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Been waking up at 5 AM for the past 2 years and it has really changed my life. Here are 5 reasons to get up at 5 AM, and also some tips on how to get started. | Join the 5 AM club.

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pugnaciousvagabond
August 13, 2017
930 upvotes
TheRedPill
So I have been waking up at 5 AM for the past two years and it has really changed my life, so I decided to share this post with you guys.
I believe that those who wake up early have a very clear advantage over the competition. While the competition is dreaming about success in the warmth of their beds, the early risers are up making shit happen. Here are my top five reasons on why you should wake up at 5 AM.

Reason One: It allows you to get into ‘flow’ | 1 AM

Have you ever been doing something with such intense concentration that it seemed that you and the activity started merging into one? Perhaps you were playing golf and felt as if the club was an extension of you. Hours probably flew by you as if they were minutes. If you have experienced anything like this you were most likely in the ‘Flow’ state. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi the psychologist who is behind the book ‘flow: the psychology of optimal experience’ describes flow as,
“Being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.”
The early hours of the day are a great time for us to enter the flow state, as distractions during the day are plentiful hindering our ability to focus.
We are entering an age of immense distractions where those who are able to focus will be rewarded. The ability to focus is now becoming an increasingly more difficult skill to have. Cal Newport mentioned this upcoming change in his book ‘Deep Work’ (must read), he said;
“To remain valuable in our economy, therefore, you must master the art of quickly learning complicated things. This task requires deep work. If you don’t cultivate this ability, you’re likely to fall behind as technology advance”
If you are serious about actually getting some focused work done, and creating some traction, get that alarm clock ready.

Reason Two: Removes Ego Depletion | 2 AM

‘Ego Depletion’ is a term that has been coined by scientists to describe the tendency for our willpower to deplete throughout the day. Many scientists believe that willpower is like a battery, the more you exert it the less you have to work with.
Some common things that drain our willpower throughout the day are:
• Filtering distractions
• Resisting temptations
• Suppressing emotions
• Doing things we don’t like
• Selecting long term over short term rewards
Some people, for instance, use up all their willpower to restrain themselves at work, only to return and unload on everyone at home. Many of us who have worked manual labour jobs often don’t want to do anything but chill when we get home. It’s not only the body that gets tired, but also the mind. Waking up in the morning helps you overcome this problem. Fresh out of bed you will have your battery fully charged and can begin work on your most difficult task. You can ‘Eat the frog’ as Brian Tracy used to say.

Reason Three: Morning Routine | 3 AM

To save energy the mind automates various things, this biological set-up has made it easy for us to become victims of our own habits. You must consciously implement the habits that will directly benefit you in life. A morning routine helps you do just that. It’s a list of things that you do first thing in the morning. My morning routine is:
• Read for an hour
• Meditate
• Cold Shower
• Begin ‘deep work’ on most valuable task for the day
If you can focus on implementing one crucial habit over the course of a few months, by doing it first thing in the morning you can change your life dramatically within a few years. People underestimate the power of good habits because they fail to understand the effects of small changes over time.
I recently had a dripping tape that managed to suck out an extra 24 litres from the water bill per day; this reminded me about how the small stuff can add up if you are not careful. Most people wake up and hit snooze, straight away allowing the day to dictate them. With a morning routine you are consciously taking control of the day, yes you might have work and other commitments but the morning is yours. The morning is sacred.

Reason Four: Time to think | 4 AM

Waking up in the morning allows you to have time to think. It is true that many of us think too much, however, most of our thoughts are random and lack clarity. The morning allows us to have quality uninterrupted time with ourselves, something that is hard to get during the day.
This time can be used for reflection and planning. We can ask ourselves some crucial questions that will give us some clarity about where we are headed. I like to consider the following each morning:
1. Am I on the path to hit the goals that I have set for myself?
2. Is this vision still alive or am I getting lost?
3. Am I living in accordance with my own personal values and ethics?
4. What am I grateful for?
5. If I was to die right now, will I be at peace? If not why?
You can come up with your own questions. The idea is to have a sense of clarity in regards to where you are headed. For many of us, we never get the time to really sit down and consider questions such as this. We might entertain them, but these sessions are always short lived due to the inevitable distractions of daytime. Without these periods of thinking and planning, there is no way I would have achieved any of the goals that I had set out for myself.

Reason Five: Psychological advantage | 5 AM

There is something about getting up early before most of your competition that makes you feel like you are on top of your game. It’s not uncommon for many athletes to wake up early in the morning to commence their training. Mike Tyson would wake up at 4 AM to begin his morning jog in the cold. Michael Phelps is in the pool by 6:30 AM.
I personally love getting up at 5 AM because of the sense of control you gain. When you wake up in the morning and commence your morning ritual, and get more done before 9 AM than most people do in the day, you can’t help but feel like a king. You can’t help but feel motivation for life when you start seeing consistent results.

Tips on waking up earlier

• Set your alarm to wake you up 10 minutes earlier each day until you get to desired time.
• Focus on going to sleep earlier.
• No TV or electronics in bed.
• Read a book or listen to music as you fall asleep.
• Avoid Preworkout supplements and Coffee after 5 PM.
• Have your alarm or phone under your bed or across the room to remove the possibility of hitting snooze.
• No midnight snacks.
• Darken your room so that there are no LED lights from phones and laptops. Darkness is your ally.
• Actually try
So what time will you be getting up tomorrow?
TL;DR : Waking up early is lit! It allows you to have time to form the necessary habits you will need to get where you need to go in life without the distractions of the day. You also have time to think, as well as plan ahead without disturbances.

Post Information
Title Been waking up at 5 AM for the past 2 years and it has really changed my life. Here are 5 reasons to get up at 5 AM, and also some tips on how to get started. | Join the 5 AM club.
Author pugnaciousvagabond
Upvotes 930
Comments 133
Date 13 August 2017 11:15 AM UTC (3 years ago)
Subreddit TheRedPill
Link https://theredarchive.com/post/45317
Original Link https://old.reddit.com/r/TheRedPill/comments/6tekxx/been_waking_up_at_5_am_for_the_past_2_years_and/
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Comments

[–]Scandinavianredpill345 points346 points  (29 children) | Copy

Just wake up at the same time every day and go to bed at the same time, no need to make that 5 o clock if it doesn't fit with your work, life etc.

[–]suaressi12 points13 points  (1 child) | Copy

but you can't get the feeling of coming outside, right before the sun rises, taking in the cool morning air and watch the world slowly wake up if you wake up at noon. its just not the same. witnessing that makes me feel great and gives me positive energy right at the start.

[–]Philletto0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

I work from home now (lucky me) but I used to be at work around 7:30 when many people came in at 9. Got work done before most people came in but the serenity of dawn set the day up. They were the best days. I was in calm control.

[–]Rooibosisboss51 points52 points  (12 children) | Copy

exactly, Hal Elrods The Miracle Morning really goes into this stuff and it's more just about starting your day earlier with a defined and productive routine which sets the trend for the day.

if you work say 3pm-Midnight well then maybe your "5am" is really just 12 noon.

Principle is still the same.

Me personally, I just got a new job I start literally tomorrow. My routine is up at 5 am (put alarm out of reach to avoid snooze temptation), drink a glass of water with vitamins, go to toilet, brush my teeth, stretch and meditate until second alarm at 5:25, I go do a circuit of weights exercises until 5:50 am. I shower and eat a light but protein and fat heavy breakfast, dress and off to work.

At night, when i get back from work I eat as soon as possible, 8pm start setting out clothes for next morning, make lunch and breakfast for the next day, around 8:45pm, read 2 pages of a book (not much sometimes i will read more, I'm currently going through the brothers karamazov which is super dense so 2 pages is like 10 of another), journal entry of my day and what i want to do the next, then meditate for 5-10 min. I try to get to bed by 930pm is ideal, but try for not later than 10. 7 hours I believe should be enough, if i feel it isn't i suppose I will find a way to try getting 8, but with 3 hours total commute time I need more time to do things.

Also Check out Jocko Willink in general podcast books etc, but look at his twitter he gets up at like 430 most mornings and posts it.

[–]Nostyx8 points9 points  (7 children) | Copy

I also have a 3 hour total commute time and feel like I have no time to do anything.

I used to get to bed early and get up at 5am, go to the gym, eat breakfast, shower and get ready to go to work. Lately I've fallen out of the habit and moved everything later, bed at midnight, up at 6:30 just to get ready for work and leave on time. I don't spend my evenings doing anything useful, just smoking weed and watching TV shows.

I am going to get back into the morning routine after reading this, it was way better for me and healthier, plus I haven't been going to the gym at all lately so I need to find motivation again.

Try doing "things" near to where you work before you travel home? Although then your tight evening routine gets fucked...

[–]read_if_gay_14 points15 points  (1 child) | Copy

Do you listen to podcasts or audiobooks or anything like that during your commute? Might be a good way to get at least something out of that time

[–]Nostyx3 points4 points  (0 children) | Copy

Yeah I listen to Joe Rogan sometimes, and if I am reading a good book then I will read the whole way there and back including the walk to the tube and then walk to the office. Half of the time though I catch up on emails for work, and do the Sudokus in the paper...

[–]BrodinsOats11 points12 points  (1 child) | Copy

Dropping daily cannabis usage will improve your amount of free time, ability to focus, sociability, and ability to endure negative emotion.

I would recommend focusing on that first, and then knock each of the other goals one by one.

[–]SovereignSoul768 points9 points  (0 children) | Copy

Exactly. And also don't forget: it makes negros and hispanics want to rape white women!

[–]Dream_Architect2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

Just imagine an extra 2-3 hours every day where you had time to do the extra important things. Have you ever heard of 'Mr. Money Mustache'? He has a blog and some podcasts. Big influence on my current areas of interest/ focus. One big tip he has is to work as close to home as possible, or if you need to work somewhere far then you should start to figure out how you could move to live closer to work. Like a 30-45 minute total commute.

[–]dexter190419810 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

Curious about the no electronic device rule slash read a book ideal...is that a definite no to kindle also?

[–]mushroom_overlord3 points4 points  (0 children) | Copy

Depends on the model, Kindle Fire is just a tablet with a ton of apps that can distract you but a basic Kindle reader shouldn't be providing any blue - light input (the light that triggers photoreceptors to send signals to keep you awake by my knowledge) and will be fine by my reasoning. If you only have a tablet for reading you can try to get a lighting adjustment program that doesn't emit blue light.

That said I'm just a biology student so my word isn't law but that's my grasp on the situation.

[–]dexter190419812 points3 points  (1 child) | Copy

Curious. What medication do you take to stay awake? Is it modafinil?

[–]Boovs4life 1 points1 points [recovered] | Copy

Good luck on your first day!

[–]KellsUser4 points5 points  (3 children) | Copy

Agreed.

I have narcolepsy. I typically wake up at 4:30 am 5-6 days per week (I work in construction) I take medication to keep me awake during the day, but fall right asleep as soon as I get home from my 45min-1hr 30min drive (depending on job site). Weekends I usually sleep 10-12 hours. I sometimes pull over to take naps on the way home.

I don't really have time in the morning to meditate, relax, or whatever else. I'm currently working 7x10 hr days, 45 minute drive one way. Our next one will be a 2hr drive from my house, 8hr days.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely HATE it. In fact, any advice would be appreciated.

[–]mushroom_overlord4 points5 points  (0 children) | Copy

My 2 cents is to embrace the suck until you have financial security to reduce your workload. Sorry about your narcolepsy but that's something for a medical professional to help with.

[–]1GroundhogLiberator0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

You have narcolepsy and you're allowed to drive? What state did you live in?

[–]KellsUser1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

I take medication to keep myself awake during the day. If I feel I can't handle the drive, (especially long distances) I pull over to sleep.

It's like if a truck driver were to pull over to rest after their work shift (exactly as I'm doing). Also, how else would I get to work? I'd rather not sit at home and collect disability or unemployment. It's perfectly safe for me to drive now that I'm under medical supervision.

However, it was because I was driving home one day and dozed off the side of the interstate, is why I began to seek medical attention. A few weeks of sleep tests later, I'm diagnosed with narcolepsy. I could have easily refused to do anything about it, if it meant I was going to lose my job.

I live in the state of Illinois.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

Personally, when I wake up and it's still dark out and everyone else is asleep, I get a massive boost of confidence and inspiration. No idea where this is from, but I feel like I'm the only one in the world who is willing to forgo sleep (i'm not really, I just went to bed earlier) to be a champion.

[–]beginner_1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Yeah came here to say this even though I actually do get up early. Important part is to get your 8 hours of sleep. If you get up earlier, you go to bed earlier. It's not like you get more shit done.

Studies have shown that a lot people have preferences when to get up and it's almost certainly genetic. So best is to figure out, honestly, what type you are and if possible adjust schedule accordingly.

Advantages for getting up early:

Assuming you don't go around "wasting" time after getting up:

  • no traffic (which saves time). Also applies when going home. This one alone saves me at least 30 min each day
  • few to no distractions at the office. you can get shit done, that requires concentration
  • few people at gym, when shopping, easier to make appointments as "border" hours are more preferred.

Disadvantages:

  • being on a different schedule than most people. Hard to meet up.
  • no night life or you miss out on sleep
  • being at work early means leaving early and everyone seeing it everyday. Gives an impression of slacking off. So your work must be truly impeccable or it must be part of the culture of were you work and you are not the only guy doing this.

[–]beta_no_mo2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

It's almost as if the discipline required for the task is more important than the task itself...weird

[–]Arabian_Wolf0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

Yup, especially shift jobs like in healthcare where each week different shift time.

[–]haikubot-19110 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Yup, especially shift

Jobs like in healthcare where each

Week different shift time.

 

                  - Arabian_Wolf

I'm a bot made by /u/Eight1911. I detect haiku.

[–]OneInAZillion0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Exactly.

Title of the post should be:

"Been waking up a few hours before I have go to work for the past 2 years and it has really changed my life. Here are 5 reasons to get up a few hours before you have go to work, and also some tips on how to get started. | Join the wake up a few hours before you have to go to work club."

[–]Jango666 1 points1 points [recovered] | Copy

Can confirm, military guy here and I wake at the exact same time everyday with no need for an alarm clock after a 4 hour sleep. Adjusting was hard but you have to keep at it.

[–]follow_that_rabbit6 points7 points  (1 child) | Copy

4 hours sleep is not healthy in the long run. It's ok if you are deployed in a combat zone and i know you guys can stay awake for a couple days but sometimes you need some shut eye. Researches have shown that if you persist in sleeping less than 6 hours a night for a long period of time, psychological problems may occur.

[–]suaressi3 points4 points  (0 children) | Copy

not only that, but sleep deprivation is terrible for your heart too

[–][deleted] 78 points79 points  (5 children) | Copy

I love your post, the cold showers are what changed everything for me. I found the 30 challenge and just sort of stuck with it. It's like waking up early it just takes commitment then its yours forever. Also if anyone is having trouble with a morning routine this has been mine for pretty much 6 months now.

  • Wake up get in shorts and T shirt
  • Turn on music and run out the door
  • Run 2-4 miles
  • Come back to coffee brewed, ice cold shower
  • Eat banana, eggs, yogurt
  • Get dressed for work

I am 45 minutes early to work every day, I get paid salary and love my job so its great to be the one who turns the motion lights on. I get a boat load of work done with metal blasting at 6am. This is like pure putting it to the grindstone work, or like the post says "Flow." Its equally as valuable as the other 8 hours of my day. Then I am more or less free to take those little work breaks to stretch at work, socialize, network etc. All the while still be almost an hour ahead of my colleagues.

Edit: Also I have been away for TRP for quite a bit and this post is the quality that drew me back in, so bravo OP.

[–]GBP4tendies24 points25 points  (4 children) | Copy

That is a hard-ass routine.

I would kill a baby to have a salary job I love. I was working salary for 3 years in bumfuck nebraska in a job I hated. It made me depressed. I fantasized about killing myself. But instead I quit the job, traveled europe for a couple months, and fucked bitches. Great time.

Now I moved to a part of the country way better and am happier, but took a giant pay cut. Working hourly and making half what I was before.

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (2 children) | Copy

If I did hate my job I would hate my whole routine. Live a life you love, not just parts of it, all of it. Also my mornings have evolved, it used to just be get up shower, go to work, I've been slowly adding stuff

[–]Boovs4life0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

The problem with me is i love fitness and moving around but odds are i won't make much money if i major in say kinesiology. I've been going towards the finance field for the "safer" route but to be honest i can't see myself working a desk job for the rest of my life.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

If you don't love what you do then your never going to excel in that field, which means your always going to compete for jobs, promotions, and it's always going to be half hearted because it's not fulfilling. I am interested IT because I like working with computers and there's loads of money in my field, however the thing that makes me work so hard is my coworkers. I want that contract, I want that client, that paycheck, I make it clear I am the best for the job Everytime. My father pushed me to use my head to make money, but told me never choose a passion because you'll burn out any resemblence of joy doing it. So I save my music and my cooking for hobbies. Get out of your career field if you hate it already, I can promise you no amount of money will make up for that time lost unhappy.

[–]suaressi4 points5 points  (0 children) | Copy

trust me, doing what you like doing or at least enjoy in some way is far better than being miserable and making double. i stuck in a job for 8 years, it was cake job, easiest shit i've ever had and paid well. but i was never challenged and the environment at the workplace was rather toxic. i stuck around because i was comfortable.

then i quit and went traveling. came back to the states, pretty much broke, tried finding work, but no luck. then one thing led to another and i now work for myself, with my own schedule. my pay differs on a daily basis and i make much less than i used to, but i budget well and i'm actually able to stash away more money than i did before. the uncertainty of knowing whether the work will keep coming or not keeps me at a less comfortable level, but it also makes me feel alive and i'm much happier now, even though i make less. also, i make my own schedule so i do whatever the fuck i want and don't have to listen to anyone's shit. that's priceless.

[–]anabolic9217 points18 points  (5 children) | Copy

During this last entire year I was also waking up at 5 AM in order to train before work (8 AM).

The only bad thing I did was to sleep just 5h, because I got home at 11:00 PM, eat+clothes for tomorrow, etc made me go to sleep at 12:00.

This year has been though, but I gained one year of experience in a reputable company while getting my master degree and probably being in the best shape of my life.

Now I have a very good offer because of my Masters in another country where I want to keep this routine but going to sleep earlier (getting 7-8h at least).

I am still not happy though and have to still work on a lot of stuff.

Good things I got from this:

  • Working out the first thing in the morning made me be more fresh (bad thing I needed a PWO or coffee so bad to perform).

  • It makes you feel like you are ahead from a lot of people regarding time, you've made so much while people was probably sleeping because they were until 2 AM watching TV or playing games.

  • Living in one of the most crowded cities in the country and seeing that when I left home by 5:30 AM was completely empty(almost) gave me a feeling of peace and lonliness at the same time interesting to analyze.

  • People respected me when they knew my routine, they knew I was a hard working person wiling to put effort in my goals(specially at work).

[–]J-Barron8 points9 points  (2 children) | Copy

an apple or healthy snack for breakfast is significantly better than coffee, coffee in general is terrible for energy through the day

[–]anabolic922 points3 points  (1 child) | Copy

Yes but I needed the caffeine boost in order to perform in the gym.

[–]SullyBeard2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

I do 180g of banana and preworkout before my gym. 6 am for me as the gym doesn't open earlier. Sometimes you need the caffeine.

[–]RoxoViejo6 points7 points  (1 child) | Copy

Dude make sure you have a balance in life. I have lived a rhythm you discribe for a few years, and my health suffered eventually. You sound like you think you can get happiness from externals, while truth of the matter is that there will always be things you can't control. Set goals, but let one of the goals be that you get enough sleep and watch out for your general health.

[–]anabolic924 points5 points  (0 children) | Copy

Yes I know this sustained lifestyle would have been bad. But it was partially good, it kept my mind busy from my depressive thoughts.

Sometimes, I was so busy during all the day that I almost forgot about my depression, but it was still there.

I am now trying to fight my depression, but I would like still to wake up early in the morning and get stuff done, sleeping more hours as well.

[–]2dfx12 points13 points  (0 children) | Copy

This shouldn't be taken as blanket advice.

For those of us that work late, this doesnt really apply. Getting the right amount of sleep so you wake up feeling rested to give you the mental focus to be at your best every day is far more important than saying "wake up at 5 you pussy".

[–]H42 1 points1 points [recovered] | Copy

I had a morning paper route as a teen. Wake up was 4:15 am, 365 days a year. It set my clock for life, I'm Morning Man!

The main drawback is your social life. Most of my adult life had me falling asleep at 8:30 pm, 9:30 at the latest. I can fall completely asleep in 15 seconds. Now, I wake up mostly at 5:30 am or so, and get to bed around 10 pm.

Because sleepiness overtakes me so early, it makes a social life much more difficult, as the girls that want to fuck tonight, think going out before 11 pm is too early.

I do my best thinking early. There are no distractions, no phone calls, no interruptions. Just me, my espresso, and the computer to get shit done.

[–]MoarPill27 points28 points  (0 children) | Copy

Pick up chicks at book clubs

[–]Bradleyhann192 points3 points  (1 child) | Copy

You can fall asleep in 15 secs wow. I wish it takes me usually 15 mins to 1 hr on average to fall asleep

[–]ShagrathBG2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

This is my issue. Takes me more than an hour to fall asleep and going to bed earlier doesn't seem to work. Also if i wake up during the night (for toilet or something), it's another hour or more until i fall asleep again. This is probably the reason i didn't get any results from lifting. Melatonin didn't seem to help either, it makes me sleepy but doesn't actually make me fall asleep. Wonder if anyone has overcome this shit?

[–]hb8only 1 points1 points [recovered] | Copy

with the life like this you can be in prison and have more fun

[–]Phoenixtorment21 points22 points  (7 children) | Copy

So at what time do you go to sleep?

[–]read_if_gay_17 points18 points  (4 children) | Copy

You just go early enough so that you still get enough sleep, which is different for everybody.

I've been waking up at 6AM everyday for roughly half a year now and I go to bed at 10PM. Before that I used to go sleep whenever I felt like it, which usually was around 3AM. Woke up sometime around 11AM.

I expected the short evenings to suck when I began going to bed early, but in reality I ended up getting 10x more shit done early in the morning than I did late at night, so that tradeoff is worth it for sure. You're obviously gonna get tired early though when you go out partying unless you sleep in that day, which kind of fucks with your sleeping rhythm, but you can deal with that unless you wanna go out all the fucking time, in which case you're probably not the kind of person who'd want to wake up early to get more shit done anyway.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (2 children) | Copy

So I'd have to go to bed at 8pm. So much for night game.

[–]read_if_gay_0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

8PM is tough, that'd probably be too early for me too. What time do you aim to get up in the morning?

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

5am. I am pretty sure I am genetically a long sleeper (9hrs).

[–]SullyBeard0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

I wake up at 520 every morning, go to bed at 920, so I'm asleep by 940. I get the 7.5 hours I've learned need to sleep. Back at my old job I got up at 420 and went to bed at 820. Same routine.

[–]WastedPotential69 points70 points  (15 children) | Copy

God, another one of these "I get up before the roosters and you're a loser if you don't" posts...

I have experimented with sleep, diet, routine, exercise, and a hell of a lot more for over 10 years, and even got up at 6am every day (including weekends) for a few years.

All it did was make me feel like complete shit and dread the thought of tomorrow morning.

I am not a morning person, and I never will be. And that's fine.

I am much, MUCH, more productive as the day goes on, and once it hits 8-10 pm its like a lightswitch flips on in my brain and I'm more awake than I have been all day.

I've found what works for me, and everyone else should do the same.

[–]evel33314 points15 points  (1 child) | Copy

Before marriage and children, I used to work 1pm to 11pm shifts. My bedtime was consistent and most of all I allowed my body to wake up naturally without an alarm clock. That made all the difference for me. I can't remember a more healthier and happier point in my life.

[–]Way_Of_Man0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

I allowed my body to wake up naturally without an alarm clock.

This is scientifically proven to be the best method of sleeping for cognitive function and overall well-being. The best of the best is if you supplement a night of "free sleep" with a similar nap 7-9 hours after you wake up.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children) | Copy

Not sure that type of judgement was part of his boast? If you found what works for you, that's all anyone can ask for.

There's just a generation of who hit snooze 3x/morning and don't know why.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

Theyve done lots of studies on conscripted soldiers that say morning person is real, people who went up early before conscription continued after, while those who didnt stopped after conscription. 1-2 years is the average conscription time so the pattern would have been engrained, so it is a pretty solid assumption that not everyone will enjoy getting up at 5-6 by virtue of their genetics.

[–]Way_Of_Man2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

I am not a morning person, and I never will be. And that's fine. I am much, MUCH, more productive as the day goes on, and once it hits 8-10 pm its like a lightswitch flips on in my brain and I'm more awake than I have been all day.

Kindred spirits in the sleep department.

I have two "on" times of day. Late morning-early/early afternoon and I hit a second rush of productivity from about 10pm-1am. I can "re train" my body to accept different schedules, but I never feel optimized on those schedules.

People still feel inclined to tell me that that will change with "age". I'm north of 35 now. I don't think my sleep pattern is going to substantially shift until old age.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (3 children) | Copy

Yup, same here. Getting up at 5 and doing my workout super early just leaves me desperate for a nap all day. If I sleep how my body wants me to sleep instead of trying to impress my grandfather with how early I can get up, I can get so much more stuff done.

[–]5559theman2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

I've done both. I used to get up at 4:30 and run up the local mountain in my late teens. I had a routine of doing that, then going to school, and going to bed around 8 or so... Felt amazing during that time, but I'm not sure if it was because of the routine or because I felt motivated to be better. In any case, I don't plan on waking up that early nowadays haha that's for sure. I think the key to making it good is going to bed early, otherwise you're just losing sleep

[–]NizzoFoShizzo4 points5 points  (1 child) | Copy

I'd rather be productive than be early. Logic tells me I can do the exact same things in 8hr window whether I wake up at 5am or 8am.

[–]drawmuhammad0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Please no logic here, you'll get downvoted or simply get your message removed.

[–]DarkSouls_Prexus0 points1 point  (2 children) | Copy

You sound exactly like me, have you looked into Delayed Sleep Phases Syndrome?

[–]WastedPotential0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

I've read a bit about it, but never taken it beyond "hmm, that's interesting". I definitely think my sleep preferences are on some level biological, and not habitual.

[–]DarkSouls_Prexus0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

It is biological. Cyrcadian rythm is pushed forward. Check it out

[–]Rat_of_NIMHrod8 points9 points  (0 children) | Copy

I have always preached that a person should wake up at least two hours before having to do anything.

I have lived the 5am club for stretches at a time. It's true that there is something special about being ready before the world is ready. Showing up to work mentally sharp and prepared for the day while your coworkers drag in yawning because they woke up an hour ago is a great feeling.

At one point I had a job that required I be in at like 7am. After a couple weeks of getting up at 5, I stopped needing an alarm clock. For over a year I never set an alarm and never showed up late.

[–]MrSaiyan_333_14 points15 points  (7 children) | Copy

How to wake up so early if you go out at weekends?

[–]Red_Faust9 points10 points  (1 child) | Copy

Wake up early (though maybe not so early as usual), then take a nap at around 12:00 or whenever suits you better, as to recover some sleep but not so much that your sleep pattern remains disturbed and you stay up late that night.

Or push through the day, then go to bed a little earlier than usual.

Usually what I do is to take a nap the day I'm going out (so I have more energy at night) then wake up early (but not too early, later than usual, say 4-6 hrs sleep), push it, and go to bed a little earlier.

[–]MrSaiyan_333_1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Thanks, that sounds reasonable.

[–]do_it_or_leave14 points15 points  (0 children) | Copy

This is the hardest part for me. I can keep up until I go out and return 7am on the Saturday. My routine is broken and I am back to my natural routine of waking up 8am.

[–]benderiu2 points3 points  (2 children) | Copy

I may be an anomoly, but when i go out it makes getting up very early easy. Something to do with a cortisol rush when the beer us gone I presume. Anyone else?

[–]MisterMisfit2 points3 points  (1 child) | Copy

I read somewhere that as the alcohol effect diminishes, your body gets jolted back to being awake. Problem is that you don't get REM sleep, and need to sleep early the next day or take a nap to make up for the low quality sleep.

[–]Only1LeftWithPadding1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Can confirm, suffering with this now

[–]Mn2147 points8 points  (0 children) | Copy

Great post, thank you for sharing. One thing I've discovered is that listening to my current favorite music while having my morning coffee enforces a positive feeling regarding waking up early, I find myself looking forward to waking up each day before bed.

[–]WolfofAnarchy14 points15 points  (0 children) | Copy

6AM is better. This way you go to sleep at 10:30, which is much more manageable.

[–]HappyNacho4 points5 points  (0 children) | Copy

In how many subs do you spam your content?

[–]NibblyPig12 points13 points  (1 child) | Copy

Step 1 have no social life by being in bed by 10pm

[–]1GreenPiller12 points13 points  (1 child) | Copy

Disagree, lost a lot of women and friends because of this. I had to go to sleep around 9:00 pm.

[–]PanzerBatallion[🍰] 6 points7 points  (0 children) | Copy

This is why I get up at 4am, to get an hour headstart on those lame-ass 5am fucks.

[–]Acropoe2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

woo already in the 5 am club before reading this post! Early bird bout dat worm!!

[–]emaciated_pecan2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

You either own the day or the day owns you. If you wake up at 5AM you're pretty much locking in what the day will look like and consist of.

[–]Shakydrummer2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

I've been on the 5:30 am wake up and do 7 to 3. Gotta say, I have never in my entire life been a morning person. I've forced myself to get a solid 8 hours sleep and I still will show up to work a complete zombie until noon rolls around. Trade off is I love the freedom to work on things that are important in my life cause I get so much more time out of my day. Flipside though, the only time I'm truly rested and at my most productive is on the weekends where I can sleep on my terms without a schedule.

[–]TheDeadlyZebra2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

I work the night shift, but thanks for the advice.

Also, my dad always got up around 4 or 5 AM, just to watch TV and not much else.

[–]OldBirdWing2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

I woke up at 5 all summer and did not feel an advantage

[–]Hector_Castillo2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

I'm a night owl myself, so I see why people are saying "wake up at whatever your 5 a.m." is, but there is something magical about waking up early. Rising with the sun naturally feels better. Not sure why. Maybe it's in our blood or it's fucking magnets or something retarded like that.

I'm more productive at night than the day but I think that's confirmation bias. Whenever I do wake up early in the day, I'm quite productive, it's just I have a small sample size since I don't do it often.

I'm strongly considering making this a habit. Great post.

[–]DwightWolftail4 points5 points  (3 children) | Copy

The most important problem I've found out by waking up without an alarm, is that it takes a whole lot longer to focus on something. When you wake up early and by alarm, you feel the discomfort, but if you have slept even moderately, you are a totally different person in regards to productivity .

Still I find it really difficult to wake up early. Especially in the summer .

[–]albino_red_head5 points6 points  (1 child) | Copy

Same. Summer for whatever reason and have a difficult time getting up early. I always thought it'd be the opposite as it's light out early. But over the years, every summer it's a struggle.

[–]Zebleblic0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

It's light out a lot latter too. It's still light here at 11pm around the solstice.

[–]dgillz2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

I am a huge believer in this. I wake up round 5:30am every day and have never used an alarm clock. I am late maybe once every 2 years. Your body knows what time it is if you trust it. I also do great on 6-7 hours of sleep.

Also being a self employed developer/support tech, it is great to get 8 hours in by noon. Then I can go fishing, work out, whatever (not every day of course, I have 12 and 14 hours days like anyone else) but it does provide me with a great deal of freedom.

[–] points points | Copy

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[–]Maout1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

This. Get up at 4 cause works at 5. Don't get off til 5 pm, go to gym, use preworkout. Go to bed at 10. FBGM

[–]Armydude195 points6 points  (1 child) | Copy

Fuck that shit, I woke up at 5am every fucking day for a few years. Felt like shit even going to sleep at 9-10pm. Never doing that shit again if I don't have to.

[–]grandaddychimp0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

I can't do it either. I woke up at around 5 when I was in high school. No matter how much sleep I got, I was always tired. On the weekends when I could sleep in I felt fantastic.

[–]henryuuk1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

I tend to go to sleep around that time...

[–]Abnull1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Studies show that those who believe they have infinite willpower, have infinite willpower. The whole "willpower is a battery" was disproved some time ago.

Only people who believe in limited willpower get willpower fatigue.

[–]unique_leek_critique1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

So what time do you go to bed if you're waking up at 5am?

[–]FudgingEgo1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

What time do you go to sleep?

[–]H3yFux0r1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

I been starting work at 6am for 20 years then changed jobs to one that stated at 9am holey hell I'll never go back.

[–]Gurisito1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

• Have your alarm or phone under your bed or across the room to remove the possibility of hitting snooze.

^ This.

Also, go to bed when you feel sleepy, so your body learns that bed time is negotiable, but wake up time is not.

[–]white_girl_lover1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Eating healthy (avoid mostly processed foods) helps me immensely with waking up early without that groggy feeling

[–]shakespeareSMG1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Dan Reid's book The Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity explains why you feel better when you rise early.

It had to do with the amount of negative ions in the air--which are healthy.

Rising this early puts you ahead of the traffic before cars belch out the CO2 that converts the air to positive ions.

Positive ions bad; negative ions good.

Whatever it is, I have always found that waking early just feels good. I am more productive.

Let's make it 6:30 though.

[–]iguy221 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Lol at 5am. Better get on that 2am master race time. I got 3 hours on you boyo

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

I've tried this pretty thoroughly and have found that genetically I must be a long sleeper (9 hours optimal) and have found that getting up at 5 am means massive lulls in the afternoon, undermining the supposed productivity boost.

Also, 9 hours sleep really helps my lifting.

[–]MisterRoid1 point2 points  (3 children) | Copy

I can sleep 5h and feel great if I wake up at 11-12, but I will feel like shit if I sleep 8 hours and wake up at 8, even though I prefer to get 8h of sleep. Being forced to get up at 6:30-7 for work has not changed that. I can't imagine how bad I would feel if I had to get up at 5. I would probably be in a constant state of fatique and die of a heart attack within a year.

[–]Surf_Or_Die3 points4 points  (2 children) | Copy

Evidence suggests that some people are "night owls" and some are "early risers". The theory is that a tribe needed both types of people to make sure that somebody was always awake so that rival tribes or beasts couldn't launch a surprise attack on the tribe. So it may very well be genetic, just like the amount of sleep you need.

[–]MisterRoid0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

Yeah, it's very interesting how sleeping works. Another phenomeon I find strange is how I often seem to wake up right before the alarm goes off. It's as if the brain subconciously tracks the time by the minute.

[–]Surf_Or_Die0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

It is indeed, it's still largely a mystery. We're not even exactly sure why we need to much sleep yet. It may simple be that docile humans not moving at night had a lower chance of being detected by predators like saber tooth tigers etc. Although that doesn't explain why you die if you don't sleep.

Same deal for me! On weekends I always wake up at 8 feeling refreshed. On weekdays my alarm is set for 6.30 but I don't need it. At 6.25 my brain goes "get up". It's strange.

[–]supamanpasta3 points4 points  (0 children) | Copy

This only works if you work a traditional 9 to 5.

[–]mrphilip11 1 points1 points [recovered] | Copy

Pass. I'll keep rocking out of bed at 11 thank you very much.

[–]NizzoFoShizzo0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

All I read ITT is chest pumping about earlier is better, be my guests. I'll hug your wives at 11pm.

[–]crazy99boi0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

getting to bed earlier will be my biggest problem. I tried going to bed at my usual times ( 1-2 ish) and getting up at 6. Not a good idea. by day 5 i was a mental wreck.

[–]Jakei340 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

I have to wake up at 5 am for school. Been doing this for years...

[–]Red_Faust0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

If you take a nap in the middle of the day you can wake up earlier, stay up late. As, say, 6 hr sleep at night and 90 minutes nap, makes for 7.5 hrs total.

Also people who do biphasic sleep claim that 4.5 hrs at night (3 sleep cycles) plus one 1.5 nap during the day (1 cycle) is enough.

I've tried this with varied subjective results at some periods, but at some point it started conflicting with my schedule, so I stopped. Might try again one of these months when I sort some other pending stuff in my life.

[–]SlyAM0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Starting a new job tomorrow and I'll be getting up at 5:30/6:00am everyday. It's gonna be tough but for some reason I'm excited to be getting up early again instead of sleeping till 11:00/12:00.

[–]SilverGryphon0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

I have to wake up at 5:30 am due to my job anyhow.

[–]Kid_Koon0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Been doing it since I was in boarding school.

[–]rolledrick0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

https://youtu.be/Vuw_GUvL-sE?t=34s

[–]blackedoutfast0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

sounds good fam. but i go out partying a few times a week and frequently dont even get home until 5am.

[–]grandaddychimp0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Getting 8 hours and going to bed and waking up at the same every day is FAR more important than waking up at some arbitrary time every day.

[–]mr_wiffles0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Word of caution: be sure you aren't a victim of a circadian rhythm disorder before doing this. They are quite real and often genetic; see your doctor or a sleep specialist for details.

[–]sternje0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Once you adjust your internal clock and get into a rhythm, it's not that hard.

[–]Demonocracy_0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

I really want to implement this (say 6-7 AM) walking up but I'm at college. My friends go out at 11 pm and go back at 3-4 P.M. Even if I go out once a week (which is already too low for a college student, say twice is more acceptable) and follow this, I would have to wake up later the next day, messing up with my schedule, unless i wake up early with like 4 hours of sleep which will mess up my whole next day being an unproductive sleep deprived zombie and then either I'll hate going out or I will mess up the schedule. So it's either no social life or no waking up early (which I really want to implement) what's a pragmatic solution here?

[–]biezpiens0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

I'm lifting daily, going sauna daily, taking cold showers daily, but one thing I can't do (yet) is wake up at freaking 5 am.

[–]shmog0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

What you failed to demonstrate is how being awake before your competition is better than being awake after your competition sleeps? A morning routine is important, but what about your night life? 5am starts are quite anti social if you don't want to wake up feeling like shit. I'm against depending on an alarm to wake up

[–]JorixKienu0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

That is a great new habit to develop but I have some questions for OP.

What if you have to attend (and / or you want to participate) to some social event in the evening / night? I mean some social gathering that actually start around 9:00 PM and last past 12:00 PM ? ( Actually later when you count travel times ) ?

It is best to cut ( don't go) to an event like this or it is better to attend for social recreational value and associated social connection generated?

How much damage to an early morning routine like this will do to attend and then to go bed sometime like 1:00-2:00 AM ? What if it is a recurring event ( like every week)?

I don't want OP to choose for me what I do or I do not do in my own life, I'm only asking some insight from someone who have done it before ( from OP or from someone else who choose to be an early waker). I think that someone else can have this situation and what I'm asking is how you personally and practically handle this.

Thanks for any comment.

[–]zayelion0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

So what time will you be getting up tomorrow?

6:50am

Personally I wake up at 7, get out of bed by 8, to work by 9. Get home at 530, eat, asleep by 7, my body then wakes me up around 10. Then I go back to sleep around 1am no later than 2.

This is gonna be hard.

[–]lionsling0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

i go to sleep around midnight get up at 8am, feel optimal all day

[–]XxxWolfXxxx0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

I've been waking up at 5 since I was 16, I'm 25 now. It's no big deal...

[–]FREEDNA0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Fuck the sun. I sleep during the day and do my shit at night.

I have zero energy during the day... at night I have to be up doing things.

[–]Kannot0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Good shit.

Always nice to see actual helpful advice in a sea of unproductive resentment and bitterness.

[–]Lesic0 points1 point  (2 children) | Copy

There are 4 hours from 5 am to 9 am. That is a part time job work day. Remember how many times you woke up at 9am when you could have with no problems woken up at 5am.

[–]Vargurr6 points7 points  (0 children) | Copy

Except being tired as fuck the whole day, OK.

[–]notthegreatestcatch1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Only if you go to bed at 8:30.

[–]Fulp_Piction0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Some of these things are just good things to do. You can wake up with a 'fully charged battery' anytime, I can give myself time to think whenever I want, there's nothing special about earlier in the morning, you're clutching at straws.

There's definitely some psychological benefits to it but if you buy into the whole 'I get up early so that makes me a winner' mentality then what happens when you can't get up at 5AM? You'll spend that day with doubts because you didn't beat your first challenge. Be careful.

Get up whenever you want, just move forward, there's no tricks or secrets, just do what you know you should be doing for most of the day, do that most of the days in a week for most of the weeks in a year and so on so forth. And enjoy yourself, you're doing it because you want to, not because you need to.



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