| One of our readers sent in a request... "How do I | | | | the second and 1 hour the third week. Take the |
| get up early in the morning without hitting the | | | | full 21 days to develop your new sleep pattern. |
| snooze button?" | | | | -Maybe you go to bed at a reasonable time but |
| I chuckled when reading this request because I | | | | don't sleep well. In this case, try doing relaxing |
| can easily relate to this issue. I confess I too am | | | | activities before bed. You've probably heard about |
| a 'snooze button' junkie! I thought I had created a | | | | taking a bath, reading a book or listening to good |
| solution to this problem by putting my alarm clock | | | | music. In essence, unwind with something relaxing. |
| across the room. My logic was that once I was | | | | Forget the eating, exercising and talking on the |
| up, I wouldn't want to go back to bed...WRONG! I | | | | phone before going to bed. Most people become |
| jump up, hit the snooze button and then gleefully | | | | stimulated when they speak on the phone. |
| jump right back in to my nice warm bed. And, I | | | | 3 Steps to Change |
| will do it more than once! I know it's a crazy habit. | | | | -Decide what you want to change and spin the |
| Oh, and by the way, my clock is set 15 minutes | | | | words in a positive manner. For example, instead |
| ahead of the actual time in addition! | | | | of stating "I want to stop hitting the snooze |
| I decided that if the reader and I are both | | | | button," replace it with "I am getting out of bed |
| struggling with this issue, then there are other | | | | and starting my day when the alarm rings." See |
| 'snooze button' junkies in our community. | | | | the difference? You are training your mind to |
| We all know that this is a habit and habits can be | | | | think it will accomplish what you want. |
| changed - IF we decide to do it. It takes 21 days | | | | -Select a date when you will complete this goal |
| to change a habit. So how do we take a habit | | | | -Write down your goal (three times) every night |
| from annoying, interfering, or embarrassing into | | | | before you go to bed - make sure you use the |
| actually creating a new habit for ourselves? Don't | | | | positive wording. As you sleep, your mind can |
| you feel better when you make the decision to | | | | work for you. |
| change and actually do it? | | | | I have used the above three steps successfully in |
| Using the belief that it takes 21 days to change a | | | | making changes in my life. Just keep it small and |
| habit, start by understanding yourself: | | | | simple and you will develop your "success |
| -Why do you hit the snooze button? | | | | muscles." I plan to start this new goal tonight. |
| -Are you getting enough sleep? If not, then of | | | | Good luck to all of the 'snooze button" junkies in |
| course, you will want to continue to sleep. Try to | | | | our community! Let me know if you are |
| modify your behavior and start slowly by going to | | | | successful in developing a new habit. |
| bed 15 minutes earlier the first week, 30 minutes | | | | |