Why Getting Up At 5am Sucks (but I Do It Anyway) - LinkedIn

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My alarm shocks me out a deep sleep and a bleary-eyed glance at the clock reveals that it’s 4.55am. As I stumble out of bed, I am immediately replaced by one of my dogs who snuggle up in the warm space left behind. After quick shower to try and wake myself up, I change into my gym gear and I’m out the door. As I begin to scrape the ice off my frozen windscreen I ask myself “why am I do doing this again?”

It hasn’t always been this way. I, like most sane people when confronted by early mornings and sub-zero temperatures, would choose to stay in bed rather than get up and run around in the cold. However, in the last six months I have been making the effort to get up before dawn and exercise before my day begins.

“Why the sudden change?” I hear you ask, “Did you sustain a head injury?”

Well it actually all comes down to a number of articles that I have read on LinkedIn. It has been well documented that successful people such as Richard Branson, Tim Cook (CEO of Apple) and a number of other high-achieving people routinely get up early and start the day with some exercise. They also start the day off by pursuing passion projects, practising mindfulness and a number of other activities.

While I wasn’t prepared to go as far as pursuing a passion project first thing in the morning, getting up and exercising had a certain appeal. My previous routine consisted of sleeping as a late as possible, showering and heading to work. Around mid-morning I would usually get hungry and order something dripping in fat and grease from the cafe underneath my office. When I finished work I would think about going and exercising, however more often than not ended up on the couch watching TV and eating fast food. Hardly a sustainable lifestyle.

So how did I break the cycle and get into a new routine?

After signing up to a gym and getting myself some suitable attire I was all set. All that was left was to set my alarm. I flinched when my alarm clock told I was going to get approximately 5.5 hours sleep.

For the first couple of weeks I struggled. Adjusting to a new routine is never easy, and there were quite a few times I hit the snooze button and just stayed in bed (much to the dismay of my dogs who missed out on a prime sleeping position). I felt constantly tired and was considering chucking in the whole stupid endeavour.

However after about a month it became easier to get up. My routine had gradually adjusted so that I was going to bed slightly earlier and waking up just before my alarm. I found that when I got back from the gym in the morning I had more time, so I started cooking a healthy breakfast that helped to bring my diet under control. Once breakfast was done, I had plenty of time to get ready for the day ahead. Also, since I had already exercised, I felt less guilty if I chose to veg out on the couch when I got home.

Since adopting this routine I have lost weight, have more energy and generally just feel better and more alert during the day. I still have the occasional 3pm crash, but to combat this I’ll schedule a meeting, have a snack or go for a quick walk. Anything really to make sure I’m active and not staring blankly at my computer.

So yes, getting up at 5am can suck, but you should give it a try. It certainly helped me.

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Share 91 17 Comments John C. Shuey 8y

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Awfully early and the high desert is definitely chilly then.

Like Reply 1 Reaction 2 Reactions Dennis Brew 8y

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Looks like exercising DOES run in the family! While I routinely get up at 5.00 AM, I go to work early and then exercise every afternoon - five days a week and then, more often than not, go for a long walk-run on a weekend. Being married to fitness nut, also helps! Keep it up, mate!

Like Reply 1 Reaction 2 Reactions Dean Alburey 8y

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Good effort Liam, I am also on a bit of a fitness journey myself...not at 5am in the morning though haha. I hit the boxing gym after work 3 nights a week and find that not only my physical fitness but my mental state has improved tenfold. Can't recommend it enough, whether it be before work or after work exercise is a game changer!!

Like Reply 1 Reaction 2 Reactions Nicole Thomson 8y

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Great work! I admire your determination, getting up that early is not easy and I can genuinely say that I wouldn't have the discipline. Thumbs up!!

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