I even beat him at the gym in the middle of the night

People in big cities, who are constantly working from morning until late at night, have created their own anomaly. They flock to fitness centers or gyms in offices, malls, and even residential areas at odd hours.

Coki Sandy (45) stepped steadily towards Anytime Fitness. He himself was accompanied by thumping techno or electronic music. Not in a shophouse, housing complex or sports arena, Coki wants to maintain fitness in a shopping center.

The doors to the mall in Bintaro, South Tangerang, Banten, were still open. The ground floor was deserted and dimly lit, but as you ascended the escalator, you could see the gym, still brightly lit. It wasn't a normal time, either, as he arrived past midnight.

Coki uses dumbbells, deadlifts, and leg strengthening equipment. He relaxes while exercising, alternating between browsing his phone. After two hours of sweating, the Pondok Aren, South Tangerang, resident relaxes.

"Even though the hours are odd, it's better than nothing," he said, laughing, Sunday (February 1, 2026). At dawn, drowsiness struck, and Coki dozed off for a moment. As morning approached, he immediately stepped on the gas again to tackle his agenda.

"It's true, it's really busy. Because of being so busy, exercise isn't a priority. It keeps getting pushed back until I can go to the gym. So, yeah, I just slip it in," he said. The IT company employee is burdened with increasingly long work hours. His free time is also dwindling.

"The world isn't doing well, really. So, I have a ton of work to do. Once I'm done, I'll exercise," said Coki, who has been a gym customer for two years. When asked whether it's healthy to stick with the fitness center's unique schedule, he admitted he rarely gets sick.

Coki never took medication. At most, he just took vitamins. Coki visited the gym three times a week on average. "Before, my body was vulnerable. I was sick almost every month. Often with the flu. Then, even though I exercised regularly, I would get sick every three months. Then, it became every six months," he said.

Once the flu had set in, bronchitis followed, making it even longer for him to recover. The gym, which was always open, was certainly a relief, as it helped Coki immensely. His immunity had soared, he couldn't remember the last time he'd been sick.

Most importantly, Coki is moving instead of just lying around. He also doesn't have to exercise in the morning, afternoon, or evening. "Like now, I don't want to sleep anymore, so I use my time to go to the gym. It actually uses up my energy to make me sleepy," he explained.

Coki believes in holistic health, which encompasses not only physical care but also a combination of calm and positive thinking. "I don't have to sleep eight hours straight. Even if I can't sleep for a few hours straight, that's enough for me. Then I'll sleep another two or four hours," he said.

Agung Setiawan (27) is also caught up in the mounting office affairs. When met, he had just finished his workout at FITX GYM Grogol, Jakarta, nearly at 01:00. The employee of the clothing warehouse then visited a small stall in the corner of the parking lot to order food.

Several other visitors were still coming and going from the imposing gym, which boasted several chairs in the lobby and an exercise room upstairs. "It was busy earlier because of overtime. So, I only just made it to the gym now. I have to go back to the office at 8:00," he added.

For almost two hours, Agung ran on a treadmill, swung dumbbells, and worked his leg muscles using leg presses. "The benefits are clear. Instead of staying awake until morning, I even went to the gym in the middle of the night," he said with a laugh, Friday (February 6, 2026).

He goes to the gym four times a week, each session lasting about two hours. Agung has become accustomed to training his body in an odd cycle. "If I don't exercise for a long time, say a week, my body will ache when I start exercising again. The important thing is not to take too long a break," he said.

The resident of Cikupa, Tangerang, Banten, used to frequent the gym near his home. Since the end of January, he's been working in Jakarta, so he's been looking for a new location. "The most unusual thing is, I arrive at 3:00 a.m. I'm having trouble sleeping, and it really helps. After being tired, I sleep soundly," he said.

People in big cities are increasingly becoming addicted to gyms, attracting those seeking opportunities, both domestically and internationally. "The prospects are good, so we're always expanding," said Wilson Kristian Sigalingging, Marketing Communications Officer for FITX GYM.

Since its launch in May 2025, FITX GYM has opened eight branches. Spread across Jakarta, South Tangerang, and Bandung, it has already gained around 10,000 members. The metropolitan lifestyle confines its residents, making time for exercise increasingly limited.

Many employees work overtime and want to rest before hitting the gym, meet up with friends after work, or feel bad about missing out on hanging out with friends. "They can't exercise from morning to night. In fact, some customers even have appointments with PTs (personal trainers) at 1:00 a.m.," he explained.

The Indonesian brand even offers unconventional amenities like barbershops, beds, and even nail art. "If you want to fall asleep after lifting weights, go ahead. The facilities are the same at all our branches," he said.

Customers are also free to enter any gym at any branch. Wilson also mentioned the romances that have developed among customers. "Many are dating, maybe dozens of couples. Who knows, you might meet your soulmate at the gym," he added, laughing.

Anytime Fitness, headquartered in Minnesota, United States, has been filling the fitness market niche in Indonesia since 2019. "There are currently around 60 branches in Jabodetabek, Bandung, Denpasar, Surabaya, and Semarang," said Marketing Manager of Anytime Fitness Indonesia, Riadi Arsandi.

In Jakarta, which never sleeps, for example, the gym is like an oasis for relaxing amidst the hustle and bustle of life. Workers living in Bekasi or Bogor, for example, can stop by in the early morning before cleaning up and catching the train to Jakarta.

"There are bathrooms at the gym. If you stop by in the middle of the night, you can go straight home and sleep soundly. So, there's no excuse not to exercise," he said. Consumers can visit Anytime Fitness at any branch, from domestic to international, thanks to its global network.

Principal Operator of Anytime Fitness, Sandra Ang, has partnered with the global franchise to open branches in Mampang, South Jakarta, and Harapan Indah, Bekasi, West Java, due to the rapidly growing public awareness of the importance of fitness. The branch in Mampang alone has already attracted around 800 members.

"In fact, it only opened in June 2025. The prospects are bright. My target is to open up to 15 gyms. In fact, I want them located in developing areas," he added. He's eyeing Depok and Bogor because Jakarta is already so crowded, including for fitness centers.

"At the gym, no matter what time it is, there are always people coming. Their motives vary. Some want to lose weight. Funnily enough, many are also heartbroken," she said with a smile. Sandra estimates that around 30 percent of her customers want to move on, or forget their ex-boyfriends.

At the very least, the energy they expend is still better than engaging in alcohol, clubbing, or drugs. Emotions are also converted to lifting weights. "Maybe they cry at the gym. When they remember their annoying ex-girlfriend, they become strong enough to lift a barbell," he said with a laugh.

Eka Widrian Suradji, a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Krida Wacana Christian University, views visits to the gym at irregular hours as not a problem as long as the schedule is consistent and rest needs are met.

Eka emphasized the importance of gym users maintaining their circadian rhythm and ensuring their bodies have sufficient recovery time. "If they sleep 6-7 hours a day, that's fine. For example, they could go to the gym from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM and then sleep until 7:00 AM," he said.