I’m not a morning person.
I never have been. Not as a kid. Not as a teenager. Not now. And most likely, not ever.
And during my 19 years of hating early mornings, I’ve received a lot of criticism about it! People – sometimes who I barely know – really take the time to insult or tease me over not being a morning person.
Don’t get me wrong—I can take a joke. Honestly, I get it. I can accept being the punchline to jokes, and I can laugh along with you. Yeah, it’s kinda funny that you can’t talk to me before I’ve had my time to wake up, and I’ll probably chime in by telling you how I earned my childhood nickname of “Bear” (it’s because I practically growled when you tried to wake me up).
But here’s the thing – it’s not always a joke, and it doesn’t always fit the tone you think it hits when you tease a night owl. In fact, it frequently borders on judgment and condemnation, and after hearing the complaints for years, it starts to sting.
This may sound like a ridiculous complaint, but think about it. If people – friends, family, teachers, peers, and even strangers – constantly criticize a personality trait you couldn’t get rid of, wouldn’t you eventually take it to heart? Wouldn’t you try to change yourself and get frustrated when you failed? Wouldn’t you also begin to begrudge that personality trait?
I’ve tried all the tricks that Pinterest or well-meaning people can suggest, but I just can’t train myself to be a morning person. My insomnia, even when treated, exists. I’ll still be the person with multiple alarms, and I’ll still sip on my caffeine, even if I’m frequently told that I shouldn’t.
This year, my New Year’s Resolution is to accept who I am and treat myself better. That means that I’m not going to beat myself up about something I can’t change, and I’m proudly announcing I’m a night owl. Yes, it has its inconveniences, and sometimes, I’d love to be a morning person. But I’m not.
So, henceforth, I will no longer apologize for hating mornings and enjoying my sleep. Please redirect complaints to another poor night owl, or better yet – just let people live their lives, you know?
Night owls, Early Birds, and everyone in between, keep doing your thing!