Ask Coach: 'Is the 5am club really all it's cracked up to be?'
Ask Coach is a new series where Team Coach answers readers' questions about wellness.
Graphic: Tara Blancato
This question comes from Belinda who wants to know if waking up at 5am is really as good for your health as it's cracked up to be.
"My TikTok feed is full of people talking about their '5 to 9' before their '9 to 5' and I've heard of so many people who swear by waking up at 5am to make the most of their day.
"I am so not a morning person. Is the 5am club really all it's cracked up to be?"
READ MORE: 'Is it OK to treat myself to something sweet every day?'
Ask Coach: 'Is the 5am club really all it's cracked up to be?' 9Honey/Tara Blancato
The 5am club has definitely picked up a lot of traction and there are so many people who tout the benefits of waking up with the sun, but if you hate the idea of setting your alarm at the crack of dawn, you're not alone.
When it comes to whether it's actually all it's cracked up to be, many experts say being an early riser has its benefits. But that's not to say it's essential for your wellbeing and depending on your genetics it could actually be better to avoid the 5am start altogether.
READ MORE: Huge misconception about Meghan's 'at home' TV show
Experts say there are many benefits to waking up at 5am. Getty
One of the biggest benefits of waking up at 5am that the Andrew Hubermans and the Steve Bartletts of the world sing from the rooftops is the belief it can improve your productivity.
Waking up early gives you a headstart to your day and some extra hours to get in some exercise, focus on a hobby or do something for yourself that you're less inclined to do after a long workday. With fewer distractions, it's also a great time to make some headway on any projects you may be working on.
Having extra time in the morning before the work day starts or the kids wake up also means you have more time to focus on exercise and healthy habits. It's a lot easier to fit in a nourishing breakfast, a meditation or a morning run when you're not rushing out the door with a half-cooked piece of toast (speaking from experience).
It also means you can have a more peaceful start to the day. We've all been there, when we snooze our alarm until 20 minutes before you need to leave the house – a recipe for a stressful morning.
The early hours of the day are usually calmer and serene – granted you don't have little kids running around – making for a perfect time to sit with a cup of tea and slowly ease into the day.
If we were to take things down a more scientific route, there's something to be said about aligning your circadian rhythm with the daylight.
Your circadian rhythm is your body's natural body clock, which controls when you feel awake and when you feel tired and it is controlled by exposure to light. Experts say syncing your circadian rhythm to be in line with the sunrise and sunset can be beneficial for your health and result in better sleep.
While there are definitely plenty of arguments for waking up at 5am, that's not to say it's an essential for wellness.
When it comes to productivity, it is just as possible to get the same amount of things done later in the day or in the evening and it is still possible to find moments of peace in the morning or throughout the day without waking up at the crack of dawn.
It is important to ensure you are still getting enough sleep, and if waking up at 5am makes that impossible for you, it's not the best idea. Getty
It's also important to make sure you're getting enough good quality sleep. If you are unable to go to bed earlier to adjust to a 5am wakeup routine, there can be an impact as experts recommend getting seven-to-nine hours of sleep per night.
And, finally, in defence of the night owls among us, some people are simply not genetically wired to thrive off an early rise. Your inclination to sleep and wake at certain times of the day is determined by your genetics and outlined by what's called chronotypes.
So while the 5am club has its benefits, it's definitely not for everyone.
Being an early chronotype, which is the most common, means you're inclined to be an early riser while being a late chronotype means you struggle to wake up early but function better in the evenings.
As much as they may try, the late chronotypes among us may struggle to feel good in the early hours of the day. So while the 5am club has its benefits, it's definitely not for everyone.
This article was produced with Thompson's.
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
