"Why Can’t I Just Do It?" Anxiety Therapy for the Morning Snooze Struggle

Jake slumped into my office chair, rubbing his temples. "I just don’t get it," he said. "I know I want to work out. I want to feel better, look better, have more energy. Every single night, I set my alarm for 6:00 AM. I tell myself, ‘This is it, Jake! This is the start of your new life!’ Then what happens? Snooze. Snooze again. Back to square one. What’s wrong with me? Am I lazy? Or just broken?"

Jake’s frustration was palpable. He wasn’t here for generic advice—he’d already Googled “how to build better habits” and tried all the classic tricks. Smaller goals? He’d cut it down to five pushups and still didn’t do them. Positive self-talk? He’d tried that too, but it just made his inner voice sound like a bad motivational poster. “You’ve got this, Jake!” sounded hollow when all he wanted was to stay under the covers.

Anxiety Therapy and the Deeper Layers

Jake’s struggle isn’t just about willpower or better habit hacks.

The real question is, why does Jake want to work out in the first place? If his reason for waking up early is tied to guilt or societal pressure rather than something that feels meaningful to him, the motivation will fall flat.

Anxiety therapy can help him explore whether working out even aligns with his personal goals or if it’s a “should” he’s imposed on himself without fully understanding why. Sometimes, we need to clarify the importance of a goal or find one that truly resonates.

Another layer to Jake’s resistance might be what working out represents to him. Starting a new habit often feels like it should be a positive change, but it can also trigger anxiety about what that change might lead to. If Jake imagines himself becoming a “fit person,” he might unconsciously associate it with expectations he’s not ready to take on—like overhauling his diet, feeling judged by others, or even having less downtime in his day.

Exploring what he believes will happen if he succeeds can reveal hidden fears or associations that are holding him back.

Finally, there’s the question of how Jake views people who work out. If he secretly associates fitness enthusiasts with traits he doesn’t admire—like being superficial or obsessed—it could create a disconnect with his self-image. Becoming someone who prioritizes physical activity might feel at odds with how Jake wants to see himself.

Therapy can help him untangle these judgments and make room for a version of working out that aligns with who he is, rather than who he fears he’ll become.

When Simple Things Aren’t So Simple

On the surface, waking up early and exercising sounds straightforward. But if it’s important enough to bring to therapy, it’s likely carrying much deeper layers.

These small challenges often hold a mirror to bigger questions: how we see ourselves, what we value, and what fears or associations hold us back.

In therapy, I work with clients to untangle these layers.

We track what’s happening in real-time—how they feel about the goals they’re setting, what stories they tell themselves about success or failure, and what deeper meanings are attached to their struggles.

The goal isn’t just to wake up earlier but to understand why the snooze button feels like a lifeline.

Ready to Wake Up (Metaphorically and Literally)?

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a loop like Jake—frustrated by your own resistance and tired of feeling like you’re battling yourself—therapy might be the missing piece.

Together, we can dig beneath the surface and uncover what’s really holding you back.

Get in touch today, and let’s get started. Your snooze button doesn’t have to call the shots anymore.

Let's chat!

Step into your own story.

1. What drives your desire to build a new habit or reach a particular goal? Think about whether it stems from personal fulfillment, societal pressure, or a sense of guilt.

2. When you think about the person you’ll become if you succeed in making this change, what feelings come up? Reflect on whether you feel excitement, anxiety, or even resistance, and why.

3. What beliefs do you hold about people who have already achieved what you’re aiming for? Explore whether these beliefs align with how you see yourself and if they might be influencing your motivation.