batsheva5779

Unfortunately I have the same issue. I feel like it is a lifelong struggle. So on one hand I can relate, but on the other hand, am I really in a position to give advice? I also need help!!! Anyways I try to get better everyday here are some things I try:

1. I’m a natural night owl, but an early and productive morning has to start with an early bedtime. Instead of focusing on waking up early and having the energy to do things, I try to focus on going to bed early enough. I’ve heard a rabbi say “sometimes the adult in you just needs to tell the child in you it’s bedtime now”. I taped on my wall a piece Rav Avigdor Miller about “bedtime for adults”

2. I am reading the book about Henny Machlis, “Emunah with Love and Chicken Soup” by Sara Yocheved Rigler. Rebbetzin Machlis has some teachings that help me. We have to recognize our tendencies and our struggles come from Hashem. Hashem has given me the inclination to be lazy, a procrastinator, etc. It’s so impossible to to combat this day after day on my own. I think Hashem wants to humble me and help me recognize He’s in charge. So I daven for help, I daven for success, and trust that it will come. But i have to do my part. Not just “please don’t make me lazy”, but I need to take my steps, show Hashem how I tried to sleep earlier, show Hashem how I pushed myself to wake up 20 min earlier, I tried to make a list and how I tried to be REALISTIC about what I could accomplish. I can’t fight this huge struggle and battle on my own, but ask Hashem for help because I think thats what He wants me to make of the situation, He made a situation so I have to cry to Him and connect to Him. Same goes for other things, if someone is born ungenerous or with anger problems, that’s going to be their lifelong struggle, they have to beseech Hashem or they’ll never make any progress.

3. I don’t know if youre like me but the hardest part is GETTING STARTED. Once I start, most times I have momentum to keep going awhile (maybe finish). So my Rabbi is having me read a book “Time Power” by Tracy. Of course I’m not with it, some advice there and that I read elsewhere is to commit to working on (full in the blank) daily, not necessarily to getting it done. The point is, make it point to do 1 step or 5 min of progress on (blank) regularly. Don’t focus on getting it done. Only focus on doing the one step. If you have the momentum, you’ll end up getting more done. If not, at least you did something and you have a commitment in place to continue tomorrow. So I focus on cleaning (and exercising) for only 5min per day, that 5 min gets something done, and very often now that I started I’m able to continue for longer. In the end I feel accomplished instead of like the usual guilty lazy procrastinator.

So Idk, small steps, that’s what I have going at the moment. I truly wish you the best. We all have our struggles and this is definitely one of mine too!!