Why Self-Discipline Isn’t Always the Answer

Why Waking Up Early Was a Struggle—And the Simple Fix That Worked

I’ve come to accept that fundamentally changing who I am isn’t realistic. I remain the same at my core, but that doesn’t mean I can’t improve. For years, I’ve struggled to get out of bed and start my day when I’m on a work break. I have no moral issue with sleeping in, but for me, it often snowballs into an entire day wasted in bed, lost in YouTube videos or Netflix series. This habit has fueled a cycle of depression, leaving me unmotivated to do anything until work forces me back into a routine.

I wish I could say I’ve developed the self-discipline to get up on my own, but that hasn’t happened. Instead, at my sister’s suggestion, I hired a virtual assistant whose main job is to check in with me at 6:30 AM daily, ensuring I wake up and stay on track. This strategy works for two reasons: first, I genuinely feel better about myself when I start my day early and stay productive. Second, explaining why I didn’t get up is more of a hassle than just getting up in the first place. Like with work, I rise and get moving because it’s easier.

I’ve accepted that my core nature won’t drastically change, though I can still improve. I will still struggle to get out of bed during work breaks, which could still often lead to falling into an unproductive routine that fuels my depression. While I haven’t developed the self-discipline to fix this, I found a solution: a virtual assistant who checks in with me every morning. This system works because I feel better when I stay productive, and avoiding the inconvenience of explaining why I didn’t get up makes it easier to stick to the routine.