Your Body Always Has a Reason Not To

“Why then am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist and for which I was brought into the world? Or have I been made for this, to lie in the bed-clothes and keep myself warm?” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.1

Most days, I already know what I should be doing. I planned it the night before, or it’s already in my weekly plan.

Where I fall short is the moment my body gives me a reason not to do it. I’m sleepy, I’m tired, or I just don’t feel like it. Marcus Aurelius wrote about this almost two thousand years ago, and his answer is still useful.

What Marcus meant

Marcus believed reason is what sets us apart from other animals. For him, living according to nature means using it.

The failure he describes is familiar. You know what you should do, and then the body supplies the reasons not to: pain, drowsiness, fever, appetite. If you keep giving in to those sensations, the mind becomes the servant of the body. Marcus saw that as a path to endless suffering, because the body will always have another reason.

So for him, getting control of the mind comes first. With that control, you can act well. Acting well, in Stoic terms, is the path to eudaimonia, which roughly means a good and flourishing life.

He also promised that the change can be fast:

“Within ten days thou wilt seem a god to those to whom thou art now a beast and an ape, if thou wilt return to thy principles and the worship of reason.” Meditations 4.16

My example: the early morning

For me, the clearest test is following the schedule I set the day before, or the weekly plan I made. The biggest piece of that is waking up early, at 4:45 AM or even 4 AM.

I’ve noticed that when I wake up early, I finish a lot of things, and it sets the tone for the whole day.

The same goes for physical activity. Doing it early in the morning works much better for me than doing it later in the day. My energy is still fresh, and it sets the tone for everything after it, so it gives a much greater return on the same effort.

Where I’m still struggling

Lately, this has been hard. I’ve been sleeping late, and that makes it difficult to commit to the schedule. I’m not following it religiously right now.

I’m still trying to commit to it, because I want to keep practicing the habit.

I’ve also noticed a limit in myself. When I’m energy depleted or very tired, I yield more easily to anger, and I stop following my rational mind. So I can’t say I’ve mastered this. As much as possible I’d like to follow it strictly, but I’m still in training.

What I tell myself

When my body pushes back, I tell myself plainly what is happening: I’m giving in to fear. I’m not following my mind. I’m letting my emotion decide what happens.

Saying it like that shifts my mind. I think it works because it turns a vague feeling (“I’m too tired”) into a choice I can see. Once I can see that it’s my emotion deciding, it’s easier to let my reason decide instead.

If you want to try this

Here’s what I’d suggest, based on what has worked for me so far.

Decide the night before. Set the schedule while you’re calm and rested. In the morning, the decision is already made, and you only have to follow it.

Notice where the reason comes from. When you want to skip something you planned, check whether the reason is a real change in the situation, or just drowsiness, discomfort, or appetite talking.

Name it out loud. Tell yourself what is happening, in plain words. For me, it’s “I’m letting my emotion decide.” Naming it gives your mind a chance to take over again.

Watch your energy. When you’re very tired, you’ll give in more easily, and it shows up in other places too, like your patience. Knowing that is a good reason to protect your sleep.