Better sleep doesn’t have to be complicated –> here’s how Glen did it.
Around the New Year, everyone asks how to stick to their New Year’s Resolutions.
In the GetMotivatedBuddies group chat Glen W. asked,
“Seeing as it’s new years soon and many people will make resolutions, do you have any material to share that could be useful for people to make effective goals?”
I pointed out an article from CNBC that mentioned when it comes to New Year’s Resolutions, planning is essential.
Glen responded,
“There are tons of sh*tty articles about resolutions out there. Lots of “5 ways to actually complete this years resolutions!!!!”. I’m looking for something a bit more researched.” Modafinil generic https://curtspharmacy.com/modafinil
I couldn’t agree more. Every new year we have the same articles, which are truthful, but in the end ineffectual. The only thing that changes is the number of ways to improve (5, 7, 10, 15 Ways to Make your New Year’s Resolutions Stick This Year).
I thought, rather than just reiterate the research, of which there’s plenty, why doesn’t he say what has worked for him since he’s had such success on the site?
How Glen Wakes Up Early Every Day
Step #1. Perspective Shift
I tried changing my sleep schedule, a core habit, for many years without success. I felt like I had no control. I would make it a few days on a new schedule and then something would make me miss a day and I’d revert back. This year, I finally reached a streak of over a month of waking up at 6am. The keys to my success were changing my perspective, scheduling, and an accountability partner.
The keys to my success were changing my perspective, scheduling, and an accountability partner.
Glen W.
One of the hardest changes I had to do was mental. I had to think about sleep differently. Instead of thinking about what I could and couldn’t do, I had to think about when I could do things. I had often stayed up late so I could get certain things done or just decompress by watching a show or playing a game. Then, in the morning on weekdays, I’d only get up early enough to get ready and go to work (or school when I was in college). Over time, I taught myself that I can do those same things in the morning after I wake up. Sleep would not cause me to miss out on doing things. I just needed to do them once I woke up. I noticed an emotional change toward sleep after my first week of doing fun things right after I woke up. It was freeing.
Step #2. Scheduling Your Habit
The second thing that helped me was scheduling my habit. I put my bedtime and wake time on a calendar. For nights where I had something planned, I would adjust the events ahead of time, but I would try to get back on schedule the next night. I also tracked which days I succeeded.
Step #3. Accountability
Last but not least, I used GMB for accountability. When I tried to change habits by myself, I would sometimes let other things in life interrupt my habits and I’d lose track. Having someone check in on me frequently helped me stay on track. It also gave me a place to safely talk about my habit details and struggles with someone else interested in self-improvement.
What Works For You?
Glen used the site to discover what works for him. This is the crucial component of behavior change. Making theoretical research personal.
One of the hardest changes I had to do was mental. I had to think about sleep differently.
Glen W.
So, you can read all the blog posts, articles and books you want, but in the end it comes down to what works for you. Changing your behavior is a personal journey, and perhaps the most worthwhile, because when you discover what works for you and how you got there, you can then leverage that skill into every aspect of your life.
