Like many people, I have a number of good habits. For example, I send a thank you note whenever someone sends me a gift. That way, the person knows that I received the gift, I appreciate it, and I appreciate the person for sending it to me. I work out regularly to manage my stress, rather than coping with stressful situations in unhealthy ways, such as by smoking or overeating. Finally, I resist the temptation to stay up late watching favorite sitcoms, because I know that I will be tired the next day. My good habits help me to live a good life and make me a better person. However, there is one bad habit that I need to give up.

I have an alarm set on my cell phone. Every morning, at 7:30, the alarm goes off, just like it is supposed to. Rather than getting up, however, I have the bad habit of turning off the alarm and going back to sleep. Then my whole day is off. I start my day later than I planned to, and I do not have as much time to do what I want to do. Tomorrow morning, when my alarm goes off, I need to turn it off, defy the force of gravity, and make myself get up. I am sure that if I made this change in my schedule, my day would go much better. Because I was able to get up earlier, I might also have some experiences that would make me happier.

For example, I might go out to the kitchen in time to catch a favorite song playing on the radio. Hearing the song would put me in a good mood, which would help with writing and other activities that I would be doing throughout the day. Then, when I opened the blinds in the kitchen, I might perhaps see a bird or a squirrel in the tree just outside the window. A sight like this would make me happy. I would smile and then go on with what I was doing. Finally, I might decide to start my day with a run. Running would wake me up and energize me.

Early in my life and also in college, I was a morning person. I found that morning was when I was in the best mood and when I was the most energetic and productive. It has only been since graduating from college that I have changed. Perhaps I need to revert back to my college ways. I am sure that I would like the results.

If you have goals for your morning, but you have difficulty getting up, start by going to bed before midnight. You can then get a full night’s sleep. When your alarm goes off the next morning, you can get up and get busy on your work. That way, you will accomplish what you intend to, and at the end of the day, you can be happy.