For years, we’ve been told that waking up early is the secret to success. From Jennifer Aniston, Michelle Obama, and Gwyneth Paltrow, to Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, productivity gurus and highly disciplined individuals have shared their impressive morning routines as the ultimate way to "win the day."
I decided to give the 5am wake-up a shot, believing it would help me get ahead in life. I envisioned mornings filled with energy, purpose, and the benefits of waking before the rest of the world. Instead, what I found was that this extreme early start wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
Everywhere you look, there’s someone sharing their morning routine on Instagram or in interviews. They meditate, journal, hit the gym, and tackle their to-do list—all before breakfast. It sounds amazing, doesn’t it? The pale violet stillness of early mornings, the idea of being the only one awake and “elevating your life.”
But let’s not forget, most of these routines are curated by people with support systems, like personal chefs or assistants to take care of the stuff we need to do. For the rest of us, who aren’t able to afford such luxuries, the 5am wake-up imposed a rigid schedule that wasn’t sustainable.
The idea of waking at 5am to “win the morning” makes sense in theory. With extra time, you’d think you’d be able to check off your tasks, feel accomplished, and tackle the rest of the day with ease. But when you force yourself out of bed after a terrible night’s sleep, it’s hard to feel exactly like a cheery good morning person.
I’d stumble into the kitchen, attempt meditation and journaling from 5.20am to 5.40am, then hit the gym. But even though I was synchronizing my workouts like the highly disciplined individuals, the routine started to feel like a fruitless coffee odyssey. I’d barely get through the day without feeling drained.
The problem with the 5am wake-up is the need to go to bed at 9pm to get enough sleep. This made my evenings feel rigid and lonely. Missing a night out or canceling a trip because “morning beckons” isn’t a fun way to live. Even an evening of merlot with friends felt like a risk.
What’s worse, the lack of flexibility left me feeling miserable. I often fell into bed after six whole hours of fitful sleep, only to wake up grumpy and drained. When I finally let go of the 5am routine, I realized that getting eight hours’ sleep was far more important than being a riser at dawn.
When I stopped trying to get out of bed so early, my life transformed. I still value a good bedtime routine, but I’ve shifted my focus to balance. Some mornings, I might sleep until 7am and enjoy a salted caramel Magnum for breakfast instead of forcing myself to “elevate my life” with meditation or a dance workout devised by fitness influencers.
What I’ve learned is this: Waking early doesn’t guarantee success. The benefits of waking at 5am can only be felt if you’re truly rested and happy. Whether it’s taking time for an evening of tennis or letting myself enjoy an extra hour in bed, I’ve found my energy improves when I prioritize rest and joy over rigid schedules.
Not all of us can or want to go to bed at 9pm like Gwyneth Paltrow, nor can we afford to ignore the realities of work, family, or life’s unexpected demands. The advantage of early rising works for some, but the truth is, most people fall somewhere in between extreme schedules.
If you’re considering trying a 5am wake-up, be honest about what you’re sacrificing. Will you feel closer to the poet William Blake, inspired by the “pale violet stillness,” or will you find yourself walking down your street at 5.15am wondering why you’re not still in bed?
For me, I found happiness in balance—not in a strict itinerary but in listening to what my body and mind need to thrive. The benefits of waking early might not be for everyone, and that’s okay. Sometimes, sleeping in and letting go of the pressure to “win the morning” is exactly what you need to truly win the day.