Are people born to get up early, or to sleep late? I don’t think it’s a one-way road. We can become a morning person, or we can simply accept ourselves for getting up just before we have to. Both are fine.

The other day, I read something a friend wrote. She said she thought I was impressive for trying waking up at 5:30 am every day. Am I? It also reminded me that I haven’t been documenting my early mornings for a long while.

Waking Up at 5:30 AM as an Experiment

First of all, waking up at 5:30 am still hurts. But I think I’m making progress by continuing to challenge myself.

At the end of 2025, I did one 75 Hard challenge, but I failed on day 72nd day because I broke the wake-up-early rule. I went back to sleeping in, usually waking up at 8 a.m.—my old routine. Still, the idea of waking up at 5:30 am stayed with me. I love how peaceful the morning is, and choosing to get up that early on my own already feels impressive enough.

So I restarted another75 Hard on New Year’s Day of 2026. By the time I’m writing this, I’m on my 10th straight day. It’s challenging, of course. But I guess I love challenging myself, just to see how far I can push—especially with waking up at 5:30 am as the anchor of my days.

Don’t misunderstand me—I usually challenge myself in a mild way. I hate any kind of self-torture. What I enjoy is discovering my limits and boundaries through small experiments with my life and with myself. And I believe that’s a good thing.

Choice Matters More Than Discipline

Don’t mistake me—I was not born waking up early. I am just like all of you. I’ll probably sleep in again once 75 Hard is over. But waking up at 5:30 am feels like a personal choice, and you don’t need to force yourself to get up early if you don’t truly want it.

I’ve had the desire for waking up at 5:30 am for many years. But whatever your morning routine is, as long as you’re happy with it, don’t blame yourself. The universe is diverse, and we don’t need to follow the same dogma to be happy.

Please don’t idolize anyone. You can admire someone, but remember they are just a person—like you. You deserve the same respect, dignity, and worth.

Don’t label yourself as someone who “can’t” do waking up at 5:30 am. You simply choose not to, and that’s never a problem. You’re never wrong for not being an early bird.

Allowing yourself to be who you are is one of the most powerful things you can do. It can make life feel almost magical.

If you truly want waking up at 5:30 am, when you’re ready, that day will come. If it’s not working now, nothing is wrong with you—you’re just not ready yet. Blaming yourself is the worst technique for making anything work.

Is There Any Magic in Early Mornings?

Do I see magic in the morning? Yes.
Do I see a dramatic life change from waking up at 5:30 am? No.

Getting up early is simply getting up early, and sleeping early at night. It’s not about copying rich people who wake up at 4 a.m. Success comes from many factors, and not all successful people wake up early—some wake up later than you do.

Don’t trust tempting marketing slogans. They rarely help in practical ways.

The only thing worth trusting is your gut feeling. And the only way to sharpen it is by living your life firsthand, maybe with the help of some books.

Waking up at 5:30 am isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a gradual process, and perhaps a lifelong conversation with yourself. Each day you do it, the next day might feel a little easier. But because you want to do it every day, the challenge will always exist.

We’re human. We have emotions. So respect yourself—especially on the mornings when your body and mind aren’t happy about waking up so early.