A Book of 56 Chapters on Mornings

The inspiration for this book came from an essay series I was writing for "GINGER L." (a quarterly magazine published four times a year) from Gentosha. After I wrote an essay about "mornings" in one issue, the editor in charge asked me to "write a whole book on this topic, it's so interesting." Though I was a little anxious, thinking "Can I really write a whole book just on mornings?", as I recalled my usual morning routines and feelings, a book of 56 chapters gradually took shape.

By the way, I became an early riser about eight years ago. Before that, I had been a dedicated (or perhaps notorious?) night owl since my twenties. I never went to bed before 2 AM, and sometimes I'd come home in the morning after drinking and socializing. I always woke up just before I had to leave, so I was constantly rushing. However, around the time I turned 40, I started to harbor a dream: "Someday, I want to live a life where I wake with the sunrise and sleep with the sunset. I want to be satisfied with such a simple daily life." To achieve this, I decided to try anything that sparked my interest and then take action (which, ironically, might have made me sleep and wake even later!?). This was because I didn't want to have regrets later, thinking, "I wish I had done this," or "I wish I had tried that." But "rising with the sun" was a distant "someday" goal, a dream rather than a realistic prospect. Or perhaps, I simply couldn't envision it.

Could I, of all people, really wake up early every day?

The reason I switched to being an early riser eight years ago was due to unavoidable circumstances. Around that time, I was writing a book that was like a makeup textbook (the previous edition was called "Perfect Makeup & Hair Bible" by Kodansha), and it was such an arduous task that it felt like it would never end. Starting in late summer and heading into winter, I was chasing deadlines every night, barely having time to take off my coat after returning late from a photoshoot. But as fatigue gradually accumulated, I noticed that when I reread my work the next morning, it was often subpar – "Huh. This won't do!" – leading me to frantically rewrite it in the limited morning hours. One morning, after repeating this cycle, it suddenly struck me: "If I'm going to have to do this twice anyway, why not stop writing at night and go to bed early? I can just wake up early in the morning and write the manuscript then!"
──But at night, I could extend my writing time as long as I stayed awake, whereas in the morning, time is limited to before I have to go out. What if I couldn't finish? What then? Doubts like "Could I, of all people, really wake up early every day?" and even "Will I not be able to go out with friends anymore?" crossed my mind. However, I wouldn't meet the deadline if I continued like this. Alright, I had to do it! And so, my early-bird lifestyle began.

How I switched to being an early riser, and tips for doing so, are all in my new book. If you're thinking of becoming an early riser, please consider it a reference.

The Rise of Decluttering and Early Risers

While writing the morning essays for "GINGER L.", I noticed something: it seems like not just me, but more and more people are becoming early risers lately. I feel like this trend has accelerated even more since last year's earthquake, but what do you think?

Based on my experience, I suspect that becoming an early riser reduces those "just because" activities. For example, vaguely agreeing to evening social gatherings or drinks, or vaguely watching TV until late at night. When you become an early riser, you feel sleepy earlier at night, and your "nighttime" shortens, naturally leaving less time for those "just because" commitments. Morning hours are also limited, so there's no time for aimless wandering or zoning out. Consequently, you start dedicating your time to what you truly want to do and what you value. As this becomes clearer, the "just because" activities diminish. I believe this is similar to the recently popular concept of ""Danshari" (decluttering),which we also covered in this series in November 2010.So, the popularity of these organizing methods and the increase in early risers might indicate a growing desire among people to clarify what they truly want to value right now.

Even now, dining out or attending parties with friends in the evening is one of the things I enjoy. But its enjoyment comes from it being an "occasional" event. In the past, it was a daily occurrence and the most enjoyable thing (outside of work!). Yet, even while enjoying it, I felt a sense of emptiness. I understand now that it was fleeting pleasure, not a cumulative sense of fulfillment. Perhaps this feeling unconsciously led me to harbor the dream of "someday rising with the sun." That its realization began unexpectedly is truly a mystery of life. I hope to continue accumulating fulfilling mornings and move towards a simple life of "rising with the sun."──I'm still a long way from reaching that state, though!