I Tried That 5 Am Morning Routine Everyone is Obsessed With

The brutal truth about what happens when a night owl forces the “miracle morning” lifestyle

Let me start by saying: I was that person who’d scroll TikTok until 2 AM while watching “How to Wake Up at 5 AM” videos. Oh, the irony.

The Promise vs. The Reality

Every productivity guru out there swears by the 5 AM club. They paint this magical picture:

Peaceful sunrise meditation

Hot lemon water in perfect silence ✨

Journaling in a sun-drenched room

What they don’t show you: Me, crying into my coffee at 5:17 AM, wondering if this is what a mental breakdown feels like.

Why I Actually Did This

Real talk? My mental health was in shambles:

Anxiety was my default setting

Depression was my morning coffee’s best friend

My therapy bills were higher than my rent

Something had to give.

Week 1: The Nightmare

Day 1

4:30 AM: Alarm goes off 4:31 AM: Consider calling my ex just to have someone to talk to 5:00 AM: Standing in my kitchen, questioning every life choice

Days 2–7

• Drank so much coffee I could hear colors
• Discovered that 5 AM grocery stores are liminal spaces
• Had a full conversation with my houseplant

The Breaking Point Nobody Talks About

By day 8, something weird happened. I hit rock bottom, but like, in a good way?

Here’s what actually happens when you’re alone with your thoughts at 5 AM:

You realize how much emotional baggage you carry

You notice your toxic patterns

You start having uncomfortable revelations

Your demons show up for coffee (and they’re surprisingly chatty)

The Unexpected Mental Health Benefits

The Anxiety Shift

Remember that constant background anxiety? Turns out, it’s harder to be anxious when you’re too tired to remember what you’re anxious about.

The Depression Plot Twist

Depression loves to keep you in bed. But when you’re already up at 5 AM? It’s like you’ve beaten it to the punch.

The Identity Crisis (The Good Kind)

Something happens when you radically change your routine: you start questioning everything else.

The Real Transformation

Month 1:

Cried a lot

Questioned everything

Had several existential crises before breakfast

Month 2:

Started enjoying the silence

Found out who I am without the chaos

Actually looked forward to my morning routine

Month 3:

Realized this was never about waking up at 5 AM

It was about finally facing myself

And weirdly, started liking who I found

The Dark Side Nobody Warns You About

Fair warning:

• Your social life will take a hit (try telling friends you need to leave at 9 PM)
• Some relationships won’t survive (turns out, some people liked the old, chaotic you better)
• You might become slightly obsessed with bedtime routines (I now have a complex relationship with blackout curtains)

What Actually Changed

Not what you’d expect:

• I still have anxiety (but now we’re more like frenemies)
• I still get depressed (but I know it’ll pass by sunrise)
• I’m still a mess (but a more self-aware one)

The Truth About Morning Routines and Mental Health

Here’s what nobody tells you: The magic isn’t in the 5 AM wake-up call. It’s in the commitment to sitting with yourself, even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it’s uncomfortable.

Should You Try It?

Honestly? Maybe not. At least not the 5 AM part. But here’s what you should try:

• Finding your own uncomfortable time
• Creating space for your mind to wander
• Being brave enough to face yourself

The Plot Twist Ending

I don’t wake up at 5 AM anymore.

Gasp

I wake up at 6. Because that’s what works for me. And that’s the whole point — finding what works for YOU.