If you had asked me in high school what kind of person I was, the answer would’ve been easy: a night owl. Staying up until 1 AM or 2 AM felt completely natural. There was something comforting about the quiet darkness, the glow of a screen, the freedom to watch movies or shows without interruption. Nights felt like my time.

But somewhere along the way, things changed.

Becoming a Morning Person

Fast forward to the last couple of years, and I’ve undergone a shift. As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been committed to HIIT classes, and for a long stretch I was taking the 6 AM class every day. These days, I take the 7 AM class, which probably sounds painfully early to most people, and I get it.

But here’s what’s fully: in order to perform well at 7 AM, I actually wake up around 5 AM.

You’re probably wondering: Why??? Because, to me, mornings have become a ritual. I need time to warm up my body and mind before I train. That means self-massage, stretching, some caffeine, and my personal screen time to start the day. It’s a slow build-up that lets me give 100% in my workout.

Somehow, the night owl became the person who wakes up before dawn on purpose.

My Perfect Morning

On weekdays, my ideal morning looks something like this:

• Wake up at 5AM
• Self-massage while watching something on Netflix
• Drink caffeine and shake the sleep off
• Take a hot shower to wake up
• Head to my workout space
• Stretch, warm up, and hit my 7AM HIIT class
• Cool down, take a cold shower, and get to work before 9AM

Weekends aren’t much different, just shifted a few hours later.

The biggest downside to becoming a morning person was sacrificing my nights. To get the full 8 hours of sleep my body needs (since I train every day), I have to be in bed around 9 PM. That means fewer evening activities, less late-night relaxation, and less time with family who think my schedule borders on ridiculous.

But waking up refreshed, calm, and ready for a new day is worth it.

Balancing Two Opposite Selves

Here’s the funny thing: even now, I still feel naturally aligned with being a night person. My creativity and productivity used to peak in the evenings. I used to start my mornings slow and build momentum throughout the day.

Yet, mornings have become something I genuinely enjoy. They’re quiet, peaceful, and uninterrupted since almost everyone is still asleep. Sometimes it feels like I’m alone in the world.

Caffeine plays its role, too. I take most of it early so I don’t wreck my sleep, and between that and exercise, my energy holds until the evening when I naturally wind down.

The Real Factor: Sleep

When I think about it, the question of morning vs. night isn’t just about preference. It’s about sleep.

If I slept only four hours, I could probably enjoy both staying up late and waking up early. But that’s not reality, and after a health scare a few years ago, I committed to prioritizing sleep and physical activity. That commitment essentially chose my lifestyle for me.

To stay strong, stay healthy, and recover well, I need my full eight hours. And that means choosing one side.

So… Which One Am I?

I’m naturally a night person who forced myself to become a morning person.

Surprisingly, I’ve grown to love mornings just as much as I once loved late nights. Maybe that’s adulthood. Maybe it’s discipline. Maybe it’s just the reality of taking better care of myself.

But either way, I’ve lived on both sides of the day… and each one has its own benefits.