When you wake up in the morning, when you sit up in bed, do you ever think to yourself ‘I get up because’? The answer is most likely no, but think about if, just for a moment. Do you have a reason to wake up in the morning? What drives you to want to get out of bed, to want to have a productive day? Studies show that setting a goal for yourself every morning and accomplishing it helps reduce stress & gives one a sense of completion and happiness, which many can’t do normally.

Everyone has different motivation. For some, it’s small things, like waking up to read your favorite book or to strum your favorite tune on your guitar. Others it’s bigger things, like trying your hardest on that test so you can get into your dream college, or training and pushing yourself to become a professional athlete, something you’ve been dreaming of about since you were a kid. No matter what it is, it’s great that you have it! Without even trying, you’re lowering your blood pressure and creating a less stressful life for yourself, so keep it up!

Students at BHS all have different ways to motivate themselves. For instance, Daniel Sheehan’s driving force is sports. “Sports gets a big audience because it hypes you up. That’s why there are so many people in the stands. It’s something to do with friends.”

But, what about those of us that don’t have any motivation? What if you don’t have a driving force that helps you get out of bed everyday? Well, you really should consider trying to find one. People who are unmotivated are proven to be sadder, and are at a higher risk of dysthymia. Dysthymia is a fancy way of saying persistent depression, or, in other words, chronic depression. Symptoms of  dysthymia are mood swings, constant struggle to be happen, and in some extreme cases, thoughts of suicide. Though it sounds scary, setting a goal for yourself daily is a great way to help prevent yourself from developing this disorder.

Ultimately, trying to set a goal for yourself every morning is a great idea, and who doesn’t want to be happier? If you struggle in the morning to find a good reason to get up, try to set a goal for yourself, from something as small as to dressing yourself nice to something as big as training yourself to become the world’s next superstar