“The moment I set my alarm for 5 AM, I also set myself up for disappointment.”

— Ravi Mehta, 26, aspiring entrepreneur (and part-time napper)

There’s something romantic about waking up at 5 AM. The silence. The ambition. The idea that you’ll conquer the world before anyone else has had their coffee.

Until, of course, the snooze button defeats you six times in a row and you’re back in bed wondering why your life feels like a productivity meme gone wrong.

The Glorified 5AM Myth

For months, social media has been flooded with “My 5 AM Routine Changed My Life” videos.

Spoiler: They all look like robots running on cold brew and trauma.

“I tried the 5 AM club for a week. On day two, I fell asleep during my Zoom meeting and drooled on my keyboard.”

— Clara James, 29, copywriter, occasional realist

What most of these videos don’t mention is: not everyone functions best in the morning. Or that “discipline” doesn’t mean self-torture. And most importantly, your growth isn't limited by when you open your eyes — it’s shaped by what you do after that.

Let’s Talk Real!

There was a point where I tried setting my alarm at 6 AM, visualized myself crushing goals before sunrise, sipping green tea while reading something deep like Atomic Habits.

Reality? I’d wake up, turn off the alarm with ninja reflexes, and somehow convince myself that 5 more minutes would change my life. They didn’t.

Eventually, I stopped fighting my natural rhythm. These days I wake up around 9, stretch like a lazy cat, and ease into my day — no rush, no guilt. And weirdly enough, I get more done now than I ever did during my forced “rise and grind” phase.

Meet Jaden: The 10:30 AM Hustler

Jaden Cruz, a 24-year-old freelance designer from Manchester, swears by waking up at 10:30 AM. Yes, you read that right.

“I work from noon to 2 AM. That’s when my brain actually shows up to work. My 5 AM club is just insomnia.”

— Jaden Cruz

Jaden’s version of a productive morning includes stretching while brushing, checking emails while making a mess of avocado toast, and starting work once his playlist is just right. His results? Solid income, happy clients, and zero guilt over not “winning the morning.”

So What Actually Works?

It’s not about waking up at 5 AM. It’s about knowing your rhythm — your natural flow.

If you’re most alert at night, plan your deep work sessions then.

If mornings energize you, own it.

But don't force a schedule built for someone else.

Real Talk Tips

Ravi now wakes up at 7:45 AM and journals while his tea cools.

Clara stopped trying to "optimize every second" and started blocking time to do absolutely nothing.

Jaden installed a time-tracking app and realized he’s most focused at midnight (so now he guiltlessly sleeps in).

And me? I stopped glorifying alarms and started trusting my natural energy flow. No regret, just rhythm.

“The key isn’t waking up early. It’s waking up to what actually works for you.”

— You, after reading this blog (hopefully)