I joined the 5 AM Club. And I love it.
For those who don’t know, the 5 AM club is a concept started by Robin Sharma, where you wake up at 5 AM, do twenty-minute exercise, twenty-minute planning, and twenty-minute study.
It is his first book that I picked up and, whether you believe it or not: before I read the book, I never heard of the guy.
When I think back, I am pretty sure I was a part of the “The 5 AM Club” group on Facebook long before I knew it had anything to do with a book. I never actively followed the group, even though I accepted the invitation to join, and I never seriously thought about trying the “challenge.”
But then COVID-19 happened.
As the Universe would want it, I was on a business trip in the United States, and flying back to Europe meant I would have to self-isolate for 14 days. Even though I don’t consider myself an extrovert, the idea of being in the apartment for 14 days without actually feeling the sun was challenging.
I decided I’ll need some structure and organization.
I did not know what I was getting myself into. It wasn’t a concept I wanted to try for a long time but never had the guts to do. I did not hear a beautiful Ted Talk inspiring me to shake up my life and be more purposeful about my daily actions.
I was simply… curious. (Also, somebody shared a social media post about the concept, and it turned out I already owned the book.)
The idea of sprinkling some positivity over my mornings was luring me from my bed and onto my workout mat — I don’t regret a single thing.
“The 5 AM Club” is the only book from which I ever took notes. Except for school books and required college literature, that is.
Now, why did I take notes?
Because the knowledge Robin Sharma is trying to pass seems simple. Wake up early. Work on yourself. Give some love to your body, to your soul, to your mind.
But in reality, there is nothing simple about changing your everyday routine. That’s why being persistent matters. As Robin Sharma puts it:
“All shadows of insecurity dissolve in the warm glow of persistence.”
While I believe you can get amazing results from doing this for a month, I also strongly encourage you to try the recipe from the book: waking up at 5 AM for 66 days. (Read more about the science behind it here.)
People do things for various reasons. But knowing why YOU are doing THIS — that’s what will take you places.
Before I started waking up at 5 AM, I tried answering “Why?” 5 times in a row.
Why? — Because I need structure and organization.
Why? — To feel I am not going crazy.
Why? — Because I like the feeling of productivity and contribution.
Why? — Because that’s part of my happiness.
Why? — Because I’d like to see my happiness change the world.
I don’t think I would be able to do this if I didn’t have an idea of a “bigger” why. It wasn’t about merely waking up to do this thing I have to do (like, for example, when I used to wake up at 5 AM to study for my college exams). All of a sudden, it was about being a better human being and stepping into my power.
“Limitation is nothing more than a mentality that too many good people practice daily until they believe it’s reality. It breaks my heart to see so many potentially powerful human beings stuck in a story about why they can’t be extraordinary, professionally and personally. You need to remember that your excuses are seducers, your fears are liars and your doubts are thieves.”
And that means ALL of your life.
The first thing I noticed is the change within me. For a while, I was tired. Maybe even grumpy. There were days when I pushed myself out of bed, my eyes were red and puffy, and I hated the decision I made. But at the same time, I started being more proud of myself. I was keeping the promise I gave myself, and I knew I could count on myself. In return, my boundaries with other people became more potent and more effective. They weren’t suggestions, all of a sudden. My boundaries were there to stay because I knew I could rely on me.
That meant: change of friends, change of dynamic with my partner, change in the relationship with my parents. I started having less patience for excuses. I became more appreciative of people who pushed me outside of my comfort zone, who invited me to grow and who fueled my curiosity.
“Life’s way too valuable to hang with people who don’t get you. Who you just don’t vibe with. Who have different values and lower standards than you do. Who have different Mindsets, Heartsets, Healthsets and Soulsets. It’s a little miracle how powerfully and profoundly our influences and environments shape our productivity as well as our impact.”
Before I read the book, it never occurred to me to ask myself: “What kind of life do you want to have?”
No, not what you want to be when you grow up. I am not asking you about your job, your career, your results. I am not even interested in your friends or partners or parents. Only you can know the exact combination that will make your life fulfilled, and that will make you a happy and grateful human being.
But asking that question was something new and something completely unexpected for me.
It made me rethink… everything.
What type of lifestyle do I want to have?
What character traits do I want to embody?
What makes me truly happy?
What is my life vision?
While nobody can know the answers for you, I will be free to share one thing. The answer to those questions will dictate the type of people, jobs, and situations you accept. And that’s what will make your life.
“Living the same week a few thousand times and calling it a life. I need to tell you that too many among us die at thirty and are buried at eighty.”
An honest answer would be, I don’t know.
But I can tell you that joining the 5 AM club will make you rethink your ways and push you to move, reflect, and grow. It’s about more than spending 60 minutes on yourself every morning.
The philosophy behind “The 5 AM Club” is living life to its fullest, embodying all of the values you believe in and putting your actions where your mouth is. It’s about consistency, persistence, and personal happiness. It’s about being the best you can be so that the world can benefit from your unique talents and wonders hidden within.
I am not sure should you join, but I would warmly invite you to explore your potential. No matter your chosen way of doing it.
Thank you for reading my stories! 😊 If you would like to learn more about the work I do and follow my writings on what it means to be human, you can say hello on Instagram.
