I used to suffer from a serious condition called BCI. (Butt-on-Couch Inertia.)
It’s a terrible affliction whereby the sufferer’s butt is superglued to the couch in the evenings amidst the magical stillness and silence of the late-night hours. This chronic condition is exacerbated by peacefully sleeping children, netflix or a good book, and an excessively comfortable couch or recliner.
Symptoms worsen considerably with the intoxicating crackle of a fire in the fireplace, any forbidden-to-children treats, and a hot beverage that can be consumed without interruption.
I was on the brink, people.
Drunk on silence late at night, but complete and utter road kill by the crack of dawn. Classic case of BCI.
Every morning I dragged my sorry behind out of bed at the latest possible minute, I would curse myself repeatedly for not going to bed earlier. I’d drag myself around all day, propping open my eyelids, loading up on more coffee than I should (especially considering my adrenal fatigue), and generally feel absolutely stinkin’ miserable (not to mention unproductive). Oh, and let’s just say – those days didn’t exactly lend themselves to a sunny disposition, either.
But what happened when the kids were finally all blissfully slumbering in their beds that night? BOING! I’m suddenly glued to the couch and before I know it – it’s midnight or later… again.
The kids wake up before us and play nicely or colour, or watch a show downstairs. We’re getting the kids to school on time. Everything’s “fine”, technically.
But I felt constantly frustrated and behind and strung out. Mornings were way too rushed, and impatient words and unhappy kids were the norm. I hated that.
I knew that I wanted to start getting up earlier – there are so many obvious benefits to starting your day off with the things that feed your soul and mind. I want to feel ready to face the day head-on, instead of feeling like the day is stomping angrily into my bedroom, ripping me from my warm bed, and tossing me mercilessly into the fray.
My friend Crystal is a total rockstar at the morning routine thing. She even offers a Make Over Your Mornings 14-Day eCourse. I’ve stayed at her house for the weekend, kept her up way-too-late talking (BCI is contagious, I guess), and she still managed to get up way before the rest of us, getting stuff done in the early morning hours like a total boss.
I’ve wanted to maximize my morning hours like Crystal for a long time now, but something was getting in my way. Yeah – that whole Butt-on-Couch Inertia. It’s a real thing, people.
But when I committed to myself that 2016 is going to the year that I finally get vibrantly healthy again, I realized that it starts with just one simple habit: GO THE HECK TO BED.
I had to find a way to overcome my BCI and get myself to bed way earlier, so that I could then take back my mornings. It was impossible for me to be getting up earlier if I kept staying up way too late and being chronically exhausted. Plus, my adrenal fatigue actually started to worsen instead of improve, which freaked me out.
I finally told myself that enough is enough – and I challenged myself to change my bedtime habits as the first step toward better health and happiness in 2016.
So I did.
Yeah – really, simple as that. It turns out that the key to making yourself go to bed earlier is simply this: want it badly enough.
Yup. Simpler than you thought, right? No tricks, no timers, no bribes. That’s the thing about human nature – if you want something (realistic) badly enough, you’ll generally find a way to get it.
If you take a good, honest look at your life and find that you actually want those late-night quiet hours zoned out on the couch more than you want adequate sleep and a peaceful morning routine, then there isn’t a blog post, book, timer, or bribe out there that can change your habits.
BUT… if you’re at a point where you really, really want to overcome your Butt-on-Couch Inertia and start getting the rest you deserve so that your days can start off better… come along with me, my friends.
If I can actually do this successfully, then I know you can too.
I know that sometimes we all just need a little boost to get over that initial hump of getting started, so I created a free challenge for you all to join in, with daily email support and tough love straight to your inbox.
Sign up below to get your free daily emails for the duration of your 21 days.
Then leave a comment on this post to publicly state your ‘head-on-pillow time’ for the challenge. (Mine’s 10:30pm.)
We’ll get into all the nitty-gritty stuff in the email series: winding down, creating a bedtime routine, natural sleep aids, finding your ideal bedtime, making sure you still get “me time”, night owl tips, creating our new morning goals, and so much more.
The first email will be a “day zero” to help you get ready, including a free printable to track your progress and write down your goals, then you dive into Day 1 after that. Don’t miss my post on 7 Ways to Fake That You’re a Morning Person to help get momentum going in the right direction!
Jami
I had to leave a thank you note. I am only on day 10 of the challenge but it has helped so much. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic this has really been life changing. I can’t thank you enough for making this so thank you so much. 😀
Allison
Well I’m a little late to the party….I hope the email subscription will still work…?
So, I go (am supposed to go….) to a workout group every morning at 5:30 which means I have my alarm set for 4:50 on week nights. However, i usually end up skipping 2-3 times per week because I play volleyball on monday and Tuesday nights and end up staying up too late. Plus, my boyfriend lives in another state so I always call him when i get in bed and we talk for an hour or so accounting for my late nights on other week nights. Moral of the story, I’m going to bed at around 11/11:30 and trying to wake up at 5am. Since I usually have at least an hour of restless sleep at night, that leaves me with around 5 hours of sleep at night….NOT ENOUGH. I really need to try to go to bed around 9 or 9:30 so I get a full night to recover from my day. Plus, I really want to get the most out of my workouts and show up every day, but I can’t do that when I stay up so late! So, here’s to hoping this helps!!!
Jam
I want my head hit the pillow time to be 9:00.
Danielle
My Head-Hits-the-Pillow Time I want to aim for is 11 PM. It used to be 11:30 PM because I read an article online that quoted all kinds of sleep studies saying that you should not use any devices (smart phones, MP3 players, tablets, laptops) for two hours before you go to bed. I cannot realistically stop using my iPhone until my last alarm goes off, which is my last-ditch medication reminder at 9:30 PM. However, since Apple pioneered the Night Shift mode, which shifts the screen to the warmer tones of the brightness spectrum from sunset to sunrise, I have found I am sleeping better even if I don’t stay up long enough to get in my full two hours of Screen-Free Time. The really bad thing about my Couch-Inertia Syndrome is that I also will eat sweets while watching my D.V.R. This is obviously counter-productive to good sleep habits because those sweets usually consist of some form of chocolate, which has caffeine in it, as well as being counter-productive to my weight loss and healthy eating goals. I could really use some help!
Danielle
I meant Butt-to-Couch-Inertia, obviously, but could not recall the exact phrasing you used in your article as I was writing my comment. Sorry! Also, I have many early morning goals I want to make a daily reality and would love to become an early riser, although I have never been much of a “Morning Person”, so we’re not talking 6 AM just yet! LOL
Elizabeth
I so need to do this! I have always been a night owl, and 3 children doesn’t leave much time to get it all done during the day. I had the flu in February and was going to bed before 10, and I felt pretty good! But the time change completely through me off again. I was also reading about adrenal fatigue last night and have nearly every symptom they shared. It’s time to get my life back!
Ashley
It’s funny. I’m reading this at 12:09 a.m. because I’ve stayed up too late (again) goofing off on Pinterest. I would really love to be in bed by 10 each night, but 10:30 or 11 seems more realistic. Baby steps? 🙂
Beth
Being realistic is a really important part of your success in this endeavour – I know that first hand! 🙂 You can do it!!
Teri
My goal is lights out at 11:00pm – I’m going to be taking care of Grandson this summer and need to be up earlier and have coffee and a little meditation before he gets up ?
Miriam
I gotta do this! My husband and I have the same conversation every night when we’re climbing into bed way too late that we’ve been stupid again. My aim will be 10:30 for now, hopefully 10 eventually.
Angela
I’m working on going to bed at 10 to10:30, and figuring out thyroid, and adrenal issues.
Susan
Me too! Everything you said, Angela… and Miriam… Totally on the same page. Let’s do this!
jani
I’d like 10:30 to be my latest.
Carla
I would love to get sleepy and go to bed by 10-10:30. I stay up until 12:30/1:00 every night either watching TV, reading, or surfing the internet. I’m tired during the day but once the sun goes down, I get a burst of energy.
Regina
I try to get in bed by 11:00
Terri
oh do i need this!!! i hesitantly state my goal bed time as 10:30pm…only hesitant because i have 2 infants who tend to want to eat one more time around there or shortly after right now. looking forward to the challenge! 😀
Melanie
10:30 lights out, for myself and my family! I know more sleep is my missing ingredient.
Ericka Howard
This is my second time through. I did much better during the first go-round. I used to be a midnight or after kind of girl. And during the first time I went through the challenge I got to bed by 11pm most nights. I’m aiming for lights out at 10:30 this time. And more consistency. Thanks for making this challenge available!
Holly McCallen
I would like to make my goal for 10:30 but hopefully can get to 10pm. I want to be able to wake up and spend time with the Lord before my family wakes up and maybe get a few chores done so I can spend that time with my 3 boys. I want to for once wake up refreshed and not so cranky and have a “real” smile on my face when I wake up my children and not be so rushed and there always being so much bickering going on every morning. I feel I can play such a huge part in helping my kids wake with a positive attitude if I would get more SLEEP. I don’t know what time i need to wake up in the morning yet to be successful in this so hoping this challenge will help me with that too. Thank You for the motivation!!!
Holly McCallen
I know I am late jumping on the get up early challenge but better late than never ;). I need this so bad for my marriage and sanity of staying at home with my 3 boys. My goal will be 10:30 but hopefully can push to 10:00. I would like to be able to wake up before my family to have quiet time with the Lord, and for once wake up my kids with a “real” smile and positive attitude to help them start their day better. I am not sure what time I will need to wake up yet so hoping this challenge will assist me with that. Thank You so much for the motivation!
Beth
As it approaches 3 am and I have been reading yet again (my addiction) until way to late, my goal is to be in bed by 1am and up by 9 am. HELP!
Sandra
Wow! You described me to a tee! For the sake of my husband and my sweet little ones I want to go to bed no later than 10:00. That’s my goal. Time to kick that BCI!!
Beth
You can do it!! Cheering you on! 🙂
Jenn
9pm…I clearly have lots of progress to make