Getting Up

I think we can all agree that getting out of bed can be difficult. Staring at the ceiling and thinking "Why should I get up?" is a tough start to any day. What helps me is reminding myself that the only thing I can really control is the amount of effort I put into accomplishing my goals, so if I don't get out of my bed, then I have just relinquished the only power I possess. Once I beat that question, another pops into my head: "Is there even enough time left in my life to reach those goals?" which is a bit more concerning. You might put together a solid plan to finish in a predetermined time, but ultimately life happens. And no matter how much time you have or how meticulous your plan is, life can still mess it up for you, so now the more daunting question becomes: "Is there enough time for me to bounce back from every unforeseen problem that comes my way?" The answer is what gets me out of bed: Belief. What else can you do besides believe that you yourself are a driven enough individual to push through any barriers that stand in your way, believe that your friends, family, and teammates will be able to help you when you need it the most, and if you believe in a higher power, that they will be looking out for you. Some people get out of bed because they're hungry or because nature is calling. But what's the point of rolling yourself into another 24 hours of eating, working, and sleeping again unless you actually believe that it's getting you closer to your goals in the unforeseen time you have?

Comfort? Pleasure? Survival?

If these are your only goals, then you've set the bar too low, because I like to think that we're more than just conveniently arranged carbons who discovered fried foods and Netflix. I'm not going to pretend I know what the meaning of life is, but I'd be pretty disappointed if all our species amounted to was acquiring and spending currency, enjoying the mental and physical stimulation of our choosing, and maybe reproducing so that the monotonous cycle can continue. We all have the ability to create, destroy, and innovate, so do what you need to do to get out of bed and survive comfortably, but make time for what is most important to you.

Your Passion

If you don't know your passion yet, then you've got some research to do. With the internet, you've got the world at your fingertips, so look at what other people are doing until you see what catches your fancy. Take a leap outside your comfort zone. Give it your best shot, and if it's not for you, then look for something else and repeat. Here's the last question that gets in my way: "I can sit on my couch, watch TV or browse the web, and accomplish anything I want vicariously through others, so why put in all that work for basically the same thing?" The answer is simple: because actually accomplishing things is what makes us human and absorbing media can be done by a robot. If no one got out of bed, there would be no Netflix or rad skydiving videos on YouTube. The world as we know it would cease to exist. So get up and get out there, or else it's just the warmth of a blanket, the embrace of a mattress, and the bitter taste of regret as the fleeting time you have slips away.