ADVERTISEMENT

After years of sleeping in, I started waking up at 5 a.m. and I'm blown away by how it changes my day

5AM club susie moore 1
  • Susie Moore is an entrepreneur and life coach who runs her own business. For years, she's woken up between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
  • After reading Robin Sharma's book, "The 5 a.m. Club," she challenged herself to start waking up at 5 a.m. and following Sharma's best practices.
  • In two weeks of sticking to the plan, she found she was getting enough sleep, accomplishing more than ever, and building healthier habits throughout the day.

The early morning has gold in its mouth ~ Benjamin Franklin

ADVERTISEMENT

A couple of weeks ago I got my hands on " The 5 a.m. Club " by Robin Sharma. A fan of his work (bestseller " The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari " is my go-to gift for friends), I was enthusiastic to read despite thinking a 5 a.m. start could never apply to me.

My typical wake-up time has been 8:00 to 8:30 a.m since I started working for myself full-time in 2014. As a pretty productive person, I never thought there was anything I needed to change and had only ever woken at 5 a.m. to catch a flight (feeling crabby as heck).

Until now.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hearing all of the benefits early risers receive, plus that fact leaders like Richard Branson, Tim Cook and Michelle Obama rave about early wake ups, my husband and I challenged ourselves to do it. Were now on week two of waking up to a 5 a.m. alarm clock and weve noticed some rapid shifts already.

For me, this is the biggest one. As a coach I know how self-discipline impacts self-respect. Sharma says, Getting up at dawn is perfect self-control training increasing self-control in one area of your life elevates self-control on all areas of your life.

Some nights when Id sleep restlessly, Id sometimes snooze till 9 a.m. (or even later) and was behind on my day the moment my feet hit the floor. Id switch stuff around, delay items on my to-do list for another time, even incur ClassPass cancellation fees for my workouts.

ADVERTISEMENT

Now I look at my to-dos and feel relaxed because, hey, Im up at 5 a.m. each morning theres tons of time! Trusting yourself to do something hard, like obeying an alarm clock that goes off when its pitch-black and cold outside, is making my life easier (so many hours in the day)! Im proud of myself every time I fire up the Nespresso machine at 5.05 a.m.

This is a happy and unexpected side effect. Because my goal is a 9:30 p.m. bedtime (Sharma preaches that sleep is essential), I dont stay out late or overindulge because I dont want to be tired the next day. It took two or three nights to adjust to this sleep time and Im really liking it. Im switching dinners with friends to brunches wherever possible! Seven and a half hours sleep seems enough for me, too even though Im used to more than that.

Producing has never been a problem for me. But the additional hours and focus an early start gives you is like adding gasoline to your day. Applying Sharmas 60/10 method working for 60 minutes straight without interruption followed by a 10-minute refuel in the form of a quick walk or just making tea and sitting on the sofa - has helped me complete projects faster.

ADVERTISEMENT

And I find myself grocery shopping and cooking at night (typically we eat out or order in). So its saving me money, too!

Sharma says, digital interruption is costing you your fortune and Im familiar with the depleted feeling of checking social media frequently throughout the day and constantly being reachable via email and text.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fully waking up first and applying the 20/20/20 Formula 20 minutes of moving, 20 minutes of reflecting and 20 minutes for personal growth ensures you start the day device-free while setting self-directed intentions for the day ahead (not living from the inbox out).

Ive been spending the 5:00 to 6:00 a.m. victory hour journaling, tapping (EFT), goal setting (another suggestion from the book writing down five things youd like to achieve that day), reviewing my longer-term goals, and reading a few pages of a personal development book.

As Sharma says, Tranquility is the new luxury of our society. In the tranquil early moments, youre not rushing. Youre not reactive. Youre able to think clearly, instead of having a rushed/stressed mind first thing in the morning.

Theres just something, too, about dawn that makes you feel a deeper connection to yourself no one is calling you at that time. Most of the world still sleeping. Its clear thinking time just for you.

While Im celebrating this challenge, I know that life as an entrepreneur without kids lends itself well to this 5 a.m. formula. I asked Sharma what hed tell new parents, side hustlers and employees with non-traditional 9-5 schedules and he said:

ADVERTISEMENT

Customize the 20/20/20 formula and 5 a.m. club to suit your lifestyle and read the chapter on the essentialness of sleep! Maybe you dont do it nights youre up at 3 a.m. nursing the baby give yourself a break. Doing the 5 a.m. club only three days a week is better than not at all.

Thirteenth-century poet Rumi said, The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you, do not go back to sleep. Understanding the magic of the dawn is ancient. And like so many of the thriving early birds out there, I like being in on the secret.

Susie Moore is a life coach and author based in New York City who has been featured on the Today show and Forbes. Sign up for her free weekly confidence tips via her website .

See Also:

ADVERTISEMENT

SEE ALSO: 6 bad mental habits everyone should unlearn, according to a life coach who teaches people to be happier

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended articles

Nigeria's central bank increases minimum capital base for banks

Nigeria's central bank increases minimum capital base for banks

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

Africa’s richest man Dangote stands between Europe and $17 billion in revenue

Africa’s richest man Dangote stands between Europe and $17 billion in revenue

After months of exchanging blows, Kenya and Uganda takes steps towards resolution

After months of exchanging blows, Kenya and Uganda takes steps towards resolution

Africa's first black billionaire could join $2.9 billion Vivendi bid for MultiChoice

Africa's first black billionaire could join $2.9 billion Vivendi bid for MultiChoice

10 most dangerous African countries in 2024

10 most dangerous African countries in 2024

ADVERTISEMENT