Waking Up

Question

I am a bochur learning in yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel. I find that one of the most challenging parts of the day is when the alarm goes off in the morning. Inevitably, I will try and shut it off and go back to sleep. I was wondering if the rov can advise me on how to navigate this difficult nisayon.

Rav Auerbach 

There are a number of practical techniques that I would like to share with you that I believe will be very helpful.

Rav Yisroel Salanter writes (Ohr Yisroel 7) that if one wants to improve in any area of Divine service, the optimal way to do so is to learn the halachos relevant to that area. Studying the halachos gives a person a desire to fulfill them. Once you are imbued with a heartfelt desire to put the halachos of waking up in the morning into practice, you will definitely see great improvement.

Which halachos should one learn in regards to waking up in the morning? The first halacha in Shulchan Aruch states, “A person should wake up in the morning like a lion in order to serve his Creator” (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 1:1). Every night, before going to sleep, you should learn this halacha numerous times, until it is literally ringing in your ears.

Even while you are lying in bed, by going over this halacha in your bed numerous times, this will have a major impact on your next morning. One of the great tzaddikim of Yerushalayim once revealed to me the great power that this practice has. He told me (in Yiddish), "Whoever goes to sleep like a Jew wakes up like a Jew.”

Another important idea to keep in mind is that which Rav Chaim Volozhiner writes in his sefer Keser Rosh. He says that as soon as a person wakes up, he should think to himself that he accepts upon himself the yoke of Torah and mitzvos. Starting off the day on the right foot will impact one’s entire day.

Once you have woken up, you should say Modeh Ani with great fervor and joy. Starting off the day on the right foot ensures that the day will be filled with success.