In Defense of 5 A.M.
Fluorescent lights are harsh at 5 am.
Especially on the days when I don’t get enough sleep.
They are a reminder that I am awake while the rest of the world slumbers on, but then I remember just that. I am the first to wake up and feel grateful that I am alive to see another day. That has to count for something.
My neighbors, my friends, my coworkers, they’re all still asleep, and the quiet of the morning is mine. Tokyo is mine until 7 am when people are just waking up for the day or already out the door to get an early start on their long commute to work.
I get a lot done in those 2 hours. They are my most productive hours of the day because I know I won’t be interrupted by phone calls, e-mails, or noise. There aren’t any ambulances wailing by, and the construction workers aren’t yet on site to continue hammering and drilling away on the nearby apartment complexes. Traffic is lite on the bridges. There aren’t any helicopters in the sky. I don’t hear any voices floating upward from the streets below or police blowing their whistles from the station two blocks over. It’s just me, my thoughts, and the sunrise.
Every morning starts the same way: a 20-minute meditation, my daily energy routine, 30 minutes of yoga, a hot cup of tea (yes, even in summer), and breakfast. Always in that order. After that, I might read a book on my kindle, do some writing, answer some work emails, study Japanese, or take a shower. It depends on what I have time for and where my thoughts gravitate.
Do I always wake up that early? Am I always that productive in the morning? Yes, I do, and I am. I am a morning person, asleep by 9 or 10 pm and awake somewhere between 4:30 to 6:00 am. I depend on that time in the morning before the day begins. I cherish that time for if I don’t use it wisely, my energy drains quicker as the day goes on and I’m more susceptible to negative thoughts.
Sometimes it’s a bit lonely to feel like I’m the only one awake at that hour, but once that moment passes, I really relish in that solitude. It’s important for me to take that time in the morning to set my intentions and show up for myself through acts of self-love and appreciation.
Speaking of which, if you’ll excuse me, I have to see to it that those fluorescent lights in the bathroom get swapped out for a softer bulb.
Make it a great day!