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Trying the 5 AM Club: My Experiment With Early Mornings

Productivity Discipline Habits Mindset
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Introduction

I’ve always been fascinated by routines that can transform how we think and work.
Robin Sharma’s The 5 AM Club proposes one simple idea: waking up at 5 AM consistently can give you a massive edge in focus, growth, and creativity.

Tomorrow, I’m starting my own experiment. I want to see what happens when I dedicate the first hour of my day entirely to personal mastery, instead of rushing straight into notifications, tasks, or distractions.

Why 5 AM?

The book emphasizes the “Victory Hour”—the first 60 minutes after waking.
This hour is divided into 20/20/20:

  1. Move (20 minutes)
    Exercise, stretch, or do something physical. Get your blood flowing and your mind awake.

    • The goal is to activate your body and trigger dopamine and serotonin for the day.

  2. Reflect (20 minutes)
    Meditation, journaling, or quiet reflection.

    • The aim is to train focus, gratitude, and self-awareness.

  3. Grow (20 minutes)
    Reading, learning, or skill-building.

    • Even 20 minutes of learning compounds over time.

The idea is simple: own your morning, own your day.

My Plan

  • Wake-up time: 5 AM
  • Morning routine: 20 min exercise → 20 min journaling/reflection → 20 min reading/learning
  • Adjustments: I’ll tweak the schedule based on energy, focus, and real-life constraints

This isn’t about being rigid. The experiment is to test the impact on focus, productivity, and mindset over the next few weeks.

What I Hope to Learn

  1. Discipline in action: Can I consistently wake up early without forcing it through sheer willpower?
  2. Mental clarity: Does starting the day intentionally change how I handle tasks, decisions, and creativity?
  3. Compounding growth: Can even small, repeated actions in the morning accelerate personal development?

I don’t expect perfection. The point is to start small, observe results, and iterate.

My Advice for Readers

  • Try the 5 AM routine for a week. Adjust based on your energy and schedule.
  • It’s not about copying blindly, but creating your version of the Victory Hour.
  • Keep it simple. Don’t overcomplicate. Focus on movement, reflection, and growth.
  • Track your progress. Notice how your mood, focus, and clarity change.

Key Takeaways

  • Waking up early gives psychological leverage—it’s your time without distractions.
  • Consistency matters more than perfection. Even 3-4 mornings a week help.
  • Your morning sets the tone. How you spend the first hour impacts the next 12+ hours.
  • Small, intentional actions compound. One day is nothing; two weeks show real patterns.

Next Steps

I’ll document my journey, note what works, what doesn’t, and share learnings along the way.
The ultimate goal: master your mornings, master your life.

If you’ve ever struggled with distractions, procrastination, or inconsistent focus, I encourage you to try it yourself. Start tomorrow, and see how your day changes.

References

  • Robin Sharma, The 5 AM Club
  • Personal Productivity Experiments
  • Morning Routines and Habit Science