When you take a step back and consider what gets you out of bed in the morning, what immediately comes to mind? You’re probably wondering why I’m asking you this, well, because motivation is a HUGE part of personal finance.
Side note – it could also be the difference between you getting your dream job and losing it to someone who’s motivated and ACTUALLY knows their “why.” Yup! This is something that might just come up as an interview question, so you need to have an answer.
I’ll admit, getting out of bed is hard. Mostly because you have to face your workday, the weather, grocery shopping… the list is endless. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and want to hide under the covers. Unfortunately, you can’t. You have to get up (hopefully before 08:00 am) and start “adulting.”
Also read: Make Monday your best day: Monday Motivation (and 32 quotes)
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Things to get out of bed for
The things that get us out of bed differ. If you look at someone like Steve Jobs, he was known for being innovative and the brains behind Apple, that’s something that probably kept him motivated and made getting out of bed easier for him.
LeBron is another great example. Imagine the mix of pressure and satisfaction that comes with being a basketball icon; he probably finds his motivation to get out of bed in the morning from wanting to perform better than he did the previous day.
The common thing between these two is motivation. Basically, you need something to be excited about – that’s probably what gets you out of bed in the morning, whether you realize it or not. Generally, it should be something that you’ll be proud of. When you focus on the pride and feeling that comes with the achievement, the hardships can be overlooked.
In fact, I came across this one book and the author pretty much said what we’ve all been thinking. Something along the lines of how “everything is hard. Work is hard. Running is hard. Parenting is hard. But you need to choose your hard.”
Basically, you choose what gets you out of bed in the morning. Life in general is hard, but it becomes a lot easier when you figure out where to draw motivation from. I’m not saying that you’ll automatically become excited about EVERYTHING once you find motivation, but you’ll at least be able to face things head-on and conquer what life throws at you.
12 good answers to “what gets you out of bed in the morning?”
I’ve already told you that figuring out what gets you out of bed in the morning is something you figure out real quick. I’ve worked in management, and although I don’t often ask this question, I make a point of asking questions where the person I’m interviewing HAS to show me how motivated they are, otherwise I’ll probably just pass on them.
I’m not being difficult when I do this, because the truth is, motivated people get a lot more done than those who need a massive cheerleading squad behind them just to send a mere email. When you’ve figured out what gets you up in the morning, the rest of your day will have a bit more structure and maybe even a spring in your step!
Okay, back to that life-changing question – what gets you out of bed in the morning? By now you should understand that anything impressive starts with motivation and knowing what gets you out of bed in the morning.
If you still haven’t quite figured this out for yourself, I’ve jotted down some pretty cool answers – well, at least those that would pique my interest in an interview room and make me give you my full attention.
1 – Achieving personal goals
The fact that you have goals is a tick on its own. A lot of people go through life without any clear goals or destinations – which means that they end up just “going with the flow.” Personally, this can be a bit of a red flag. When a potential employers asks you what gets you out of bed in the morning, they’re simply trying to get a sense of how motivated you are.
Talk about some of your personal goals (relevant ones, PLEASE) that paint you in a positive light. It could be something like building on your qualifications and getting the necessary experience through the job, just don’t oversell yourself.
2 – Honing your skills
One of the best ways to show just how motivated you are (oh, and prove what an absolute asset you’d be to the company) is by showing your commitment to improving your current skills. Consciously working on honing your skills means that you’re not okay with mediocre, by-the-way output.
Personally, I’m quite big on upskilling. If you’re the type of person that occasionally does a course here and there, and attends workshops instead of just lounging around on your couch, then you’ve got my attention! You could also talk about how you use online resources to hone your skills or gain new skills.
3 – Your passions and aspirations
What’s the human equivalent of a wet blanket? I don’t know, but probably someone who has zero passions or aspirations and is really living life one day at a time. If you’re still not sure what gets you out of bed in the morning, at least make sure you don’t fall into this trap.
That’s why you need to speak about your passions when you answer this question. I don’t care if your passion is gardening, the very fact that you can plant and nurture something speaks volumes. If being a plant parent is what you’re passionate about and is what gets you out of bed in the morning, talk about it.
It seems completely unrelated to the job, right? Wrong. To me, it says you have a sense of responsibility, are able to start a project and see it through to completion, and you’re doing something for the environment too.
When it comes to what gets you out of bed in the morning, it doesn’t always have to be explicitly stated. Your passions are also indicative of what you bring to the table.
4 – Humble brag
Nobody likes people who brag – at least I don’t. And I know other employers might find it extremely irritating, BUT, the operative word here is “humble”. In simple terms, I’m basically telling you to highlight the good things about yourself. If you’re working towards your doctorate, throw it in there as something that motivates you and gets you out of bed.
It’s a feat that not everybody can list under their belt of accomplishments, so put it out there. What gets you out of bed in the morning will be something that you love (or HAVE TO DO), and the key here is to talk about it in a not-so-irritating way that’ll likely put everyone off.
5 – A new day means new chances
This is a pretty good answer to what gets you out of bed in the morning, being able to have an optimistic view each day is extremely impressive. It seems like such a basic thing, but when you think about just how crazy life can get and how you probably feel like you’re going to lose it on some days, viewing each day as the door to new chances is a big tick!
But why would the interview panel care? For a lot of reasons; it means you’re probably not the type to wallow in your sadness for too long, so you’re probably a pleasant person to be around. If you failed at something the day before, you’re probably already looking at ways to solve the issue already. Problem solver – it’s a definite yes from me!
6 – Continuous learning
If what gets you out of bed in the morning is the thought of learning new things, be it at work or even just in your personal capacity, that’s a pretty good thing to highlight. Employers are generally looking for people that aren’t afraid to build on whatever foundation they have, especially if it’ll mean they can perform better at work.
Have you ever come across those people who think they know everything and have zero motivation to keep learning – yeah, nobody likes those. In addition to merely saying that you love learning, expand and provide examples of such instances.
If you only recently figured out how to use the air fryer – 4 years later – that’s great! Now you probably want to learn how to cook rice or boil an egg or whatever. Hey, these are all VERY VALID real-life examples.
7 – The vision is bigger than me
Ah, oh yes! People with big hearts are often motivated by things that go far beyond their personal needs. Or in some cases, the need to show appreciation to your parents for raising such a top-notch kid may be your motivation and sole purpose for living.
Either way, this shows the interview panel that you’re able to think about other people and that you’re not self-centered. I know, that’s pretty rare these days – especially with everyone competing to get to that corner office. It can be a dog-eat-dog world in corporate.
8 – Improving on shortfalls or mistakes
I don’t care how perfect your mom thinks you are, but we all have shortfalls and make mistakes. If you’re the type of person that’s motivated by identifying and improving on whatever the concern is, it says a lot about your personality and the type of characteristics you have.
Very few people like admitting when they’ve made a mistake, and even fewer are willing to go back to that very issue and improve on it. There are already too many overly confident and egotistical people in the workplace, you’d be an absolute unicorn if you’re on the other side of the spectrum – many companies could do with one or two of those.
9 – Meeting and interacting with new people
Instead of giving the regular “I’m a people person and I work well independently and within a team” speech (trust me, all interviewers have heard that one before), rather speak about how engaging with other people can be beneficial.
For example, talk about something you might’ve learned from a former colleague, a client, whatever the case might be, and THEN, highlight how you’re still putting it to use. Being motivated by such interactions suggests that not only are you open to learning and respecting different viewpoints, but it also highlights how flexible and adaptive you are.
That’s a bonus and will definitely make your life easier if you understand how to carry yourself in different settings and environments.
10 – Becoming a better version of yourself
This one is quite broad because it encompasses a lot of aspects of yourself. If the thought of being better than you were yesterday is what gets you out of bed in the morning, then you should probably count yourself among some of the top achievers. Think about it, athletes prioritize consistent daily efforts towards improving. It’s what breeds success.
11 – Spending time with loved ones
This one is sure to give your interviewer that soft, fuzzy feeling inside. What gets you out of bed in the morning could very well be to make your loved ones happy and spend time with them. It’s really that simple. Getting the motivation to wake up and face the day doesn’t have to be prompted by extravagant or material things, family can be your driving force.
Look at me, for example, flexibility and having more control over my time motivated me to get my ducks in order and retire early so I can spend more time with my family.
12 – Self-discovery and fulfillment
Isn’t this what we all strive for at the end of the day – to reach our highest self and feel fulfilled? These may seem like very far-fetched concepts because life itself has no real destination. To an extent, it really sums up everything else, it’s like all the other bits are pieces of a puzzle and then here, you take a step back to look at the whole puzzle in completion.
TL;DR – What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Whether you’re answering this question for a job interview or doing some introspection, thinking about what gets you out of bed in the morning is a great way to start changing your life for the better.
