I know, I know…. another blog post about the benefits of waking up at 5 am…ugh enough already am I right?
Well, hear me out.
Unlike other blogs, I’m not going to tell you how waking up super early will turn you into a different person.
I’m not gonna tell you that because I personally like to be in the bed.
I don’t think of myself as a morning person and I don’t feel bad when I choose to sleep in.
BUT! I’m also not going to act like I haven’t noticed positive changes to my life ever since I started waking up around 5 am.
That would be a blatant lie because compared to the days when I would wake up less than an hour before I needed to be on my way to work, the early morning lifestyle is the one that I have come to prefer.
Which is why I hope to convince you that changing your wake up time can be a useful tool on the journey to your best self.
So, without further ado, here are the reasons why you should try waking up at 5 am as well as recommendations for how to successfully make it happen.
1. It Sets the Stage for Success Throughout the Day
One of the biggest benefits of waking up before sunrise is that it kinda becomes like the staging area of your life.
(A staging area is the location where the people & equipment needed to put on a production are stored and/or prepared).
This is your time to prepare for the production that is your day.
What you plan to do after you wake up can determine if the rest of that day runs like a hit Broadway musical or a kindergarten Christmas concert.
2. You’ll Get Some Much-Needed Quiet Time
(Speaking of kindergarten concerts… lol…)
Having plenty of time before the job starts and your children and partner wake up allows you to enjoy some peace and serenity, before all the crazy begins.
Consistent quiet time allows you to draw energy from which you can face whatever the day brings.
This one is important for everyone, but especially rings true for my introverts and those that are prone to sensory overload.
3. It Provides Space to Get in the Right Mindset
Another one of the advantages of waking up at 5 am…one of the main ones if I might add…is that it gives you the opportunity to frame your mindset.
Whether it be through journaling, meditating or affirmations, you get the chance to live intentionally and to proactively choose who you want to be that day (instead of just reacting to whatever comes your way).
In fact, there’s a study that shows that proactive people tend to be early risers.
(For weekly tools to help you reframe your mindset and work on your self talk, become a part of our email family!)
4. You’ll Be More Motivated to Achieve Other Goals
I have a friend that does a set number of push-ups and then just when he can’t do anymore, he cranks out one more “for the mind”.
One of the benefits of waking up early is that it reinforces your mental fortitude. It trains your mind. You learn how to motivate yourself to achieve, instead of waiting around for motivation to find you.
Waking up at 5 am won’t automatically bring you success; it’s a means to achieve your goals, not the ultimate goal itself.
It’s for those that are willing to push themselves because they really want “it”.
5. One Healthy Choice (Like Rising Early) Begets Other Good Choices
Ever heard of “keystone habits”?
Keystone habits are positive changes that lead to other positive changes in your life. Like a ripple effect.
Some examples are meditating, exercising, habit tracking and developing effective routines.
One of the most indisputable facts about waking up early is that it’s a positive habit.
So, by learning to wake up at 5am, you create a fertile environment for new positive habits to grow.
When you start seeing the positive effects that this new lifestyle brings you, it will motivate you to find other areas of your life that you can improve.
6. It Creates Time to Work on Passion Projects
It’s not a coincidence that most (if not all) successful people profess to waking up super early.
In fact, I built this very blog on 5am mornings (sometimes even 4am)! I was working a full time job that started at 8 am, and considering the responsibilities I had to my home, family and the time I need to decompress, the best time that I had to work on this passion of mine was those early mornings!
The early morning time, when the world is nice and quiet and your mind is crisp, is the perfect time for you to work on your purpose.
7. You’ll Sleep Better at Night
Naturally, the body is programmed to start waking up as the sun rises and start losing energy as the sun sets. The importance of waking up early is that you can align your internal clock with its native timing.
By waking up at the same time every morning, you’ll find that you get tired around the same time every evening and as long as you practice good sleep hygiene, you will experience a better quality of sleep.
It might be hard to fall asleep early when you first start but your body will adjust its internal clock with repetition.
Another tool to help you sleep better is to use the super soothing sleep sounds found on the Headspace app.
8. You Have More Time to Get Things Done
You know how people always wish for more hours in the day?
Well, when you wake up at 5 am, that’s the closest you’re going to get.
A couple of years ago, my morning routine consisted of cooking dinner around 6 am.
Why?
Because it allowed me to skip having to make dinner after work when I was already tired. Plus, it allowed me to spend the evening-time relaxing with my family instead of missing precious moments by being in the kitchen.
If you start waking up at 5 am, you will get much more done than the average person.
9. It Reduces That Rushed Feeling
Don’t you hate that disoriented and frantic feeling of waking up just a few minutes before you have to head out the door?
I remember waking up so late that I had to pick between eating breakfast, taking a shower or doing my hair. Even if I wasn’t rushing off to work and were staying at home, that’s no way to live.
By starting a 5 am morning routine, you get to bypass that stress and anxiety and move through life more peacefully and intentionally.
You get to seize the day instead of the day seizing you.
10. You’ll Enjoy Healthier Looking Skin and Fewer Dark Circles
There are also plenty of health benefits of waking up at 5 am.
You’ll finally have the time to do more physical activity. Exercise promotes healthy, glowing skin.
You are also more likely to eat breakfast and properly hydrate when you’re not rushing which means that your body gets what it needs to clear toxins and function optimally (assuming you’re eating healthy meals).
Finally, skin repairs itself during sleep so with a better sleep schedule and morning routine, you can anticipate a healthier complexion.
11. It Empowers You with a Sense of Accomplishment
There is no feeling more empowering than knowing that you successfully did a hard thing.
So, when you get up and do that workout, finish that skincare routine, complete that journaling prompt or finish that book, don’t be surprised when you are overcome with the feeling that you can do anything you put your mind to.
12. You’ll Feel More Confident
Similar to #11, getting up at 5 am will skyrocket your confidence.
When you wake up at 5 am, you will feel like you got a head start on the rest of the world. And that’s a great feeling.
Confidence comes from appreciating your own skills, ability and experience. Liking the way you do what you do. Confidence also comes from consistent wins.
When you start your day by conquering the temptation to hit the snooze button and then conquering your morning routine, it builds your confidence and give you the inspiration to continue winning for the rest of the day.
Tips to Wake Up Early and Actually Get Out of Bed
First of all, go to sleep earlier! I mentioned it before but I think I should say it again.
You might be tempted to enjoy the fun of a late evening while also enjoying the benefits of waking up at 5 am. But it’s very unlikely to happen.
You need 7-9 hours of sleep a night, so even if you do get up after a late night, you won’t be as alert. And if you’re barely awake, you won’t reap the above benefits.
So, practice good sleep hygiene and even if you find it hard to doze off when you first start, keep trying.
Now, here are some other concrete tips to help you get out of bed and stop using that snooze button!!
Think About Your “Why” When You Go to Sleep the Night Before
TRUST ME when I tell you this- waking up early is so much easier when your morning is reserved for something you love and look forward to. Something that you enjoy so much that by not waking up and working on it, you feel like you missed out.
What will be your “why” for getting up early?
As you drift off to sleep, get excited about it!
Set an Alarm and Place It Just Out of Reach
Oh the snooze button! It’s like kryptonite when you’re trying to wake up earlier.
One solution is to put your phone or alarm clock across the room (or in another room) so that you physically have to stand upright and walk to turn it off. This will get your blood flowing and make it less worthwhile to get back under the sheets.
Another (funny) solution is this running alarm clock on wheels that will jump off your nightstand and force you to chase it in order to turn it off!
Lay Out Your Clothes the Night Before
You need to know exactly what you’re going to do as soon as you wake up.
Reducing the number of decisions that you have to make when you get up will ensure that you save your willpower and focus for the tasks that you actually woke up to do.
Immediately Put Your Shoes On (No Slippers!)
The idea is to put on your shoes and get into a new environment as soon as possible.
Whether that be your athletic shoes to take a walk outside or casual shoes to run errands, it’s important to get out and away from that bedroom as soon as you wake up!
Wash Your Face First Thing
The shocking feeling of water hitting your face in the morning will increase blood circulation to your brain.
So, when you wake up, wash off any grogginess by washing your face.
Example of a Productive Morning Routine Starting at 5 AM
I’m assuming that you are finally ready to try waking up at 5. Awesome!
If you’re wondering what to do once you get up, I’m going to walk you through my typical morning routine.
Don’t try to model it.
Make your own that suits your life.
This is simply to give you a place to start.
- 5 am – Get out of bed & say a morning prayer
- 5:05 am – Drink 1-2 bottles of water while brewing coffee and deciding what to defrost for dinner later that day
- 5:10 am – Coffee while checking emails
- 5:40 am – Read and/or Gratitude Journal
- 6 am – Stretches
- 6:15 am – Shower & Brush teeth
- 6:45 am – Get dressed for the day
It can be that simple!
And if you’re looking for more examples, here are 39 other morning routines.
So if you were to ask me…why do I wake up at 5 AM?
I’d tell you it’s because it helps me on the journey to become the best me!
Like Benjamin Franklin said, “Early to bed, and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”.
Will you give it a try?
Make it a 30-day challenge and see where it takes you!!
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