"Waking Up at 4:30 AM" The 20s and 30s Enthralled by 'Miracle Morning' [Heo Midam's Youth Report]

Young Adults Suffering from 'Corona Blue'... Rapid Increase in Depression Among 2030 Generation
Youth Sometimes Wake Up Early to Overcome Depression
Experts Say "Miracle Morning Is One Way to Relieve 'Corona Blue'"

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Pixabay

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] [Editor's Note] How is your youth remembered? From teenagers to college students and office workers, we share the joys and sorrows unique to 'youth.'

# Office worker Kim Mo (27) starts his day every morning at 4:30 a.m. After waking up early, Kim sits at his desk to organize his tasks for the day and does some light stretching. Then, with a warm cup of coffee, he focuses on studying for certification exams until his 8 a.m. work start time. He said, "I wasn't originally diligent. But as COVID-19 reduced my chances to meet acquaintances, my daily life felt empty," adding, "With no outlet to relieve stress, a sense of helplessness overwhelmed me. I thought I should at least keep my body busy, so I started waking up early." He continued, "It's been about a month since I started waking up early, and the sense of accomplishment outweighs the tiredness."

Recently, a 'Miracle Morning' craze has swept among young people. 'Miracle Morning' refers to using the early morning hours, free from interruptions, for self-development. For example, waking up 2-3 hours before the official workday begins to study for certifications or exercise. Experts emphasize that this method helps regain a sense of control over a life weakened by COVID-19.

The impact of COVID-19 has triggered a red alert for the mental health of young people. According to data submitted by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service to Justice Party lawmaker Lee Eunju, the number of people treated for depression in the first half of last year was 595,724, a 5.8% increase compared to the same period in 2019.

This phenomenon was especially pronounced among people in their 20s and 30s. The age group with the most significant increase was those in their 20s, with 93,455 people seeking treatment for depression, a 28.3% surge from 72,829 in the first half of 2019. The number of depression treatments among those in their 30s also increased by 14.7%.

The sharp rise in depression treatment among young people appears to be due to reduced activity levels and difficulties entering the workforce caused by COVID-19.

Jeon Mo (29), an office worker in his third month, also expressed feelings of helplessness due to COVID-19. He said, "I got a job later than others, so I was eager to do well. But since the company continued remote work, I had few opportunities to learn from colleagues," adding, "I felt a sense of self-doubt because I couldn't carry out tasks exactly as my boss instructed."

Given this situation, young people are striving for self-management to restore their disrupted daily lives. Among self-management methods, 'Miracle Morning' has recently gained attention. 'Miracle Morning' first appeared in a self-help book written by American author Hal Elrod in 2016. He stated that the habit of waking up early and spending the morning productively can change one's life.

On Instagram, there are over 270,000 posts tagged with '#MiracleMorning'. Photo by Instagram capture.

Miracle Morning-related content can be easily found on social networking services (SNS) and YouTube. Especially on Instagram, posts tagged with '#MiracleMorning' exceed 270,000, showing its great popularity among young people. They mainly post their wake-up times and morning routines.

Job seeker Lee Mo (25) also wakes up at 5 a.m. to start her morning routine. She said, "Due to COVID-19, I went out less, and my will to do anything weakened," adding, "If I don't plan my day systematically, time just slips away. So I deliberately wake up early."

She added, "The good thing about waking up early is that I can spend my day longer and more meaningfully. Also, just the fact that I woke up early gives me a sense of accomplishment."

This is similar to the past trend of 'morning person,' but the difference lies in the purpose being 'self-development' rather than 'success.' Those practicing Miracle Morning establish not only grand plans but also small personal goals like stretching or meditating in the morning. Although small, achieving these plans brings a sense of accomplishment.

Experts also analyze that young people are using Miracle Morning as one way to overcome 'COVID blues.'

Professor Kwak Geumju of Seoul National University's Department of Psychology said, "Young people have become lethargic due to COVID-19. With no jobs and reduced social interactions, they often feel down. Without self-regulation in such situations, they are likely to waste time. Therefore, young people deliberately wake up early to exercise and focus on self-development."