Chapter 1: The Early Bird Myth

Rising early is often touted as the key to success, yet it doesn’t suit everyone.

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I must confess; my father might be disheartened if he reads this. The traditional wisdom of waking up early doesn’t resonate with me.

To give some context, I was quite the early riser during my teenage years. My father served in the Navy, so I was accustomed to waking up early, jogging 10 kilometers, making my bed, exercising, having breakfast, and then starting my day. This routine persisted through my college years.

However, life took a different turn when I entered the corporate world. You know what I mean?

I genuinely enjoy my current role in software development; I feel respected and believe I’m making a meaningful impact. Yet, the onset of my corporate career was chaotic. Whenever our software malfunctioned, rather than concentrating on resolving the issue, the blame game ensued. This was particularly frustrating during my first two projects.

I often found myself working long hours to fix problems that others should have tackled. Why? Colleagues would conveniently disappear at the first sign of trouble, citing personal emergencies whenever critical issues arose.

These situations disrupted my routine and severely affected my sleep, leading to insomnia. Waking up exhausted meant my entire day felt off-kilter. As a result, I gradually transformed into a productive night owl. While I need to be alert during the day for work, my peak productivity occurs at night.

Being single certainly aids this lifestyle choice, as it may not be feasible for those living with partners or spouses. This realization pushed me to modify my routine and attempt waking up early.

I set a goal to rise by 6 a.m. and create a structured morning routine to energize my days.

Sadly, mornings just aren’t my forte. Even after a brisk run and a cold shower, I would still feel drowsy by afternoon at work.

Initially, I contemplated documenting my journey like many productivity vloggers on YouTube, but the effort proved overwhelming, and I abandoned the idea by day three.

I persevered for 21 days in this early rising challenge. While I felt slightly more energized towards the end, I remained unhappy. It dawned on me that without inner peace, true happiness is elusive.

I recognized that changing my lifestyle would require immense effort. Perhaps I thrive during the night, or I simply haven't tried hard enough. It could also be that I'm reluctant to disrupt a routine I’ve maintained for six years.

Whatever the reason, I suspect there are many others like me who find comfort in the calm of the night, where creativity flourishes in the shadows beneath dim lighting.

If you found this piece engaging, you might appreciate the following articles as well.

Chapter 2: Finding Comfort in the Night

Waking up early can be a challenge for many, and it often leads to feelings of fatigue and dissatisfaction.

This video titled "How to Force Yourself to Get Out of Bed" offers strategies that might help those struggling with morning routines.

Additionally, "How I Trained Myself to Wake Up at 4:45am EASILY!" provides insights into successfully adopting an early rising lifestyle.