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

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-ha…

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

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 :)

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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 😖

You always put out these videos when I need em the most. Zach ur a 🐐

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

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.

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!!

Loved this video bro, Keep going strong.

Have a nice new year man Thanks for all

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

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.

One of the best YouTubers. A man with substance.