Waking up early has changed my life.
I used to be the person who hit snooze three times before rolling out of bed. These days, I wake up at 5 AM with clarity and energy. It didn’t happen overnight, but it has become one of the most valuable habits I’ve developed.
And I am not alone.
Oprah Winfrey, Robin Sharma, Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, and Bill Gates all belong to what many call the “5 AM Club.” They begin their days early and with purpose. High-performing CEOs like Richard Branson, Indra Nooyi, Tim Cook, and Robert Iger also swear by early starts.
It is not just a productivity hack. It is a way of taking ownership of your time before the world comes calling.
So, if you have ever been curious about making the shift, here are five strategies that helped me transition into waking up at 5 AM consistently.
1. Put Your Alarm Clock Across the Room
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This one is simple.
If your alarm is next to your bed, it is far too easy to turn it off without thinking. But when you place your phone or alarm across the room, you have to get out of bed to switch it off. That movement changes your state. It sends a signal to your brain that it is time to begin.
I used to struggle with snoozing my alarm several times. Once I began placing it across the room, I found it much easier to stay awake after the initial disruption. I even started putting my alarm next to something that reminded me of my goals. A book, a sticky note, or my journal.
Takeaway: Action drives energy. Get your body moving, and your mind will follow.
2. Set an Intention Before You Sleep
This is not just about willpower. It is about programming your brain with purpose.
Before I sleep, I tell myself clearly, “I will wake up at 5 AM feeling fresh.” I visualize it. I imagine starting my day peacefully. Over time, this became a habit. Some mornings, I even wake up before the alarm.
Setting an intention helps you connect your conscious goals with your subconscious beliefs. It builds trust in your ability to follow through.
If you want to go a step further, write down your reason for waking up. Place it where you can see it first thing in the morning.
Takeaway: Your last thought at night shapes your first feeling in the morning.
3. Give Yourself a Clear Reason to Wake Up
Without a reason, waking up early becomes a chore.
I learned that I needed to assign a meaningful task to my early mornings. Something worth getting up for. It could be a work assignment, journaling, reading, or preparing for a client meeting.
One of my colleagues makes a habit of sending key proposals by 9 AM. He has no choice but to wake up early and get it done. That pressure works for him.
For me, it was about creating quiet time. No notifications. No interruptions. Just me and whatever mattered most that day.
Also Read: 4 Interview Questions You Must Ask Yourself Daily
Takeaway: Purpose pulls you out of bed more powerfully than any alarm.
4. Sleep Like You Mean It
You cannot expect to wake up early if you go to bed late and eat heavy meals right before sleep.
When I shifted to eating dinner by 8 PM and sleeping by 10 PM, everything changed. I woke up feeling lighter and more rested.
Staying up late watching shows or scrolling endlessly used to make me sluggish in the mornings. Now I wind down with music, journaling, or reading a few pages from a book.
Sleep is not a leftover. It is part of your success routine. Treat it like the starting point of your next day.
Takeaway: Good mornings begin the night before.
5. Start Small and Build Gradually
Do not try to wake up two hours earlier overnight. It rarely works and often leads to frustration.
Instead, begin by waking up just 15 minutes earlier than usual. Stick with that for a few days. Then adjust by another 15 minutes.
That is how I did it. From 7 AM to 6:45, then 6:30, until 5 became my new normal.
When you respect your body’s rhythm, it rewards you with consistency.
Takeaway: Lasting change happens when the body and mind move together.
What Do You Do After Waking Up at 5 AM?
That is the question everyone asks.
Waking up early is just one part of it. Using that time wisely is what makes the habit stick.
Hal Elrod’s framework from The Miracle Morning helped me structure my mornings beautifully. He calls it S.A.V.E.R.S.
S – Silence
Start the day in stillness. Sit quietly. Breathe. Let the noise fade.
A – Affirmations
Repeat phrases that ground you. Something as simple as, “I am focused and intentional today” can shift your energy.
V – Visualization
Close your eyes and see your goals. Imagine completing a project. Having a powerful conversation. Feeling strong and capable.
E – Exercise
Move your body. A quick set of stretches. A short walk. Even dancing to your favorite song counts.
R – Reading
Feed your mind. I usually read something that strengthens my thinking or inspires me.
Great resource: FocusU Book Nook – Your Essential Reading List for 2025
S – Scribing
Write in a journal. Reflect. Plan. Celebrate. This is your space to think with a pen.
This routine gives structure and meaning to the first hour of my day. I do not follow it rigidly, but even doing a few of these sets the tone beautifully.
Takeaway: A strong start creates a steady flow.
Why This Matters in the Workplace
Waking up early is not just a personal habit. It has changed how I show up at work.
I am more present in meetings. More thoughtful in decision-making. I give my team the best of me, not what is left after a rushed morning.
For anyone in leadership, learning, or people development, how we start our day deeply affects how we lead others.
Giving yourself time in the morning gives you control. That control turns into clarity, and that clarity spreads through your work.
Takeaway: The way you manage your mornings reflects the way you manage your life.
Also Read: Why One-Day Training Doesn’t Work
Final Thoughts
The 5 AM Club is not an elite group. It is simply a choice. A choice to begin your day on your own terms.
You do not need to be perfect. You do not need to start tomorrow. But if this idea speaks to you, try it.
Start by moving your alarm. Or by setting a clear reason to wake up. Build gradually. Celebrate small wins.
Waking up at 5 AM changed my life not because of what happened in that one hour, but because of who I became after it.
More focused. More intentional. More alive.
And that is something worth waking up for.
