it would really like to eat! Hope this helps....

SD: Interesting, I might try that.

Rachel | October 20, 2007 8:25 PM

Maybe try some melatonin in the evening. It is a 'natural' herbal sleep aid. That might get your evenings ended earlier and thereby increasing your potential morning time!

find out more about melatonin.

Paul H Dunlap | October 20, 2007 10:15 PM

Dear Sir:
When I expressed just such a problem to a friend she advised me to pray and ask God to take over waking me. She said she resolved to get up at 4AM to pray and read scripture. The first morning when the alarm rang she just laid there unwilling to move when the LORD said to her; "just put one foot on the floor, I will do the rest".
It works.

SD: Yes, honestly, I have been praying for God to help me out with this endeavor. Thanks for the encouragement.

Kelly Mallory | October 21, 2007 8:08 AM

Join the army. I had a drill sergeant with biceps so big he had to have his uniform shirts tailor made. When he said to get out of bed, you got out of bed.

Other than that, I suggest you try turning off the TV an hour before your scheduled bedtime. Let your mind get quiet. Get an alarm clock that does not have a snooze button.

As a kid, we were sort of guilted into getting up. My father equated sleeping in with sloth, irresponsibility, and overall worthlessness.

Mary-Jane

SD: Even though we have a TV, I rarely have time to watch it, so that's not a problem. An alarm clock without a snooze could be really good...or REALLY bad.

MJ Belko | October 21, 2007 8:08 AM

Dear Seth:

I too, was not created an early-riser, but have learned to become a natural one over the last 25 years of walking with YHWH by letting his words in Jeremiah sink in to my heart. Please note how many times our Elohim uses the phrase "RISING UP EARLY" in Jeremiah (in the KJV -- one of the few times I'd recommend that translation over the CJB). Though once a late-nighter, since about 1984 I've been RISING UP EARLY, usually 5:00 am, and beginning my mornings with the Word of YHWH. How can you sleep when He wants to talk to you RISING UP EARLY?

Mark

Mark O. | October 23, 2007 6:39 AM

Seth - A few things have really helped me...

1) Although, like the others, I recommend getting to bed earlier, it's not always an option. If you can, great. If you can't, don't sweat it.

2) Set your alarm (I use my cell phone), and place it as far away from you as you can in order to hear it, but have to walk in order to get to it. I actually put mine on the piano in our living room. I can hear it all the way from our bedroom and have to walk down the hallway and into the living room in order to get to it. The short walk helps to wake me at least a little.

3) This is the biggest one for me. Order your day before you go to bed the previous night. If you have a list of things you know have to be done at a certain time, and in a specific order, it will be a huge motivating factor to start your day. One of the most important things to do is create a list of all of the personal things you would like to accomplish for the morning (Chumash reading, Daily Dose, a little Gemara, Apostolic Writings, full Shacharit, setting goals for the family, getting some time in on the blog, etc.) will be a very large motivation to make that "extra effort."

I find that the days I do this, waking up at 4:00-4:30am are not a problem. But on the days I don't do this, waking up at 8:00 is a chore. I'm goal driven, and most other men are as well. This has really helped me order my mornings. I pray it might help you as well.

blessings,
-dh

Darren | October 23, 2007 11:03 AM