The recent movement of young professionals pointedly waking up at 5 a.m. to knock out an early morning routine that prioritizes their health and mental well-being is very admirable. However, this trending idea of a ‘5 to 9’ extensive morning routine before a ‘9 to 5’ job could quickly lead to burnout and be detrimental to one’s mental health long term. This trend deems the 5 a.m. régime as the only road to truly be successful, upholding the demands of America’s current hyper-productive culture. It may be time to reevaluate. In reality, the implementation of a ‘5 to 9’ may only work for some people, as everybody is different.
While it might be rejuvenating to have your daily exercise and mindfulness routine out of the way, before you even set foot in the office, it could also be just as advantageous for your body to prioritize achieving your full 8 hours of sleep.
Social media influencers flaunting the ‘5 to 9’ before your ‘9 to 5’ lifestyle exhibit an extensive, well-rounded morning routine that they outline for their followers with various meditation, meal prep, or workout techniques. Oftentimes, these constructs echo ideologies from Robin Sharma’s book The 5AM Club that illustrates the concept of fulfillment derived from setting mindful, early morning habits before beginning your workday.
“Take excellent care of the front end of your day, and the rest of your day will pretty much take care of itself. Own your morning. Elevate your life.”
― Robin Sharma, The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning
Typically, these TikTokers only show their reflections on various mornings and not their suspected afternoon slump–or how they might curb it. It might be charming to romanticize the early morning hours, paired with your favorite TikToker’s gratitude journal, or envy another’s aesthetic to-do list with their cozy coffee. However, one also might be interested to see those same 5 a.m. influencers tackling a 4 p.m. meeting later that day. It is certainly possible and inspirational the balance that could be achieved, yet, realistically it’s important for young professionals to find a balance that works best for them in the long run. It is imperative to listen to your own body and rest when you need rest. Especially considering your body may need much more rest depending on where you are at in your monthly cycle – or what’s going on at work or in your personal life. Therefore, it’s important to highlight that this glamorized 5 a.m. ‘fulfillment deep dive’ is not for everyone—and certainly is not a make or break for what pegs someone as successful.
People reap energy differently. For example, someone might benefit from waking up to swim a few laps in order to feel energized before heading to work whilst another person may seek fulfillment in their late evening Zumba class. The early bird might gain an open evening agenda from having their exercise and chores crossed off their list before work, just as the night owl might enjoy their evening pickleball with friends and staying up for the late-night show rather than turning in for the night early—both scenarios could be equally enriching. That’s why the mentality that suggests the 5 a.m. club is the only road to success and fulfillment resounds with toxic productivity.
@marijose_hurtado Are you a morning or night person? is it a hot take? i think it is but im sure a lot of other ppl feel this was as well #5to9before9to5 #9to5life #5to9 #5to9routine #morningroutine #getteadywithme #trendsihate #5to9afterthe9to5 #morningshift
♬ original sound – ✨marijose
The pressures inspired from this 5 a.m. club mindset cloud judgement and could actually be counterproductive in nature for some working folks. Not to mention, people’s productivity levels vary throughout the day. Some folks may feel ready to rock it first thing in the morning and might find it beneficial to schedule meetings in the morning, then wind down throughout the day. Others may feel they get a second wind in the evening.
It’s all about finding what works best for you and your functionality and finding the schedule that’s best suited to highlight your priorities. Finding balance can be a challenge, but small self-improvements can be made daily, no matter what the time. It may be good to move outside the box that tethers society’s ideas of success to requiring your alarm to go off well before dawn. You can work to develop a well-rounded morning routine that identifies your needs best, on your own timeline.
What's Your Reaction?
