What I learned from my 66 day 5am Club Challenge.

If you have read my previous blogs, I posted one blog about my 5am club challenge.  Back in January of 2021 I was getting frustrated and tired.  However, I persevered with the challenge during what is called the ‘installation’ phase of a habit installation protocol.  I can tell you, it is quite worth it when you finally get into the last stage, ‘integration phase’, and reach automaticity.

A few days after posting my update on my 5am club challenge, back in January.  I began to feel more energy and clarity.  It became easier to get up for 5am and begin my routine. I was more confident and building my self-discipline more and more. When I went to work, I found myself continuing to have energy in the afternoons when I was meeting with people.  I was feeling stronger, happier and I was more productive.  I knew what Robin Sharma wrote in his 5am club book was true; but it is one thing to read a book and another to experience it.  I would recommend everyone do this.  As mother Teresa said, “If each of us would only sweep our own doorstep, the whole World would be clean.”

The habit installation protocol has three phases: the destruction phase, the installation phase, and the integration phase.  Each stage is approximately 22 days, so that at the end of 66 days, you have automated the habit you would like to form. I also read that habits can take up to 254 days to install, so I have committed myself to continuing the 5am club challenge for the rest of this year.

In the book Robin Sharma writes, “You become undefeatable in the world by what you do when no one’s watching.” What do you do in the morning when no one is watching you?

After my disastrous day 19, and then continuing to drag my buttock out of bed every morning up to day 35; I finally started to feel like a human.  I would say around day 40, right before the 44 day beginning of the integration phase, I was starting to feel like I was getting somewhere with this challenge.

I now know I am changing and making a difference because it is other people who are pointing it out to me.  My massage therapist told me the other day that, “whoa girl, you are going to be stacked in a few weeks.” Not sure if I want to be stacked – nicely toned will do – but I guess we will see what happens.

I have had people tell me in the afternoons, “Where are you getting your energy.”  My reply, “I get up at 4:45am.” You should see their perplexed faces!

My new morning routine is now automated and this is what I do.  I know other people may do other things, but this is what works for me right now. 

I get up at 4:45am. (I am debating getting up earlier, because it is so nice to have more time and freedom for myself. It will also give me more time to prepare healthy food for the day.)  I begin my day with 30-45 minutes of exercise, consisting of either running, yoga or boxing.  I then meditate, journal and set up my mini-wins and pre-performance blueprint for the day.  I then finish with reading or listening to a blog for 30-45 minutes. 

I know the 5am club challenge is usually an hour, consisting of the 20-20-20 formula, but I take two to two and a half hours for myself each morning, and I absolutely love it!

On the days that I do not have to be at work until later in the morning or afternoon, I spend my time writing blogs, reading and/or doing another workout.  My husband is absolutely amazing, and he cooks breakfast every morning.  If you can get yourself one of those, I can tell you, you got it made! (Wink wink.)

So, in conclusion, you really should do the 5am club 66 day challenge. Even when all you want to do is turn over and go back to sleep, get up and conquer the most important thing – yourself.  We are all trying to do the best we can, with what we know and what we have available to us at the time.  The more you work on yourself, the more our world is going to change into a place of even more beauty and happiness.

What I learned.

1. It works! So do it!
2. More energy.
3. More clarity.
4. More creativity.
5. Feeling happy.
6. Better relationships.