By Jan Vicente B. Pekas
Before we started going back to classes last week, we found out first our schedules. All our first periods the whole week start at 7:30 in the morning. After finding out, I knew I had to keep up the small habit I managed to build over the semestral vacation of sleeping early and waking up early. For now, after some days have come and gone, the early practice has proven helpful in minimizing my tardiness in class, at least for now.
I am honestly surprised by how early I wake up these days. For context, we had just come off rushing assignments and rushing review sessions for exams just weeks ago. This lifestyle of doing so much at once was not possible without sacrificing a healthy body clock. It became normal to stay up even till after midnight and I knew just how hard it is to adjust something within your body.
This was something I had to change while school was out, so I did gradually. I was waking up alongside the sun, but before it was already shining brightly.
This time, by going out early I started to see faces I have never seen last school term when I went out the house a bit later and had a more forgiving schedule. The weather too is different. I was more used to the hot sun greeting me as I go out late in the mornings, now only dark clouds and light rain accompany me from the moment I walk out the door.
Still, it feels good to wake up early in the morning and it became easier to sleep at night. I can definitely say, my body clock has come closer to a healthy one.
This change was definitely not achieved overnight. There was a “buwelo” needed or a wind up. If only we can achieve big things in an instant. Me waking up early consistently did not occur simply because I wished it so. There was the early practice during vacation. Old habits die hard so I only started adjusting the time I slept, bit by bit until I got it right.
To land a knockout punch you need a wind up, a “buwelo”. And to ensure habits are built sturdy and not easily forgotten or replaced, you definitely need to take the long road in building it. Even if smaller healthy habits make for a better life, what use is the drinking of many glasses of water today only to be replaced with soft drinks the next days.
Big things come slowly, but with the proper space for a “buwelo” even a semi-truck can climb mountains. **
