Why We Really Sleep In: Overcoming Desire and Finding Balance

Why We Really Sleep In

Have you ever set your alarm to wake up early for a project, an assignment, or a meeting, only to find yourself snoozing the morning away? You're not alone. Many people struggle to get out of bed in the morning, even if they know they have important things to do. Recent studies have shown that hitting the snooze button can negatively affect our bodies, but that doesn't always motivate us to get up and start our day.

So, why do we really sleep in?

The Battle Between Desire and Reason

In a letter to Elise Snickers, a college student pursuing a career in psychology, C.S. Lewis shared his thoughts on the question of whether personal sin can be avoided or "cured" by proving the unreasonableness of the sin to the patient. He used two examples to make his point, one of which is our tendency to sleep in late:

A man’s reason sees perfectly clearly that the resulting discomfort and inconvenience will far outweigh the pleasure of the ten minutes in bed. Yet he stays in bed: not at all because his reason is deceived but because desire is stronger than reason.

It's not that we don't know it's better to get up and start our day early. Our reason tells us that we'll have more time to accomplish our tasks, we won't be rushed, and we'll feel more productive. However, our desire for comfort and rest often overpowers our reason. We give in to the temptation to stay in bed, even if it means we'll be running late or missing out on important things.

The Desire for Rest

It's not just comfort that we desire in the morning. We also desire rest. Our bodies need rest in order to function properly, and we often don't get enough of it. The Bible speaks to the importance of rest:

Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. (Psalm 116:7)

God created rest as a necessary part of our lives. However, we often fall into the trap of oversleeping, which can actually have negative effects on our bodies and minds.

The Negative Effects of Oversleeping

Oversleeping can lead to a number of negative effects, including:

• Feeling groggy or disoriented


• Increased risk of depression and anxiety


• Decreased productivity and motivation


• Weight gain and decreased metabolism


• Headaches and body aches

While it's important to get enough rest, oversleeping can actually be counterproductive. It's important to find a balance between rest and productivity.

The Importance of Discipline

So, how can we overcome our desire for rest and comfort in the morning? It takes discipline. The Bible speaks to the importance of discipline:

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

Discipline isn't easy, but it's necessary if we want to accomplish our goals and live productive lives. It takes discipline to get up early, even when we don't feel like it. It takes discipline to stick to a schedule and prioritize our tasks. But in the end, discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.

The Example of Jesus

When we're struggling to get out of bed in the morning, it can be helpful to look to the example of Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus often rose early in the morning to spend time in prayer:

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

Jesus understood the importance of discipline and prioritizing his time. He knew that in order to accomplish his mission, he needed to spend time in prayer and fellowship with his Father. When we make the effort to get up early and prioritize our tasks, we're following in the footsteps of Jesus.

The Power of Grace

Finally, we must remember the power of grace. The Bible tells us that we're saved by grace, not by our own efforts:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

While discipline is important, we must also remember that we're not saved by our own efforts. We're saved by the grace of God. When we're struggling to get out of bed in the morning, we can turn to God for strength and help. He promises to give us the grace we need to accomplish the tasks he has set before us:

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

When we rely on God's grace, we can overcome our desire for rest and comfort and accomplish the tasks he has set before us.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our desire for rest and comfort often overpowers our reason when it comes to getting up early in the morning. However, it's important to find a balance between rest and productivity. We must rely on discipline to get up early and prioritize our tasks, while also remembering the power of grace to help us overcome our weaknesses. When we follow the example of Jesus and rely on God's grace, we can accomplish the tasks he has set before us and live productive lives.