With a little help from my friend

I have always had trouble getting up at a set time every day and particularly getting up early and being a night owl doesn't help.  In fact, I have never been a scheduled or routine person and that might be due to personality and bad habits I developed over time.  Yet, I have noticed that some people have a routine and stick to it. That was never me for long.  However, when I did get up early I loved the quiet of the mornings and it was definitely my most productive time (once the grogginess left).

During the Feast this year, I made a concerted effort to rise early and was successful but after returning home I went back into the same undisciplined routine. By the end of the first week after the Feast I was disgusted with myself and decided that I had to change. So I pondered what can I do? Then I remembered Mr Armstrong's experience and how he engaged the help of a bellboy to ensure he got up on time and stayed up. Well there are no bellboys around here, but I did have a friend who I knew was disciplined in getting up very early every day. Maybe I could ask her to help me. I must admit that my pride did not want me to ask and expose this character flaw, but if I was going to change for the better I would have to do it "by any means necessary!". So I asked my friend if I could text her at 5.30am every morning (weekdays). She happily agreed and the project began.

I set my alarm for 5.25am and the accountability has motivated me to get up on time for the past 3 weeks. Not only that, but another friend had the same issue as me so she joined in and we have a kind of round-robin of uplifting morning texting!

As well as overcoming a bad habit, this project has built up our sisterhood as we have encouraged each other daily: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works" Heb 10:24.

If you struggle with the same habit read "Rise Early" on pcog.org and maybe by employing help from a friend you can do better too.