I Tried Waking Up at 5 AM for a Month — Here’s What Happened

How a month of 5 AM wake-ups changed my perspective (and my snooze button)

Photo by Christian Buehner on Unsplash

For years, I believed I wasn’t a morning person. The idea of waking up at 5 AM sounded torturous, something only ultra-disciplined CEOs or marathon runners did. But I’d hit a plateau — professionally and personally. I needed more time, more focus, and maybe, just maybe, more discipline. So, I committed to an experiment: wake up at 5 AM every day for 30 days. Here’s what happened — spoiler, it wasn’t what I expected.

The Struggle Is Real

Day 1 felt like torture. I dragged myself out of bed, fumbling with my alarm clock like a zombie. My brain was foggy, and I questioned every life choice that led me to this point. I thought I’d be productive, but instead, I spent 30 minutes staring into space.

By Day 3, the novelty had worn off, but the exhaustion hadn’t. I realized I needed a solid plan. What was I going to do with these extra hours? Simply waking up early wasn’t enough if I wasn’t intentional.

Lesson 1: Preparation Is Key

That night, I mapped out a morning routine:

1. 5:00–5:15 AM: Stretch and drink water