I Tried Waking Up at 5 AM for 30 Days and it Changed My Life

[@ZachHighley]

Only 396 alarms were harmed in the making of this video. Watch my Morning Habits Video (only ever on Nebula): nebula.tv/videos/zachhighley-the-9-best-morning-habits-for-health-and-productivity

[@kevinjewell233]

I was born right before sunset...I'm a night owl...as a child my parents would find me in my room playing at 2 or 3 am, then fought with them at 7 when they needed me to get up so they could go to work...I don't remember much from my teens unless it was afternoon or evening events, like what tv show line-ups on which days...I went to bed at midnight. Now, decades later, I go to bed at 5 or 6 am, I'm creative at night, write at night, paint, create, chat with friends overseas...I was happiest working in the nightclub scene. Only thing you got correct is that only intelligent people up that early are catching planes!!!!!

[@dolliedunstan3287]

What is the app?

[@PForPaediatrics]

The only good stuff that I grab after waking up at 5am is a short 3 hour sleep till 8 😌

[@ZachHighley]

lol

[@paddybugge79]

a radio host once said he loved getting up early to have a cup of coffee so he could take a nap on the couch

[@tammyt1971]

I love doing this too!

[@jensweetbaby]

😂😂😂

[@rubychurch3466]

Love it!

[@cabzler]

According to the book of James Clear "Atomic Habits" when doing a new habit, we first need to change our identity, for example there are two person who decided to wake up early the other one can say that "I can't stay up late, I am trying to wake up early. While on the other hand, the other person can say that "I can't stay up late, I am a morning person". Boom and just like that your will to wake up early will drastically increase. The goal is not to wake up early, the goal is to become a morning person. I hope this helps you.

[@ismaharry]

Reading this book these weeks. And, I mean, it definitely helps when it comes to habits.

[@nikhilsindh62]

Thank you 🙏

[@josekro]

I just started getting up at 5 a.m. a few days ago! It's been tough but I'm excited to keep going! I feel so much more productive and I love how quiet the world is in the morning :)

[@ZachHighley]

Let me know how it goes!

[@chasestapleton9497]

I started waking up early after new years lol. It’s been great! It’s helped me cut on screen time because I make myself go to bed at 10pm rather than sit on my phone till midnight. I wake up at 6, 30min run, cold shower, and read/meditate/journal for an hour, then start getting ready for school at 8am. Instead of this conscious fight between studying and being lazy, I don’t allow myself to do any school work and it’s just led to a better mentality/ work-life balance/etc.

[@mortenb3606]

How’s it going?

[@josekro]

@@mortenb3606 It was going pretty well actually. I had just gotten used to it but I just caught a nasty cold and need all the sleep I can get 😅 I will definitely get back to it though!

[@narutogaming7022]

​@@josekroHow's it going

[@Seythia]

The most important thing is to listen to your body. I did that experiment for a while too. I've always been a night owl, even as a baby and toddler. Waking up at 6 am for more than 30 days made me feel miserable. I had to rely on coffee in order to function, then I stayed off coffee because I couldn't fall asleep despite being tired but without the coffee I felt even MORE miserable but I still wasn't able to fall asleep before 1-2 am. It took me a while but I realized that my comfort is way more important than a falls belief that waking up early in itself is the thing that makes you a better person. It's the routine and getting up at a consistent time every day that is the goal. I got a job that starts at 11, whiich means I can sleep until 9. And I started waking up at 9 on my days off too. I use my time to get things done during the night because that's when I thrive. And ever since I've found that rythm, I feel so relaxed and productive. So really, the number on the clock doesn't matter as much as your energy levels.

[@lorderchamion]

You took the words right out of my mouth. As a fellow night owl I always found the assumption that waking up early was the means to get "more work done while the world sleeps" to be rather erroneous. I mean us night owls do EXACTLY that but at night! Not everyone's circadian rhythms operate the same. I can be a beast and operating in full flow at midnight while everyone is sleeping. The important thing is to get your 8 hours of sleep in for sure but this is never discussed in the video. The placement in time of those eight hours can vary and be a result of different bodily makeups and life circumstances. Usually the CEO types get more work done not because of being early risers but because they mostly sacrifice everything else in life for that one purpose. It's not a balanced life. Their family time suffers. Sometimes their health and stress levels. They work far more than 40 hrs a week. Just get a full 8 hours of sleep and work in the flow state that flourishes in the time you are naturally inclined to be in that flow state. And for some it's late at night

[@Seythia]

@@greendog456 sorry for the autocorrect on my GERMAN phone I guess? That's what's bothering you?

[@lornarettig3215]

Amen, sister. I'm now in my 40s, and if I could have morphed myself into a morning person, it would have happened by now. If I need to waken up before 9, I just spend the rest of the day and most of my energy trying not to fall asleep again.

[@adellaidemikova]

I am am owl myself. So, getting up at 5am would mean approx 4 hours of sleep. Surely that isn’t healthy!

[@Nabee_H]

lmao I am the same, I love being awake at night. so what do i do? Wake up at 1 - 3am. I get to enjoy the night before the morning.

[@AaronRenner]

waking up early is literally just half the battle. Going to bed at the exact same time every night was just as crucial. I go to bed at 9 and get up anywhere between 4:30 and 5:30 and have never felt better in my life.

[@Nick94MI]

Definitely! I'm usually asleep by 9-9:30 and wake up around 4:45-5am. I use to work overnights/closing in my early 20's and always felt horrible throughout the day. Now I'm way more productive and feel more energized overall.

[@BotDetector-44]

Congrats on missing most of your life with friends and family, hope waking up at 4:30 to run is going to be beneficial in the long run ...

[@PMTCards]

@@BotDetector-44I think you overestimate the impact lol. Even if you fall asleep by 10-10:30 you’re still getting anywhere from 6-7.5 hours of sleep depending when you wake up (4:30-5:30). That doesn’t mean that a Friday night at the bar can’t happen and maybe you don’t run at 5:00 am on Saturday. Also, when you get older and/or have a baby, those priorities change. I go to the gym or run at 5:15ish cause I have to leave for work at 7:15 am, so it gives me time to get about a hour work out, plus time to get ready for work. More importantly, it frees up my after work time.. which is important if you want to be in your kids life and/or help the wife out a bit. So I don’t have to miss any workouts or runs to go to his baseball game or track meet… or if my wife wants to go out for a run or grab a bite to eat with coworkers/friends/etc or I want to get 9 holes of golf in.. we can balance that all out without me gaining 100 pounds and without it really altering my life other than going to bed about a hour earlier than usual prior 🤷🏽

[@usullyify]

I go up 5am. Things I learned during the years. 1. Have a soft alarm that wakes u without giving you a bad feeling. 2. Drink water!!! 3. Get out of pj fast 4. Ignore social media and news. 5. Don't eat until hungry 6. Go to bed so you get your 6-8h sleep (whatever you need). 7. Invest in an sunlight-lamp, I have one with alarmsettings, lifesaver dark mornings

[@mz6367]

The joy of not being in a rush is incredible ! I get much work done and have more time to do other things and I do it by joy and love that’s why I love being a morning person, whenever I wake up at mid night I just feel horrible and can’t really do anything and I waste my time for nothing 😖

[@gstreamer7067]

This!!! Exactly!

[@simongamez]

I don't think waking up around 5-5:30 is that bad but those who wake up at 3 am are freaking nuts! Love the quality of your videos and how much effort you put into them, Idk how you do it tbh.

[@mykolapopyk2545]

I go to sleep at 3 am 😳

[@simongamez]

@@mykolapopyk2545 well, that's actually more normal than waking up at 3am tho, im my opinion hahah

[@karinavoggel5741]

Also what is even the point of waking up at 3AM? it is the literal middle of the night. Humans are dominated by their circadian rythm so waking in the middle of the night is just nonsense. Even more so because the 3AM people have to get to bed by 7PM to get the 8h of sleep that are required to feel good. And don't even BS me with "I can get around with 5h of sleep". No you can't. You can just push through that for a bit of time but everything less than 7h has been shown to be extremely deterimental to health. People who claim they wake up super early just are virtue signaling as if its some sort of moral win to be a morning person.

[@Nabee_H]

@@karinavoggel5741 It depends, during winter the days are shorter and nights are longer. It's usually dark where I am by 7pm, so that's when i would head to sleep. Its inevitable you'd wake up before sunrise, i wake up at 3am if i sleep at 7. I get an early start to the day, i feel less nervous and anxious at school. Before i leave for school at 7:30 i have time to WAKE UP and enjoy my Anime or KZbin, motivate myself for the rest of the day. Most importantly for me is that it is VERY peaceful, I've always had a problem with motivating myself throughout the day, once the afternoon hits I HATE IT, i hate the tired feeling and not having anything to do. I'm too tired from school to enjoy my entertainment and i don't have the energy to do homework. I've always been a nightowl, the reason i discovered this sleep schedule actually was because i would stay up so late and sleep in every day i eventually got to the point where i would wake up at 12 - 3am.

[@Dev_bhog]

I do wake up at 3 am, mostly In the exam times. A cup of coffee is enough to keep myself up

[@michaelisonyoutube]

Literally trying the same routine shift. It’s so difficult to maintain but I love when I do actually get up early!

[@ZachHighley]

It's great right?

[@chasestapleton9497]

I started waking up early after new years lol. It’s been great! It’s helped me cut on screen time because I make myself go to bed at 10pm rather than sit on my phone till midnight. I wake up at 6, 30min run, cold shower, and read/meditate/journal for an hour, then start getting ready for school at 8am. Instead of this conscious fight between studying and being lazy, I don’t allow myself to do any school work in the morning and it’s just led to a better mentality/ work-life balance by giving me a period to reflect, relax without guilt and just slow everything down

[@V4K4R14N]

I feel like this is a nature vs nurture kind of thing. Looking into chronotypes recently, if you could remove any restraints that society/your job/family puts on you, what time would you naturally fall asleep and wake up, and for how long? My result was the same across all the tests I took. I forced myself into the idea that I was a super early-morning person, but that was more societal pressure than what my body was actually telling me. It's worth considering.

[@darajoyce5514]

omg yes

[@lolgriffin3243]

If my body could do it's own thing I've found it would be 8am - 11ish pm.

[@jamiekoh6113]

So worth it. My life completely flipped when I started waking up earlier around 4 to 5 am. The concept of having that alone time and the feeling of getting stuff done while the world is asleep is as true as it gets. Also, when you're trying to build a side hustle, doing work before the emails, and chat start rolling in from your day job is more optimal than after work when youre so drained. All depending on the person though.

[@JennHayden]

Waking up is the easy part. What's the point when I am too tired later in the day?

[@jamiekoh6113]

@@JennHayden Go to the gym when you start to feel tired and close the day strong after with your final few hours.

[@lucasskx]

No clue why i’m writing this but currently watching at 2am. I’m fifteen and trying to better myself, but while gaining control over some things i lose on others and sleep is currently one of those. Plus, it’s not just an ordinary night, i have some mock exams tomorrow and i’m not looking forward to that alarm tomorrow morning. I have gained control over my sleep before and then fell out of that cycle and it’s tough but this vid has motivated me and will continue to motivate me to get into the pattern once again. These comments are also a great reminder on what to do in order to be successful. I will attempt my own 5am journey very soon, i promise myself that. Wishing you the best of luck

[@Aaron-cc7yq]

I woke up at 5am while studying for Step 1 and now I have been doing the same in preparation for clinical rotations which start in a couple weeks for me. What helps me get through it is realizing that no matter what time I wake up, I always feel tired for the first 30 minutes or so, thats natural. After I'm done showing and getting ready, I'm fully awake and just as much so as if I woke up later.

[@OskarDziubaltowski]

You are so much more comfortable in front of the camera than a year ago and the shots are so gorgeous, the amount of progress just blows my mind.

[@buddy310387]

I wake up around 5 too and watched a lot of videos about this topic yet. You said one reason which describes the feeling and pros of this early routine so lovely and so true..."the world is different..!" Thats what a lot of people cant imagine because they never experienced it and makes it hard to tell just by words.

[@GregoryAlanBaileygamereviews]

I don't wake up before noon, ever. I work the 2nd shift for a reason, I like be up when it's dark out, when the moon is shining, when the stars are out. I will live to be at least 100 years old, mark my words.

[@pearlgirl5643]

So true!🌅 Reformed Night Owl giving testimony!

[@Healer_work]

I always knew waking up early was good as I heard it since my childhood and Hindus usually mention 'Brahma Muhurtam' (ie) 4:00 am to 5:30 am is great but I could hardly get up once or twice but not after that and I neglected it. But after watching you I feel I should pay heed to the advice of our ancestors. 🤗 Wish me luck 🙏

[@tinamoni6792]

I LOVE MY MORNINGS 🙃I'm a 4:30am-5:30am get-up person by my natural circadian clock. I've always reminded myself during the day it's okay to power nap for 10-20 minutes and get back in the loop. When I get sluggish between 4/5pm I remind myself I've already been up for 12 hours so that's normal and I make it a goal to get to bed anywhere between 8/9:30pm because if I don't, it's a real struggle the next day to get up and throughout the day I'm sluggish, not very productive and brain fog becomes real. I think of all the successful geniuses such as Edison, Churchill, Leonard da Vinci, and Einstein who took power naps throughout the day. I can't imagine them getting up early every day but staying up late. For me, my circadian clock getting up early has always been what works best for me. YES, I tried to change it and I failed when it came to productivity, creativity, energy and clear thoughts throughout the day the struggle became real...But I love my mornings outside quiet, hearing the world of life slowly wake up, peaceful, people exercising and walking dogs etc. I LOVE THE WORLD IN THE MORNING seeing the sunrise plus I don't like it to rise before me😁

[@Steph_Bx13]

I loved this video 😊 I love waking up early cause it gives me some "me time" which is super nice, especially when you work in a profession where you look after others (currently studying a nursing degree). I also agree about how the world is quiet at that time of the morning, which is such a nice change from the chaos.

[@Governemntistheproblem]

Nurses are heroes

[@lornarettig3215]

I'm the opposite - I have 'me time' after you are all asleep. I get a lot done while the world is quiet late at night. There is an owl in my neighbourhood and it is quiet enough to hear him :)

[@Delavasrey]

How do you manage social life? And more specifically if you have a night job

[@dougl945]

My mom and dad are so active and successful. Dad always got mad at me for sleeping till 10am. They both woke up at 5am. They are 80. Btw… you are an inspiration. Attractive and smart. Makes the rest of us want to do better.

[@civilizeddiva]

The fact that you could make coherent sentences at 5am is incredible to me. IF I managed to wake up consistently that early (IF), I would be staring at the camera with captions on the screen (“ok, I’m up! Let’s do this”)🤣. Jokes aside, I do appreciate my morning walks. It’s like a I live in different neighborhood. No traffic. Just the sounds of birds, squirrels and the wind. I notice the foliage and the smells of the natural environment. It is beautiful.

[@risika]

I was listening to a podcast that said, “it’s important to live life by design rather than emotion. Basically, sticking to a routine is what allows us to be the healthiest version of ourselves (especially when you're fighting these demons ex. OCD for me). I made the most productive changes in my life when I began practising mediocre consistency. Now I try to put in consistent 40-60% effort into my habits (ex. journaling/working out) - to make sure I do it I began recording it and posting it on my youtube channel. Because historically I have a habit of going too hard, not being able to sustain the Herculean effort, giving up and hating myself. So now I’m trying to give a small-ish, consistent mediocre effort everyday. And its crazy how it adds up.

[@ZachHighley]

Consistency is a great goal, it's how I started this whole channel.

[@patrciaclemons8183]

Demons are all on your head, up to you to master yourself. There is no hope for a civilization that begins each morning to the sound of an alarm clock. Be in tune with the body, sleep when tired, eat when hungry, bathroom when need be. Not when somebody tells you to.

[@TheRevvB]

yes! would love the podcast

[@risika]

@@TheRevvB Here it is! It’s an OCD Podcast but I think the main points can be extrapolated for any one’s benefit. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXjciGSIpZaMaMk&ab_channel=TheOCDStories

[@manojsp7233]

@@ZachHighley I have one query everyone is telling to wake up at 5 am but at what time should we sleep because experts say 8 hrs sleep is needed but do we because i sleep everytime at 12 if i wake up at 5 my hours of sleep is less so i want to know at what time you will sleep bro and thank you for making this video it was interesting

[@Nathyk3]

In roughly mid-December, I decided to implement healthier routines and the one I found has the most impact, is a consistent bedtime and wake-up time. Since then, I go to bed every night at 10pm and wake up every morning at 6am. It's perfect for workdays as I have 10 minutes more time than I used to before, which I use for meditation, and I feel like I have more time on days I don't work. Even though the waking hours are the same with a 10pm-6am sleep schedule than they are with a 1am-9am one, I just feel more energetic with the first one. I also only allow myself 5 minutes to emerge from my sleep, then meditate for 10 minutes, then clean-up, then go for a 30min walk and then have breakfast. Now I don't feel sluggish in the morning and I'm not as tired at night (or during the day!) as I used to be when I just stayed in my bed for hours on days I didn't work. I also read at least 15 minutes before sleeping, which helps me wind down (I turn screens off a bit before and put on some nice mellow music) and fall asleep faster. My sleep quality has also much improved.

[@Lookatthosechickens]

If anyone is looking to shift their sleep schedule like this, I highly recommend doing it gradually. Don’t immediately go from a sleep cycle of 11pm-7am to 9pm-5am. Gradually adjust when you go to bed and wake up over several weeks and it’ll feel more natural

[@n_noel]

you dont have to wake up early to be productive. Just get into a good routine and you'll get your shit done. It doesn't matter what time you get up as long as u just start :)

[@Olixer109]

Not true. Waking up early is completely different.

[@savannahs7823]

@@Olixer109 I get that but what if you work night shift or 3-12 type of shift? Waking up early doesn’t necessarily make you “more productive” if you live this life.

[@NiceBowser]

@@Olixer109 mental health professional here-it’s actually not. Your circadian rhythm and routine is what’s important, not the actual time.. the time is irrelevant (for the most part). You can be just as productive if you’re consistent and in a routine waking up later just as much as you could be waking up earlier. We all have a period of time when we’re most productive (typically around 3-4 hours of really peak mental performance before it kinda evens out). Night owls in a consistent routine can be just as productive as early risers. The reason all of this helps in general is that it reduces anxiety by giving you more time/opportunities to do things instead of waking up and hurrying and not getting a chance to really accomplish anything before you throw yourself into the day. Now if you have ADHD, that might be a bit different because procrastination can actually be helpful since doing things last minute can be really stimulating for those with ADHD and actually really help people focus. There’s no one size fits all for productivity. Everybody’s brains, lifestyles, and patterns are all different; do what works for you.

[@JennHayden]

@NiceBowser man.... this is SPOT ON!! WELL SAID.

[@drewalthoff4829]

I have a 2 year old and a 1 year old. I’m up at 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, and then 5:30 for the rest of the day. 🥴🥱 I accomplish 45 things by 10am but somehow don’t do anything at all

[@thequatropus]

I actually just recently switched my wake up schedule to roughly like 4:30 to 5 AM and what I noticed is that when I'm going to bed, my mindset isn't flooded with all these random thoughts that just scare me normally with my anxiety and depression. My old job I would get home between 1:30 to 2 AM and stay up for an hour or more because my brain would keep me up with shit like "what if you die in your sleep" or other terrible thoughts. Going to bed earlier, I don't really have those thoughts.

[@susanbrennan5511]

12 years ago my husband and soulmate died. I had terrible trouble sleeping. I was always an early riser having worked at a bakery when he was still alive. Today I get up at 3,4 or five depending on my work schedule. I am so much more productive in the morning and yes it is so quiet and peaceful at those hours. If on my days off I sleep till 7 or 8 my day is ruined. You have to find what works best for you.

[@diptendusaha1]

I’m sorry for your loss. Stay strong

[@Haseri8]

What I'm hearing is that it's not the getting up early, but not being disturbed by work-related distractions, like calls and emails Which means we just need to work less

[@Joshua-dc1bs]

On the flip side, I enjoy working LATE... like till 10pm.

[@katrin896]

My husband and I started doing this right after New Year's 2022-2023. We started going to the gym before work, so we had to wake up early. This meant changing when we go to bed, so we now go to bed at 22 to get at least 7 hours of sleep. It is now February 7th and we are still doing this. Honestly, I've never had so much energy in my entire life!

[@GregoryAlanBaileygamereviews]

I don't wake up before noon, ever. I work the 2nd shift for a reason, I like be up when it's dark out, when the moon is shining, when the stars are out. I've been living like this for 15 years, and I'm as healthy as a newborn baby.

[@le_nirnoy]

The production quality is awesome man, the video deserves a liike... keep it up!

[@alexandergillis6276]

Ironworker here. I've been waking up at 4 or 5 for two decades. Most days with an hour or 2 commute.

[@modizzy1556]

You my sir have just earned a follower who’s would love to stay with you on this journey!

[@aeixo2533]

Something people need to realise is that it doesn't matter what time you wake up. Your body still has the same amount of hours that it can be active for, and the same amount of hours it needs to sleep for. You're just shifting the time window, you don't gain anything from doing so.

[@rashadheyward]

Exactly

[@Rukiso360]

Lol, I was really looking forward to this. And then I read your comment. I'm glad I did.

[@puniyami]

Thank you for telling me this.

[@J1M1F]

That’s wrong...because it’s before most people are awake, it allows you to get stuff done with less distraction. I can travel to and from the gym, without having to sit in traffic, saving time. For me, It’s also easier to do house chores in the morning, before work, than it is after a day at work.

[@aeixo2533]

@@J1M1F Sure, depending what your job is, what your hours of daylight are, and peak traffic hours etc, changing the time you wake up could be beneficial. What I'm saying really is that these things are all highly circumstantial. You don't "gain" any extra time by waking up earlier, you just shift the window of your natural circadian rhythm. For some people, it may be far more efficient to wake at 2PM. There seems to be a general stigma towards people who have a waking window later in the daytime, classifying these people as lazier, and people associating early risers as being highly productive, which is not based in fact.

[@oSJmee]

What I don't like about waking up so early, is going to bed early. I need to be in bed at 9 pm. to be alive at 5 am and that's a No for me.

[@BrettAbaurrea]

Yeah this is my issue too lol i get off work at 9pm. That means I have to get home, shower, cook dinner all in the span of like 30 seconds

[@lewisharwood3870]

I used to work in Tim Hortons and I found myself feeling sad due to lack of productivity during the day with such long shifts, I then came across a video on a soldier talking about waking up at 4:30 to get a headstart on the day. So, I decided to try it; I got myself working out, learning new things, catching up on TV, gaming and checking out new music, and writing. I would then find myself with loads of time before work and I found myself so satisfied heading to work while others on the bus were so miserable.

[@robinsonstephen18]

This is spot on

[@Marszczak]

You should try waking up at 4 am. It is still late as I am waking up at 3am and boy, how much thing I can do. True - I am going to sleep at 5pm tired as hell due to lack of sunshine but the trend is worth it.

[@Lorneplumber]

I have woken early for the last 15 years. My day just shifts to early. The only benefit is less traffic

[@Nabee_H]

You said it so well

[@lewisharwood3870]

@Nabee H I've been working nightshift for the past 2 years, now. I am up at 4am 😂😂

[@willbergmann_]

Another crazy valuable video, please keep pumping out the content Will. Would love to hear more in a future video about organic traffic vs ads and the differences/pros and cons between the two!

[@Shubham-b1i4z]

Worth it? I wake up at 3:50am after sleeping at 9pm. It's worth it 100 times over and over. The time I get for myself during that early morning phase is more important to me than I had ever realised. It was while doing night shifts in my previous company that I realised the power of after 4 am.

[@HighFlyWOW]

I've been waking up at 4am for about a year now so I can go get my workout done and have some alone time before going into the office (I get to the office at 7am) and it has truly changed my life. I do get to bed around 9-930pm, but being in graduate school and working in accounting and taxation I'm very busy working 50+ hour weeks during parts of the year. Waking up early gives me the time to do things by myself before work so that after work I have time for school and free time. I really encourage everybody who CAN fit waking up early into their schedule to try to. You don't have to wake up at 4am, but even 5 or 6 and just do stuff you like to do by yourself to start your day off right.

[@Lucycote]

I’m up at 4am also. I need to get my workout in before my day starts.

[@OppressedApe]

I've been consistently going to bed at 9pm and waking up at 5am for months now, but it took about 2 months of forcing myself to this schedule to get my body used to it. Now I wake up around 5am regardless of an alarm, my body just wakes up.

[@tushalupal5623]

Hey Zach, I still remember your words when you tried running for 30 days. Those heart penetrating phrases are, "It sucks. It really sucks. But you just keep running. You just keep pushing. And you know you can really do it. Deep down inside, it just doesn't feel good. Okay, You can do this , it just might suck little bit, but you will get there. You will get there. It's just a matter of TIME." You are real even on reel and that's not common. I like your spirit cause your consistency really motivates me :) Hope you achieve yet more milestones in your journey.💖

[@ghewakalmonimarsh8000]

Did you struggle with a lack of natural light when you first wake up and how (if at all) did impacted your rhythms? Did waking up that early impact your caffeine intake?

[@seanjamescameron]

I always find it much easier to wake up at 5:20am compared to 7:20am. Feel much brighter and alert at 5:20am.

[@rob40652]

Starting this journey tomorrow. I've been so complacent lately with no motivation to get up and do some exercise in the morning. Wish me luck

[@husk1084]

has it worked out?

[@VincentRoyceMorgan]

I've had times where I would go to bed at 9PM and wake up at 3AM. It definitely is an enjoyable experience having lots of time before you even have to go out to work. But there are people I can only interact with very late in the day so it's hard to commit.

[@johnameliorateofficial8234]

When he said “waking up early consecutively doesn’t get less tough but you do get better at doing the tough things” 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@SecondFool]

4:55 The irritation and frustration at your face was so funny to me. Great Video Zach, Thank you.

[@talenttrapp]

a friendly reminder to any menstruating people in the comments - this is someone who has a 24 hr hormonal cycle that favours energy in the morning and rest in the evening. It is much harder on a 28 day cycle to keep this kind of routine throughout the whole month. It can definitely be done, but... be kind on yourself when watching people who dont bleed. Because, you do. And it is really hard.

[@nahoangvieteng]

You should visit Son Tra Beach, Da Nang city of Vietnam, Zach. You will amaze how people here, most of them are over 40 years old, rises up and go to the beach around 4:00-5:00 AM. They often dip themselves in sand 30 mins before they jump into the cold ocean, I did too during the covid time. When I used to sleep hard, their presences at that time not only save my life but also makes me wanna be active like them. I start to look forward to a new day after being a morning person. Thank you, Da Nang.

[@Canal-gi8di]

Waking up at 4-5 and enjoy the full day until sunset was the best Summer i ever had…but not used a stressfull alarm

[@PureBassO]

As someone who has woken up for work at 4am 6 days a week.... I think it all depends on what job you do and what home life is like... For me I work all morning but after 12pm I have the rest of the day to myself but by 5-6pm I'm ready to relax before bed but that 5-6 hour window is a lot of time normal people don't have. There's downsides to like even on days off your body will force you awake by 6am not matter how long you sleep To me I prefer the early wake up times and will always get up before 6am I just accept that my bed time will be about 8pm-9pm

[@iLaggsoHard]

What a weird coincidence that I’m watching this at 3:30 am as I’m going through the same mental battle of “this is worth it” and I’m pursuing goals and tasks I otherwise wouldn’t accomplish. Really solidified that I’m on the path to real success and it’s all somehow benefiting me

[@tprocess1993]

I wake up at 4am every morning and I absolutely love it. I’m ready to go at the office while everyone is desperate for coffee. (I go to bed at 8:30 though)

[@Yoksol]

That’s my kids bedtime, I think I’ll be falling asleep when they do too so I can wake up earlier

[@itsforby]

This is almost exactly like the book "The 5 AM Club" - highly recommend.

[@thirstyfish7882]

I’m also really enjoying just tweaking elements of my routine, like study hours and eating times to see where my circadian rythm sits best. I feel that making sure I meditate daily is essential now. I just started with 10 minutes a day, now I really benefit from putting aside 30 minutes when I can. There was is a lot to be said for micro alterations and noting their effect. 30 days is s a big chunk of time for me! Kudos to you for doing that. I reckon i might start with setting my alarm at 5.30am 3 days a week and see where that takes me (I wake at 7.30 each week day for now). Inspiring and motivating video. Keep goin!!

[@robert19]

how did you start meditating

[@pauljakeman]

You mean there’s another 5 o clock in the day? Kidding! Great video man, and massive respect to you doing this. I had to keep waking up at 5 when doing 12 hour shifts a few years ago and it wasn’t fun believe me. They key is getting good enough sleep which I didn’t manage to do unfortunately. Back then I was able to get to bed at 1am at the earliest. It seriously killed my health doing that for months. Thankfully that’s in the past, my healths not 100% but working on getting it better through this year. Awesome videos like this inspire me so thank you! Looking great btw buddy.

[@CatzzMoney]

Zach’s tone is always soft and calm. Love the chest hair look. ❤❤❤ I’m not a morning person. I usually start my day at 9:30am 😊

[@coolwater55]

It is great Zach did this, and hopefully will encourage others. For me... Waking early is a habit for about 37 years... I get far more done than people half my age. I am 68. I used to get up 6:30=7, but the earlier time started when I had my first child.

[@rtbyup23]

This is an interesting experiment. I have been waking up regularly between 4:30am and 6am for about a decade now, since I left the Army. I'm not sure if it's because I wake up early but my life and attitude in general has improved drastically since. I'm not sure what it is but there is definitely something to watching the sunrise, or at least being consciously aware of the sunrise. It improves your mood and attitude once this becomes a regular practice. Another youtuber, Jocko Willink has described this as "earning the sunrise." He is doing Navy Seal stuff at 4am while I'm only drinking coffee but there is something to it.

[@edub4508]

I have woke up at 430 for 30 years and never got used to it. It’s weird I did it for so long it was like I was a robot. I’ve been a night owl my whole life. Had a physcotic experience and mental health issues and had to stop working and file for disability. Now I can’t shut down at night. My sleeping pattern is all over the place. From my experience I felt better by 10 am while I was at work then it was almost time to go home. I look at everything different now. I’ve had everything I could want in my life. There is only two thing that matters your health and peace of mind. The world sets you up for this imaginary dream of being a millionaire,that is not happiness. You work so hard your whole life and look up and it is gone. You better smell them roses while your going so fast. God bless everyone.stay safe

[@Darkfault]

I wake up at 5am every day for the last 2 years and it changed my life too - namely, I no longer have any energy to do anything, and in fact no longer feel anything.

[@KatieThomas921]

I like to think Zach went out and bought a teal sweater specifically for the video color continuity.

[@Anna_B143]

I wake up 5am daily due to work! Shower and prep for work then 1.5 hrs travel time. Everything still remains the same for me.

[@SK-uw6hs]

Same. Nothing to romanticise about our mornings, it’s just called life right.

[@freddyjosereginomontalvo4667]

Have a nice new year man Thanks for all

[@ZachHighley]

Happy new year!

[@petrhrobar220]

To me, waking up early and being successful aren't directly connected, but they might go together. I work a regular 9-5 job, and I've been waking up at 6 am for the past 2 years. It's been one of the best choices I've made. Don't get me wrong, waking up early isn't easy, but after a quick trip to the bathroom, it gets better, especially with some light exposure. I wake up early mainly to have more time for myself. I hit the gym around 6:40 am, have a great workout and run, which helps wake up my mind. By the time I get to the office around 8 am, I'm already feeling mentally alert. I spend about 40 minutes reading every day and manage to finish a book each week. When it's time to focus on my work, my mind stays sharp, and my attention is better. This has helped me get promoted by consistently performing well. So, waking up early and being successful seem to be linked. Keep up the amazing work with your videos!

[@ryancooper5301]

it seem more likely that being CEO of Apple requires Tim Cook to wake up at 3:45. It would be interesting to know at what time Tim and people in similar jobs/position woke up before they had such demanding jobs. Correlation does not equal causation you know

[@8ktv475]

Not another youtuber I fall in love with, why I am doing this to myself!

[@lorderchamion]

As a night owl I always found the assumption that waking up early was the means to get "more work done while the world sleeps" to be rather erroneous. I mean us night owls do EXACTLY that but at night! Not everyone's circadian rhythms operate the same. I can be a beast and operating in full flow at midnight while everyone is sleeping. The important thing is to get your 8 hours of sleep in for sure but this is never discussed in the video. The placement in time of those eight hours can vary and be a result of different bodily makeups and life circumstances. Usually the CEO types get more work done not because of being early risers but because they mostly sacrifice everything else in life for that one purpose. It's not a balanced life. Their family time suffers. Sometimes their health and stress levels. They work far more than 40 hrs a week. Just get a full 8 hours of sleep and work in the flow state that flourishes in the time you are naturally inclined to be in that flow state. And for some it's late at night

[@susiemac9816]

i was doing 5am for 1.5yrs then switched to 4am .. its alot easier to do this if you get up n workout .. in summer its fabulous.. winters suck anyway but i find it helps me sleep n helps my mental health --i go to bed 9/9:30pm and get up 4am..... you need a routine and structured plan of what you want to do , or it will seem like a "useless" time to get up. even if you get up at 6am , it will give you a bit of extra time ...which lets you get more done ........my favorite thing is how quiet the world is

[@dou]

I was created to huddle under the blankets.

[@heymoe1179]

I've been a 9pm to 5am sleeper for a couple decades now.

[@blue_lobster_]

What is this, a cult of waking up early? Dude, you literally developed eyebags. And for some other dudes that don't believe in placebo, here's how it works: When you're becoming older (like Tim Cook, David Goggings, name it) - your circadian shift naturally shifts towards waking up early and sleeping less - it's a part of ageing process. Me in my teens and 20s - I've tried bunch of those methods of "waking up EarLy" - none worked for me. Was sleep deprived as hell. If you want to be truly creative and good, you don't have to mimic literally every aspect of another's person. Do what's good for you. Cheers

[@gerald4535]

Where did it come from? In the last 3ish days, I've started seeing more and more talk about waking up at 5...

[@blue_lobster_]

@@gerald4535 IDK man, seems like bullshit plague of self-help gurus, which are usually in their 30s-40s. Of course, they gonna wake up early, duh

[@Autistic_Helicopter]

EXACTLY my experience, thank you. Glad I am not alone in this

[@rk7535]

I have been waking up at 4:30 every single morning for almost 15 years. It’s develops discipline, mental resilience and you’ll just get so much done in your day. By 8:00 I’ve done more than some people do in a full day. Exercised, ate, prayed, read and got chores done on my farm. I highly recommend waking up early if you want to be a better you.

[@lynnr6418]

I've gotten up between 0400 and 0500 most of my life. I was never a night person. I'm done work around 2.00 and 3.00. I go to the gym right after work. I come home and have a really good dinner. That's key. Then I stay out till dark. Then bed. 😊

[@diabolicalwit8033]

Waking up early, of course is a very different experience for everyone. Things did not get easier for Zach but his mind did, but in my case I got used to it pretty easily. Maybe that's because my natural circadian rhythm is set like that. Best part of waking up early is you get so much of free time that at one point you are not even sure what to do with it. Ever since I started waking up around 4-30, I have these few hours to myself everyday, which makes my day a lot more productive even though that is not the case all the time lol

[@ilynomad]

You don't really get any additional free time unless you're now sleeping less

[@galinswigart]

Any time I get up early, I almost feel like I get two days in one. Not in a "grind bro" way. But like you mentioned in the video, it's an incredible feeling to accomplish several tasks and feel like you've really been productive only to look at the clock and see that it's 8AM and you would generally just be waking up around that time. That doesn't make it easy, I still hate getting out of bed to a 5AM alarm, but it's always worth it.

[@ayushipundir]

You're looking like you wake up at 5am daily!! Keep it up 😊

[@ZachHighley]

can't tell if compliment or insult haha

[@ayushipundir]

@@ZachHighley obviously a compliment!!

[@ZachHighley]

@@ayushipundir thanksss

[@SteveSingsThings]

Early morning is kind of magically eerie and peaceful. Even in an urban setting, what few people you do see, the odd jogger, bike rider, or dog walker, are more apt to give a wave or nod. It's your special secret club.

[@Tadkaosnga]

Awesome video bro keep making more

[@ZachHighley]

You know it

[@WholeMindsetMastery]

I agree with waking up early-5 a.m., 5:30 a.m., or 6 a.m. But most KZbinrs don't mention what time they went to bed. Take it from a person who used to pride in 3 - 5 hours of sleep to get more done. It is extremely important to sleep 7 - 8 hours per day for your overall health. It is okay to wake up at 5 a.m. but sleep at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. Also, it really doesn't matter what time you wake up, it’s what you do with the time you have. You can be productive with a good night sleep, good nutrition and workout. You only have one mind and one body; take care of it for an optimal life expectancy.

[@jamilmusholt2671]

I am not familiar how your day to day as a still med student looks like. But do you feel you will continue this when having to work in shifts as a doctor? I can imagine that after having late or night shifts for a week it can get hard to get back into the getting up early rythm.

[@BraveClam]

Just quit sleeping, it's actually been insanely productive. I've been able to completely optimize my hours, and app development has been insane since I quit sleeping two months ago - About to launch my 2nd start up and hopefully get another quick sell to keep going. 20 minute naps at 4-8 times a "day" is all you need, and lucid dreaming is so easy to achieve. It's definitely not for all work type though, please do not do this if you're a blue collar worker - just for internet hermits.

[@hnnhml]

great video zach - i was considering starting to wake up earlier than i currently do to get more things done, so this i s perfect timing 😊

[@ZachHighley]

Transplanting hours was huge to me!

[@musickf]

I started waking up at 6am because of my new college schedule. It's a 1.5 hour bus/train ride to the campus (using public transport instead of my car to save money), so I have to leave my place around 7:30 Monday, Wednesday and Friday to make it to my 10am class. On Tuesday and Thursday my first class is at 8, so I drive in, but still wake up at 6am. It's lead to me eating healthier, taking better care of my overall health, my mental health seems to be doing better and the quiet in the mornings is a nice thing to experience and relax to. I used to wake up at 10:30am on days I didn't work. Now, if I"m in bed past 8am I feel like I'm wasting the morning. I'm by no means a morning person, but getting up this early seems to have lots of benefits for me.

[@karinavoggel5741]

Honestly I don't get this obsession with morning schedules as if this makes you suddenly a morally superior person. Like no one ever made it a challenge to stay awake until 3AM to get more work done. I mean some people are just night owls. Like I fall somewhere in between and its totally fine. Depends on schedule & preferences. But most importantly many of these "I always wake up at 5AM" people will readily sacrifice their sleep just to stick to that routine. You know what is also important? Getting a good 8h of sleep.

[@caerbenogg]

As a night owl I can't even imagine going to bed at 9 pm. The benefit of the silence in the morning also applies to the silence in the night when most people are sleeping.

[@rakvian]

It must be nice to be able to choose what time you wake up. I have to wake up at 5 am, it's currently summer here and I have to go to sleep before the sun goes down and wake up before sunrise because UNI is 2 hours away, honestly I'd never willingly choose this. Also, it's crazy that U don't see anyone outside by 6 am, when I am the train at 6 o'clock or 6:20 it's starting to get full of people.

[@John315]

I have tried something different, which i believe, is more friendly to the human body. I checked the sunrise time every single evening for the next day and i always set my alarm at that time. So i was waking up at sunrise, which was at a different time every day. What i personally hated when i had a job that made me get up early, was that it was still dark outside. It felt so unnatural and made me feel really bad for the rest of the day. I didn't have the energy, the mood, nothing. But when i tried waking up right at sunrise, when you see the light of dawn and a new day at it's very start, it feels amazing. Also, i didn't just wake up at that time. I also ate my breakfast and immediately got out of the house for a stroll. So i could feel that morning breeze, see the first light of day, with that beautiful orange sky, because even if you wake up at sunrise, but stay in your apartment, where your body does not accept sunlight, or fresh air, it doesn't make much of a difference. That was the best routine i've ever had in my entire life, because my mood changed drastically, i always was full of energy and most importantly, i felt sleepy in normal hours in the evening. LIke i never slept after midnight, because i was always sleepy before that. Before starting that, i always stayed up till 3-4 in the morning and woke up after 12 pm. It totally sucked and i felt my head heavy for the whole day.

[@Trace7173]

There's nothing magical about waking up early, except feeling tired all day..We should stop glamorizing it

[@David-sc2ir]

I wish I could sleep until 7! I wake up automatically somewhere between 4 and 5 every morning, I bounce out of bed, never groggy. I've always been this way and I don't know why? I'm 64 and newly retired... I thought I'd like trying to sleep in but it just isn't in my DNA. When my eyes open up I'm raring to go. As soon as the sun is up I'm out for a long walk then have a breakfast of poached eggs, half a bagel, and a glass of O.J. I'm usually in bed by 7:30 to 8 and am asleep pretty quickly. I guess it's just the way I'm wired :) It's not a bad way to live, I feel great! If it isn't broke, don't try to fix it :)

[@haiderelshemari2502]

Can you please make a video about your fitness. What type of exercises you do or type of diet you follow? Love your videos

[@vendingservices8900]

I woke up at 5:30 every day for a month. After one week on vacation, I messed my schedule up big time. Now it’s around 9-10 getting up again.

[@wayneharless5073]

Welcome to the 5 o'clock club have been doing it most of my life.

[@cterry7777]

The hours of sleep needed isn't really addressed in this. So you get up at 5am, but do you go to bed at Midnight or 8pm? I disagree with the premise that you can get more done in the morning vs night. No emails at 5am? Do you get emails if you are working at midnight? If no, that what is the difference. If yes, then you do have emails at 5am, so again what is the difference?

[@remtemae6081]

I think the most important thing that u missed on this video is talking about at what time did you go to sleep?

[@TR4zest]

I have woken at 5AM-ish all my life. Since a toddler. The peace is wonderful. If I am with another early riser, I feel invaded.

[@ashwinjaars8524]

Great video man, I started waking up at 5 since Monday. Hopefully I can continue

[@insaniquarium92]

Coming back from my vacation (where it was 2 hours ahead) helped me reset my clock! I now wake up at 6:30AM and get some HIIT, workout and running done. Then a cold shower and breakfast. Perfect start for each day!

[@davidc-l9174]

As someone who has naturally woken up very early every day for just about his entire life, I will never understand the alarm snoozers. But, I can empathize with those who have a hard time getting up early, mainly because I have a hard time staying up late. I can get SO much accomplished early in the morning before the world wakes up! Sometimes I get all my to-dos done before mid-morning, and then I have the rest of the day to do as I please. Well, except for the days I have to go into the office, in which case getting up at 5AM just means getting to work on time.