In honour of this morning’s pillow-based workout, a brand new study has been published (despite what you see in the picture above, we did actually do some exercise). Read on for the groundbreaking findings!
Introduction:
While literature has explored the science of sleep for several decades, there are limited studies exploring the intrinsic and extrinsic motivators that contribute to the ease with which an individual drags themselves out of bed. Our study aimed to answer the age old question, “What gets you out of bed in the morning?”
Methodology:
The researchers at November Project Ottawa conducted a qualitative peer-reviewed study between Tuesday April 27th at 8pm and Wednesday April 28th at 7:00am. The study included responses from 27 participants, probably. Recruiting primarily took place from the couch via numerous social media platforms. Themes were coded and analyzed by research assistants in the living room (NB: by “themes”, we mean “treats”, and by “coded and analyzed” we mean “hastily consumed without any chewing”).
Results:
The following responses were provided by study participants who were asked, “What gets you out of bed in the morning?”
“I need to pee.”
“I would have to say the sunlight. I always sleep with the curtains open so I rise with the sun…. and in the winter….4 alarms, 5 mins apart.”
“When carpools were a thing, knowing I had to meet someone was almost always effective.”
“My alarm.”
“Breakfast.”
“Food, outdoor time.”
“Number 1. Sometimes number 2.”
“Sunshine. My dog.”
“Exercise.”
“Outdoor time.”
“Shame and guilt.”
“[Dog’s name] needing to go to the bathroom.”
“In past life… exercise with friends or being cognizant of repercussions of not getting to work on time.”
“A baby sitting on my bladder.”
“CBC news.”
“The sound of the espresso machine.”
“Dolla dolla bills y’all.”
“Gravity.”
“[Child’s name]. Literally and figuratively.”
“I also love my job. I even find the occasional stress is worth it for it.”
“My want/need to be/feel productive.”
“Not being late for work.”
“The knowledge that my couch is in the next room.”
“My pup and knowing that I gotta take her out.”
“Living with my parents and knowing I want to see them before work.”
“Knowing I like morning much better than night so if I miss the morning I’ll be sad.”
“Being really thankful to be alive right now and to have loved ones living and it’s a weird mix of hope and pressure that I feel I can do good things for myself and others if I seek those things out.”
“Nothing. I love to nap.”
“The dog has to pee.”
“I guess because I have to… if I don’t get out of bed I’ll be upset with myself and think I’m [poop emoji] even though I don’t want to get out of bed.”
“To get away from the fart smell.”
“Coffee. Sunshine. Guilt over not attending NP.”
“My alarm or my cat, depends on the day.”
“My morning tea or matcha.”
Discussion:
Our results indicate several important findings.
- Food, dogs/children, and bladders are powerful motivators, closely followed by the outdoors, exercise, and coffee;
- Both productivity and the shame associated with a lack of productivity act as significant motivators;
- You can make anything sound important by using headings and subheadings, and by including the term “peer-reviewed”.
Conclusion:
Some days are harder than others, and that’s okay. Each morning that you join us at NP, we are thrilled to have you. And each morning that you don’t, we are thinking of you and hoping that you are getting the rest and self-care that you need and deserve.
Limitations:
The study’s research assistant slept through most data collection, which may have impacted the findings reported here. The research assistant also acknowledges a potential conflict of interest due to the fact that he was really just in it for the treats and otherwise had very little interest in participating.
Acknowledgements:
Thank you for reading. Thank you for making this community better. Thank you for being here – we are so glad that you are.
Sole-fully,
Rebecca & Becca
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- NP Toronto is having a Pictionary social TONIGHT at 7:30pm [us02web.zoom.us]
- Wash the pillow case that you used for the workout this morning?
- Share your reason for getting out of bed in the comments below!
- Pet a doggo
100% only got out of bed this morning for NP Ottawa!! 😀
Oh yeah – I guess that’s a pretty good reason too!!
Being dehydrated gets me up, coinciding with the need to pee – lol! My morning routine of late usually includes watching how-to vids on YouTube.