To those who are struggling...

[YouseffTheSheep]

Howdy,

I recently have just begin to achieve some of my goals, and I thought I'd share a couple of the reasons why I was struggling and some realisations that I achieved through them.

1) Early rising: I'm sort of a 6/7ths early riser now; Back in November I wanted to become an early riser, it took me 3 months to be able to do so... Why?

Motivation and Purpose!: If you want to become an early riser for the sake of being an early riser, you will probably fail, as I did. In order to succeed I need to FORCE myself to have a REASON to be up in the mornings (previously, I would merely wake up, hit the snooze, wake up, hit the snooze, until like 10-12 am). I started attending college, selecting a relativley early class. I found that having a reason to get up in the morning helps alot. All though my class was only M, W, and F I now am sufficiently motivated to even get up T, and Th even though I don't have anything I HAVE to do then.

It's like an exponential effect; Find a purpose to do what you want to do, and it will greatly help you achieve your goal. You have to adapt your life, to your goals or you won't get anywhere.

2) Exercise and Fitness: If you're out of shape, it's "hard" to get back in shape. Not because exercising is fundamentally hard, but because it's often a change in life-style and habit that is required. I used to enjoy lots of video games and lots of internet time... I decided to start working out because I was getting overweight.

Adaptation: I needed to adapt my lifestyle towards one that would promote being healthier, being more fit. I began cutting down on video games, and on the internet. I deleted website accounts that I used excessivley, and limited myself to playing games only once in a while, or a few times a week. (After all, I checked the amount of time spent on my video game and I had amassed some few thousand hours of game-time, that's a lot of college credit, or proficiency in a real-world skill!)

You need to make your life fit your goal! I got some friends who wanted to work out to to help push myself, I started walking and enjoying nature more, and now I look awesome(r) (I didn't look that bad kind of chubby) :-P.

3) Studying: I always wanted to be one of those guys who is really smart, reads a lot of books and knows science. I always fell back on my natural ability for memory (Which is quite good), and told myself "I'm smart already, look how much better I am at X or Y than so and so.

Honesty: A key to growing is to be honest with yourself. If you're left wanting something, then maybe you aren't as great as you think you are initially. There is always more to learn, there is always some more effort you can put out. Don't kid with yourself, and don't lie to yourself about how you REALLY are. Be honest, and try and view yourself from anothers perspective sometime. You can learn alot about yourself by being honest, and learn alot about other people too.

I hope I helped

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by YouseffTheSheep

I hope I helped

Very good post... thank you for sharing that...

.

[KellyMartin]

I found enjoying getting up early was more about the stillness on my walk to my office. The sounds of the birds and really feeling the atmosphere around me. It is such a beautiful time of day. Sooo quiet. AND its true I get so much more done when I rise early!

[blueman70]

Getting up early is a big plus for me too - and what amazes me is that there are more people who get up early than you think

[Freelancer]

Originally Posted by blueman70

Getting up early is a big plus for me too - and what amazes me is that there are more people who get up early than you think

If you browse this forum, yeah.



Getting up at 5 am. here. I found it relatively easy to adapt to this routine because I've been a newspaper boy for 2 years, getting up at 5 am. every day. I completely agree with you, having a purpose to get out of bed is so awesome.
What worked for me to readapt in days is;
As part of the simpleology 101 course you had to set long term goals and than trace back each step of the way untill you get to the present. This is a great way to look at archieving goals because now you KNOW why your getting up without having to change your schedule.

On a side note; I suggest that anybody interested in PD also checks out simpleology101 and stick to it for like a week or 2. Its by far the best free tool out there, don't get discouraged if the guy asks you whether you want to buy 102/103 you can just decline and continue without being stuck to pay for it.

[Peter S C]

Thanks for your post.

For me waking up early is the cornerstone of my personal development. In the morning I am fresh and I have time alone before my family wakes up. To me waking early also symbolises an that I am looking forward to each day.

I was never an early riser so like you it took some work. Going from 5.30am to 5am was the hardest for some reason.

The only other point I would add is that I have become very conscious of what I do each night. I avoid sugar and caffeine after 4pm, I try not to eat for 2 hours before bed, I have some downtime just before bed, and I go to bed at a reasonable time.

Peter

[LifeFirst]

Well, maybe you can help me out.


The problem with me is that...I don't go to sleep anymore. I can't, I simply can't because of my workload of the 5 classes that I'm taking. I'm doing well in 4 of them, the 5th one is killing me...literally. I study pretty much all day, all night, until around 4 AM in the morning. Because I have to (I'm already behind), and my final will determine if I pass or fail the class...and I really really really really want to pass the class. So I have to do whatever it takes.

I get up around 8 AM everyday...I get around 3-4 hours of sleep, I'm exhuasted most of the time, and it takes me forever to do my homework regardless of how well rested I am. I can't concentrate that well (although it's a lot better than before), and it takes me forever to read the textbook, not because I read slow but because of comprehension problems (There's lots of math). I don't understand what I just read so I have to read the same paragraph again and again until I get it. It's just the same thing everyday.


I mean what in the hell?? This can't be Life...I literally feel like I'm dying. Like I'm getting weaker and weaker everyday. I don't even rest on weekends anymore....I'm just so damn worried and I can't really drop the class...it's too late.

It's getting pretty bad, my mood is just.....I don't even have a mood anymore. Someone almost ran me over with a motorbike today while they were laughing and I was about to rip their head off. It's just terrible....

[hindweb]

Thank you for the inspirational post, it motivated me. Actually, it i pretty easy to get up early, only there is a slight starting trouble. If you have been waking up early for 4-5 days, you can continue that pattern automatically!