Growing Into the Morning

 28 May 2026

I woke up this morning and noticed it was almost 6 a.m. I think it might be because the weather is getting colder. Still, it doesn’t feel quite normal anymore, since during the summer I had been waking up around 5:00 or 5:30.

I remembered that I used to be a night owl for a long time. I liked doing many things before going to sleep—homework, reading, drawing, listening to music, or watching TV. That habit of staying up late started in my late teens.

The first time I tried to wake up early, my body didn’t agree with me at all. I often got headaches, and eventually I gave up. But after some time, I would try again. I experimented with different approaches—taking small steps to wake up a little earlier each time, or setting multiple alarms starting much earlier than needed.

Eventually, I began waking up closer and closer to the time I wanted. The headaches became less frequent.

I also found that one essential thing was not being too hard on myself when I didn’t wake up on time. I would simply relax and tell myself it was okay, and that I could try again the next day. This kind of self-care made a big difference.

In one parenting talk I attended, the speaker said, “Spend time as you would spend money—because time is life” That idea really stayed with me. I think the strength from that message also helped me move toward my goal of waking up early.

Today, I didn’t wake up at my usual time. But I felt calm about it. I reminded myself that the weather is getting colder, and my body may need time to adjust. Still, I haven’t given up on the idea of waking up early. I continue to try my best to live each moment of the day.

And for that, I am glad. 💖