I don’t know how many times I will have to keep learning this lesson before it sticks, but I have a bit of a problem. I can’t seem to go longer than a week without hitting the snooze button in the morning.

In case you did not know, this is an alarm clock. And this is a woman hitting the snooze button in the morning (FYI: my shade of lipstick at 6am is much prettier)
I realize it may sound silly. There are much bigger problems I could be worrying about. But for me, this seems to be where everything else starts. When I start sleeping in, I start to get a little lazier, prayer life begins to slip, and a whole can of worms is opened. All for a measly 5 (ok, 30) extra minutes of sleep and a less productive day.
Despite the vast amounts of writings that warn against the dangers that sleeping in can pose to the spiritual life (not to mention past experiences and well-meaning resolutions), I always manage to reason with myself saying that sleeping in will be okay just this one morning. After all, I say to myself, I’ve had a busy week and accomplished a lot. I deserve this.
As if that weren’t enough, the proverbial sirens should start blaring when the above thoughts are inevitably followed by my ever so confident, “I got this”.
One morning usually turns into two, and then into a week or so, and then I’m left, days later, wondering where my productive drive has gone.
[Maybe you can relate. It seems at least that Bruno Mars can. Today (and yesterday, or any other day you choose to listen to “The Lazy Song”), he doesn’t feel like doing anything. And what’s the harm, really? (…I have said it before and I will keep saying it. Music is powerful. Be cautious of what you listen to!)]
When am I going to realize that Jesus meant business when He said, “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5)? Being a Christian means obedience to Christ; and that has to start when the alarm clock goes off in the morning—not 15 (ok, 45) minutes later.
I have been thinking (struggling!) with this all week, I wake up early (by the grace of God) and then I decide to go back to bed and am MORE TIRED! I know God has been waking me up (and now it is confirmed with your post) …because he wants me to start my day off with HIM! I have been praying for more organized, happy, fun and productive days, and HE has been trying to answer the prayer! Thanks for the post Mair!
joey & michael & i get up every morning to go to mass… ever since we put going to daily MORNING mass (either 6:30am or 8am) as a FAMILY, the NUMBER ONE priority in our life… I’ve noticed I get way more done and start out my day happy and at peace…. just an idea 😉
Waking up early (more importantly, consistently) has certainly been a key habit that I have found to be extremely helpful in being productive and generally feeling better–happier–throughout the day.
Even on days when I can sleep in, I still try my best not to. It helps to give yourself a carrot. For me, I get to see my girlfriend before she goes off to work. If you make it something desirable, it becomes much easier to do.
Lol catholics are dumb.
This is the practice of the Heroic Moment!
St Josemaría Escrivá speaks about it — google it =D
This is sooo true that it’s scary. That happens to me all the time. Which writings are these? I had no idea that there were writings about that.