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MARCH 10, 2022 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
Teen Talk
Rabbi Zvi Soroka
Dear Teen Talk, I’m a teenager who just can’t the day
Teen Talk , column in
a new
TJH, is geared to wards the teens in o ur commu nity. Answered by a rotati ng roster of teachers, rebbeim, clinicians , an d peers (!), te ens will b e hearing answers to many que stions the had perco y lating in th eir minds wished th an d ey had th e answers for.
started off on the right foot. I’m popular, have great friends, am good at sports, and do well in yeshiva, but I struggle with getting up on time in the morning. My day often gets off to a really late start. My parents and teachers are losing patience (detention and consequences don’t seem to be effective), and I’m beginning to hate myself for having this challenge. Any ideas?
D
ear Bachur, Congratulations on being normal. If one is jumping out of bed in the morning and super-excited to tackle a new day, he’s one lucky guy. If you’re like the rest of the 99% of us, you’re in good company. A tired or over-exhausted kid is not a bad kid. He might just be not as well-planned, mature, or structured as others. Even the Chofetz Chaim states in the Mishna Berura that the yetzer hara operates in turbo mode, working overtime on persuading a person not to get out of bed in the morning. He tells you it’s too cold in the winter and that you didn’t sleep enough in the summer. When confronting weight loss challenges, the simple, practical solution is obviously eating healthily and partaking in regular exercise.
Yet, there are thousands of books written and billions of dollars spent yearly on this issue. That’s because it’s not so simple. Getting up in morning is very similar. The easy solution is: Go. To. Bed. EARLY. If only it were that easy. It requires great discipline and the maturity of knowing that one will accomplish more if he gets up earlier than staying up late functioning on half a brain. It is vital to understand that most successful and productive peo-
day in advance will already feel accomplished even if the day doesn’t turn out be the most productive one. Like all middos, getting up on time is really tough to tackle but will be most rewarding when you succeed. Here are a few tips: • Daven that Hashem gives you strength and injects you with a jolt of zerizus to jump out of bed in the morning. • Screen time in bed must be avoided. Studies demonstrate that it affects sleep cycles and keeps you up
Most successful and productive people start their day early. ple start their day early. They plan to make this happen. A person who arises early to learn and prepare his
much longer than you intended. • Find a chavrusa/buddy who also struggles and create an incentive plan
