How To Wake Up at 5 A.M. Every Day (2024)

How To Wake Up at 5 A.M. Every Day (3)

I thought I was destined to be a night owl forever.

I’m no stranger to reading about the benefits of waking up early or having the same sleeping routine — all of us have probably read this at some point in our lives. I’m in my final semester of university, so the past few years of my life have been absolute chaos. I have classes some days, work other days, and have free time on especially rare days. Having a routine seemed impossible.

But a few months ago, I started reading Haruki Murakami’s novels. My favorite is Norwegian Wood. Inspired by Murakami’s fascinating prose, I researched him a little.

I found this gem in a 2004 interview he did:

When I’m in writing mode for a novel, I get up at 4 a.m. and work for five to six hours. In the afternoon, I run for ten kilometers or swim for fifteen hundred meters (or do both), then I read a bit and listen to some music. I go to bed at 9 p.m.

I keep to this routine every day without variation. The repetition itself becomes the important thing; it’s a form of mesmerism. I mesmerize myself to reach a deeper state of mind.

But to hold to such repetition for so long — six months to a year — requires a good amount of mental and physical strength. In that sense, writing a long novel is like survival training. Physical strength is as necessary as artistic sensitivity.

There’s something about the way Murakami talks about his routine that moved me. This part, in particular, stood out to me:

The repetition itself becomes the important thing; it’s a form of mesmerism.

Mesmerism has been a part of my life since I was a child; it’s the sense I have every time I establish a new habit. I mesmerized myself as a child to brush my teeth every day in the morning. As an adult, I’ve mesmerized myself to be healthy by exercising regularly. I’ve mesmerized myself to reflect on my life by adding a journaling routine.

A surge of motivation struck me, knowing I had done a similar task in the past. I could become an early bird by…

How To Wake Up at 5 A.M. Every Day (2024)

FAQs

How To Wake Up at 5 A.M. Every Day? ›

How do I train myself to wake up at 5am? Training yourself to wake up at 5am involves a mix of habit-building and lifestyle adjustments. Start by gradually setting your alarm earlier, maybe by 15 minutes every few days. Create a calming bedtime routine to help signal to your body that it's time to sleep.

How can I wake up at 5 am everyday? ›

How do I train myself to wake up at 5am? Training yourself to wake up at 5am involves a mix of habit-building and lifestyle adjustments. Start by gradually setting your alarm earlier, maybe by 15 minutes every few days. Create a calming bedtime routine to help signal to your body that it's time to sleep.

How long does it take for your body to get used to waking up at 5am? ›

It may take you anywhere between 30 to 60 days to get accustomed to the habit of waking up early. Once you get used to your new sleep schedule, you won't even need an alarm to wake you up.

What time should I go to bed if I wake up at 5am? ›

Sleep calculator
Wake-up timeBedtime: 7.5 hours of sleep (5 cycles)Bedtime: 9 hours of sleep (6 cycles)
4:30 a.m.8:45 p.m.7:15 p.m.
4:45 a.m.9 p.m.7:30 p.m.
5 a.m.9:15 p.m.7:45 p.m.
5:15 a.m.9:30 p.m.8 p.m.
17 more rows
Jan 25, 2022

Is 11pm to 5am enough sleep? ›

Most adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Babies, young children, and adolescents need more sleep than adults do. These sleep recommendations provide an overview of how much sleep most people need, but the exact amount of sleep a specific person should get depends on other factors.

How can I force myself to wake up at 5 am? ›

10 tricks to make yourself wake up earlier
  1. TAKE SMALL STEPS. ...
  2. GO TO BED EARLIER. ...
  3. ESTABLISH A NIGHTTIME ROUTINE. ...
  4. MANIPULATE YOUR ENVIRONMENT TO MAKE WAKING UP EASIER. ...
  5. TROUBLESHOOT YOUR FAULTY MORNING WAKE-UP ROUTINE. ...
  6. GIVE YOURSELF AN IRRESISTIBLE REASON TO WAKE UP EARLY. ...
  7. DON'T FORGET THE BIG PICTURE. ...
  8. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS.
Mar 28, 2024

How to stop feeling sleepy? ›

How to Stay Awake Naturally
  1. Get up and move around to feel awake. ...
  2. Take a nap to take the edge off sleepiness. ...
  3. Give your eyes a break to avoid fatigue. ...
  4. Eat a healthy snack to boost energy. ...
  5. Start a conversation to wake up your mind. ...
  6. Turn up the lights to ease fatigue. ...
  7. Take a breather to feel alert.

Why is it so hard to wake up at 5am? ›

Some medical conditions, such as sleep apnea and circadian rhythm sleep disorders, can make it harder to get up in the morning. Practices like following a sleep schedule may help. If your constant use of the snooze button and your morning zombie routine is getting old, there's help.

Why is it bad to wake up at 5am? ›

Waking up at an unnatural time for you can cause sleep deprivation. When you are tired, you lose productivity. You become more irritable and are less functional. Studies estimate that the effects of sleep loss can mirror those of intoxication.

How can I force myself to get up early? ›

How can I start waking up early?
  1. Limit screen use before bed. ...
  2. Pay attention to when you eat before you sleep. ...
  3. Stay consistent with your routine. ...
  4. Try sleep medicine or tools. ...
  5. Get your daily exercise. ...
  6. Be consistent. ...
  7. Create a relaxing evening routine. ...
  8. Make an effort to get enough sleep.
Mar 24, 2022

How much sleep do you need by age? ›

How Much Sleep Do I Need?
Age GroupRecommended Hours of Sleep Per Day
Newborn0–3 months14–17 hours (National Sleep Foundation)1 No recommendation (American Academy of Sleep Medicine)2
School Age6–12 years9–12 hours per 24 hours2
Teen13–18 years8–10 hours per 24 hours2
Adult18–60 years7 or more hours per night3
5 more rows

Is 11pm to 7am enough sleep? ›

Sleeping from 11 PM to 7 AM can indeed be a beneficial sleep schedule. This timeframe allows for a solid 8 hours of rest, which is essential for overall health.

Is 4hrs of sleep enough? ›

No, four hours of sleep is not enough for the average person. The minimum amount of sleep recommended for adults by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine is seven hours. These recommendations are based on large-scale population studies looking at how much sleep people need, Molly Atwood, Ph.

How early is too early to go to bed? ›

School-age children should go to bed between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. Teens should try to go to bed between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. Adults should try to go to sleep between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m.

Should you get out of bed as soon as you wake up? ›

Getting out of bed after the first alarm can make waking up easier. Although it may be tempting to hit the snooze button to get an extra few minutes of sleep, any additional sleep will be fragmented. Disrupted sleep does not provide the same benefits as continuous sleep.

What is the scientifically best time to wake up? ›

“Generally, waking up between 6am and 8am is considered ideal because it aligns with our natural sleep-wake cycles. This time frame allows exposure to sunlight, thereby regulating sleep patterns and producing the sleep hormone melatonin,” he explains.

What does waking up at 5am do to your body? ›

Improved sleep: People who wake up early tend to hit the hay earlier and get more sleep. And better sleep usually translates to more energy and an improved mood. Reduced stress: Exercise typically lowers stress levels. If it's the first thing you do in the morning, you start your day feeling good.

How can I wake up consistently early? ›

Here are some simple tips to help you get in the habit of waking up early:
  1. Set an earlier bedtime. ...
  2. Unplug before bed. ...
  3. Avoid late-night snacking. ...
  4. Avoid sugary energy drinks and coffee. ...
  5. Silence your phone. ...
  6. Avoid all-nighters. ...
  7. Sleep with your curtains open. ...
  8. Place your alarm clock across the room.

What does it mean when you wake up at 5 every morning? ›

If you always sleep at a set time and wake up at around 5–6 ish, It probably is that your sleep cycle ended. You go through various sleep cycles during one night's sleep and probably wake up when those finish too, you just don't remember it.

How do I fix 5am wake ups? ›

I know it doesn't seem to make sense, but earlier bedtimes really do help many families resolve early morning wakings! Even shifting bedtime 20-30 minutes earlier can have a huge impact and help prevent baby waking up early. (Consider a bedtime as early as 6:00-6:30 pm until these early mornings resolve.)

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Virgilio Hermann JD

Last Updated:

Views: 5439

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Virgilio Hermann JD

Birthday: 1997-12-21

Address: 6946 Schoen Cove, Sipesshire, MO 55944

Phone: +3763365785260

Job: Accounting Engineer

Hobby: Web surfing, Rafting, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Ghost hunting, Swimming, Amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.