Let’s be honest, some days it feels impossible to get out of bed. If you suffer from depression, stress, or fatigue, it can be very difficult to get up and start your day. As someone who struggles with depression, I can personally share the truth. Laziness isn’t the reason many of us can’t get out of bed in the morning. Rather, it’s depression, stress, overwhelming emotions, anxiety, or pure exhaustion that keeps us in place.
If you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, know that it’s not because you’re lazy. As adults, we don’t usually stay in bed for no reason. There is a reason why we are extremely tired and don’t want to face the day. These are issues that often need to be addressed in collaboration with a doctor or therapist. However, not everyone can afford this type of assistance. If you can get help from a doctor or therapist, you should, but if that’s not possible, there are many things you can try on your own.
Consider these five ways to get out of bed when you’re not feeling well.
1. Plan something to look forward to in the morning.
One way to get out of bed when you’re not feeling well is to plan something to look forward to in the morning. Planning something to look forward to tends to make you want to get out of bed in the morning. That could be making plans to go for a morning walk, gardening, or making time to read a book you really enjoy. All of these things can help motivate you and give you a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
It may be difficult to plan this every day, but try it for a week and see if it helps. Try planning something different each day to add some variety to your morning. After a week, you might find out what motivates you to get out of bed in the morning and helps you stick with it. If you suffer from depression, getting outside in the morning can especially help your depression. Therefore, doing something like gardening, taking a walk, or reading outside can all help you feel better in the morning.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Prostock-Studio
2. Make your favorite breakfast
The second way to get out of bed when you’re not feeling well is to make your favorite breakfast. Most of us have a favorite breakfast dish, even if we’re not great at cooking or baking. When you wake up in the morning, plan on making your favorite breakfast. This way, you’ll enjoy getting out of bed because you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite foods. If your favorite breakfast has to be purchased at a fast food joint or restaurant, then you should buy it.
Think of it as a special treat to help you get out of bed the morning before a big presentation or after a difficult family encounter. The goal is to face the day motivated and excited. Starting with your favorite breakfast will help you wake up feeling excited and ready to get out of bed. If you decide to make breakfast yourself, it will also help you focus your mind instead of running through thoughts in your head. Holding your hands over your head can help you fight the urge to stay in bed.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/shoot_nik
3. Spend time with your spouse and children
The third way to get out of bed when you don’t feel like it is to spend time with your loved ones. If you’re married and both have full-time jobs, you may not have much time to see each other during the week. Try using this as motivation to get out of bed in the morning and take some time to talk with your spouse over coffee. Your spouse should be someone who loves you and feels comfortable being with you. Tell them how you’re feeling and the struggle you have getting out of bed in the morning. Maybe they can provide you with additional support.
No one should be afraid to be honest about their feelings, especially to their spouse. Talk about it and use the extra time to enjoy each other’s company. Your spouse will help you with your struggles, but you have to tell them. Your husband or wife probably knows you better than anyone else, but they’re still not mind readers. If you talk to them and be open with them, they will be more likely to offer you help and support.
Similarly, you can also spend time with your children in the morning. You may have the opportunity to commute early to take the kids to school, but this can be difficult if all you feel like doing is staying in bed. Use this as a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Getting out of bed in the morning gives you time to spend with your kids before taking them to school. This may be a great opportunity to build stronger relationships with your children.
Photo credit: ©Unsplash/Jonathan J Castellon
4. Start a morning routine
The fourth reason to get out of bed when you’re not feeling well is to start your morning routine. Personally, I find this extremely helpful as it gives me a reason to get out of bed to start my day. There is a lot to do in the morning, and the genuine awareness of that will motivate you to get up. As an adult, if you don’t finish the tasks and chores you need to do before work, you probably won’t be able to tackle them later.
Therefore, having a morning routine can help motivate you to get out of bed. Your morning routine might be getting ready, having breakfast, doing laundry, and getting everyone ready for school. Or your morning routine may look like spending some quiet time with God before everyone else wakes up. Establishing a morning routine will help you get into the habit of waking up at the same time every day. It gives us purpose. It’s just what you need when you’re suffering from depression, anxiety, and stress.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Digitalskillet
5. Open the blinds
The fifth way to get out of bed when you don’t feel like it is to open the blinds. Just open the blinds or curtains to wake up. It also allows you to see beautiful sunlight and helps bring natural light into your bedroom. This little bit of light and sunshine can be all you need to motivate yourself for the day. When we feel depressed, overwhelmed, or anxious, we usually want to hide in a dark room all day, but God created light to overcome darkness.
The Lord does not want us to spend our lives locked in a dark room. Instead, God wants us to feel the warmth of the sun on our faces and feel the breeze. It may be hard to get out of bed when you’re struggling, but remember that you’ll feel much better if you get up and face the day instead of hiding. Hiding and locking yourself in bed will only make you feel worse. The harder choice is to get out of bed in the morning, but it’s ultimately the best option and the one that will make you feel better.
You owe it to God, yourself, and your loved ones to stand up and be present. The world needs you today.
Related resources: Overcoming fear with courage
Tragedy, trauma, tsunami: this was Riley Kehoe’s life. A survivor of the world’s worst tsunami disaster in 2004, she was faced with a choice on the spot. Will you live in fear for the rest of your life, or will you honor the gift of your life by having the courage to help others? We all have fears, traumas, and things to overcome. Riley’s testimony is courageous and inspiring. Is that what you heard? Subscribe to Bought + Beloved with Kirby Kelly on Apple or Spotify and never miss an episode!
Photo courtesy: ©SparrowStock
Vivian Bricker earned a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry and then a Master of Arts with an emphasis in Theology. She loves theology, ministry, and all things helping others learn about Jesus. Check out more of her content on Cultivate.
First publication date is Friday, January 10, 2025.
