Why Millionaires Wake up at 5 Am

I remember how excited I was when I had just turned 18 and got my first part-time job. There was something about it that made me feel strong and powerful. It was easy at first until it started taking a toll on me. I would get to class dog tired and barely manage to keep my eyes open.

My assignments began piling up and my social life became non-existent and all I could think was, “this is it. This is what adulting is, I better get used to it.”

That went on for a while till I met a friend who used to wake up at 5 Am. I couldn’t understand what kind of horrors he had in his dreams to make him wake up that early. He offered to wake me up one day and I agreed.

I remember how amazing and rewarding it felt when 7 am clocked in and I had done a considerable amount of work. That was my moment of epiphany.

Three years later, I can proudly categorize myself as an early riser with the likes of Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, and Howard Schultz.

In this article, you’ll find out why millionaires chose to wake up at 5 am and how by doing this you can reap the benefits that they do.

Perks of waking up early

1. You tap into your subconscious mind.

   “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulate the creative mind.” Albert Einstein.

   At 5 am in the morning, the atmosphere is very peaceful and calm. There’s not much noise in the environs and there’s so much clarity of thoughts. In that condition, your subconscious voice becomes louder and more clearer. This is the theta state of mind.

   Once you tap into that state, creativity flows from and within you. That’s why this is the best time to write and compose music, to paint, and to write fictional stories.

   Open up your mind and let your thoughts run free and by sunrise, you’ll be amazed by the kind of art you’ll have created.

2. A Sense of accomplishment = more confidence.

   As much as we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others, we can’t help it. It’s part of human nature and part of us. Knowing that you did something extra than someone else gives you a major confidence boost. That’s why waking up earlier than the rest of the world is not a small win but a big one.
   
   Once the clock strikes 7 am and you check to see how far you’ve come, you’ll feel confident and proud of yourself.

   You go on with your day on a high note, ticking off the things in your list effortlessly. Over time, you become a more jovial person and your self-esteem skyrockets.

3. Little to No distractions.

   Have you ever sat down to work and completed a task at one go? Without leaving your desk to talk to someone or check your phone. How did that make you feel? Invincible right?

   There’s a kind of joy and pride that comes when you do what you planned to at the time you set aside. There’s no better time than at 5 am. There are little to no distractions, enabling you to reach your maximum potential.

   Tim Cook, the chief executive CEO of Apple, confesses to waking up early every day to bury his head in emails sent by apple users. During this set time, he can’t be distracted and by reading the emails, he gets to learn what Apple customers like and hate and improve on the products.

   This is one of the strategies he uses to make Apple products better and more successful.

4. Get back your ‘Me time.’

   In our day-to-day lives, we’re constantly surrounded by people who need our attention. This is great because we have people to care for and who care for us too, but sometimes they can be draining.

   That’s why it’s important to have “me time”. Time away from your spouse and children. A time when you can just sit alone, breathe, and center yourself once more.

   But with the bills coming in and the demands of life, getting this time is considered a luxury that is longed for.

   But not anymore! Change this narrative and steal back some time for yourself. Get up early, practice yoga read a book, or sneak in a few episodes of your favorite tv show. Do what you have to do to relax.

   By taking back this time, you’re able to center yourself and get back the energy that had left your body and mind.

   Just like Mandy Hale put it, “ It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.”

5. Get time for the people who matter.

   Life can get hectic at times and getting time for others can seem far-fetched when we only have time for the coffee breaks that keep us sane.

   When you wake up at 5 am and put in work till 7 am, that’s a solid two or three extra hours. Chances are you’ll finish your work earlier and have extra time during the day.

   Jeff Bezos is a great example of a millionaire who practices this. Since he wakes up at 5 am, he gets time to have breakfast with his family. Moreover, he takes his family out on submarine excursions despite his tight schedule.

   So wake up early, get those extra three hours and drive down to your parents later in the day or call the friend you haven’t seen in ages. At the end of the day, they’re the ones who hold us dear and will remember us, not our clients or our business partners, or even our money.

   Final thoughts

   It’s all about balance. You can’t go to sleep at 1 am and expect to be up by 5 am. Compromising the amount of sleep you get won’t make you more productive. On the contrary, your health and productivity will deteriorate. So in order to wake up early, you gotta sleep early too.

   “Go to bed early and wake up early. The morning hours are good.”

   — Jeff Bezos.
   Cheers!