How I Finally Kicked My Staying-Up-Too-Late Habit (Introducing the Go-to-Bed Challenge!)

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.

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