I was texting a friend of mine and discussing morning rituals. I had recently heard that Arnold Schwarzenegger would wake up at 4:00 a.m. to read for an hour and then would bike to his gym to lift weights. By 7:00 a.m. the Terminator had studied for an hour and exercised for two. I don't remember where I heard this and have not actually verified this with Mr. Schwarzenegger, regardless I was inspired to start waking up early again.
So this morning I rose at 5:15 (my aim was 5:00 a.m. but I gave myself a little grace on day one), and had my nose in a book. I was in the gym at 6:05 and in the office by 7:30. I am glad that I text Doug because in the course of conversation I revealed something to myself about myself.
Doug said he was trying to wake up earlier as well and thought that we should do a challenge to motivate each other, the First Alarm Challenge. Get out of bed on the first alarm. Do not crutch on the snooze button. This challenge does very little for me, I allow myself 15 minutes of extra snooze time if needed and then get out of bed. I lose 15 minutes but I still get to my morning reading and gym time and usually in a better spirit because I gave myself the extra 15 minutes. So challenge not accepted bro.
Doug is a different story. That snooze button is like pulling the trigger on a tranquilizer gun for him. It ruins him. Then I immediately confessed my weakness; screens, literally any screen. If I check Facebook or try to read an article online or play one level of Candy Crush, I spend another 30 to 45 minutes in bed. I cannot do it.
So the question is not about what quantity of lazy bones occupies your body. We all have good days and bad days when it comes to focus, determination and willpower. Rather it is what trips us up, and what we can consciously avoid so we can be more productive.
