The Snooze Button Chronicles: My First Step Towards Wellness

Hey there, friends! Today, I want to share a little story about how my journey to wellness and non-toxic living began with a simple yet powerful decision: I stopped hitting the snooze button. You might be thinking, “How can that make such a difference?” Grab your favorite tasty drink, get comfy, and let me take you on this journey!

For the longest time, I was stuck in this endless cycle of hitting the snooze button. I’d set my alarm, then betray myself by hitting snooze over and over again. If I were lucky enough to wake up on time, I’d still find myself rushing around, frantically getting ready and sprinting out the door just to make it to work - barely. And on my days off? Forget it. I’d keep hitting snooze until I’d wake up hours later, feeling like the day was already a write-off. I was caught in this all-or-nothing mindset. If I didn’t wake up on time, I thought, “Well, that’s it for the day!”

One night, lying in bed and feeling frustrated about how I was living, I made a decision: I wouldn’t hit snooze the next day. It was a small promise, but I was determined. The next morning came, and yes, it was tough, but I did it! I got ready on time, made breakfast, and even arrived at work early. Can you believe it? I felt prepared and ready to tackle the day!

But the real test came the following day when I was off work. With no obligations, there was no reason to rush, and that made it all too easy to fall back into old habits. But here’s where I switched gears: I decided to make an appointment with myself. If I could show up on time for doctor’s appointments or meet friends, why couldn’t I show up for myself?

So, I committed to an 8:00 AM meeting with myself. The next morning, I’ll admit, I did hit snooze once. But something shifted. Instead of going back to sleep, I found myself lying there, reflecting on whether I was really going to let myself down again. After a few minutes, the alarm went off again, and before I knew it, I was sitting on the edge of my bed, ready to face the day.

I thought about my “appointment” and realized I had a plan to create. I didn’t have a fancy planner, but I found some scrap paper and did a brain dump of everything I wanted to accomplish — chores, organizing, schoolwork, you name it. As I looked at that long list, I felt a wave of overwhelm wash over me. How could I possibly do all of this in one day?

Then, a thought crossed my mind: Who said it all had to be done today? I realized I was putting that pressure on myself. So, I picked one task to focus on: laundry. Now, laundry has always been my nemesis, and thinking about it made me feel anxious. But I flipped that scrap paper over and broke it down into manageable steps: gather the dirty clothes, sort them, and start one load. I started with my work clothes, threw them in the washer, and felt a tiny sense of accomplishment.

Of course, I looked at the remaining piles and felt overwhelmed again. But I reminded myself that it didn’t have to all be done at once. I committed to completing just three loads that day. It might sound small, but this was the first step I needed to feel like I could climb out of the hole I’d dug myself. And guess what? I did it! I finished those three loads, and I felt a spark of motivation.

From that day on, I promised myself to keep up with the laundry so I wouldn’t find myself drowning in dirty clothes again. While I haven’t been perfect, I can say I’ve never hit that level of chaos again. Yes, there were days I woke up without motivation and spent too much time on the couch, but I still showed up for myself in some way, even if it was just getting something done in the afternoon.

Slowly but surely, I began to change. My days of lounging were fewer, and I became more reliable in showing up for myself. And that’s it! That’s how my journey began — not with drastic diet changes or intense workout routines, but by simply committing to myself and tackling everyday tasks.

So, if you’re feeling stuck, consider taking a small step. It doesn’t have to mirror my experience. Think of one little task you can commit to that feels doable for you. Maybe it’s not hitting snooze, but perhaps it’s starting your day with a positive thought or ending the day by reflecting on one thing you’re grateful for. It could be as simple as committing to not eating out every night and instead cooking your own dinner just once a week. Remember, something small and manageable can really kickstart your journey in a meaningful way.

Now, commit to that first step in the comments! How are you going to commit to yourself this week? This is for you, not for other people. Please share below so we can all support one another on this journey toward wellness and self-care. Let’s lift each other up.