The 5am Club: Rick’s Regurgitation

I recently finished reading The 5am Club by Robin Sharma, and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what I’ve learned and share some insights that resonated with me. I hope that, years from now, when you read this, you’ll be able to take something valuable from it. Some of what you’ll read here is inspired by the book itself, while other parts are my own reflections on how these ideas have impacted my life.

What Is the 5am Club?

At its core, the 5am Club is a simple yet powerful idea: it’s about waking up at 5am every day and using the first hour of your day to create a morning routine that sets you up for success. The magic happens during the first hour when you follow a formula that goes like this:

• 20 minutes of exercise to wake up your body, get your blood flowing, and increase your energy.
• 20 minutes of reflection to center your mind, practice gratitude, and set your intentions for the day.
• 20 minutes of growth to learn something new, develop your skills, or engage in something that fuels your personal development.

It’s a routine designed to elevate both your mind and body and help you start your day with a sense of purpose and power.

Why 5am?

You might be wondering, “Why 5am?” It seems early, right? But the reasoning behind this time is simple: the world is quieter at 5am. There are fewer distractions. It’s a time for self-focus and personal growth without the demands of the world pulling at you. When everyone else is asleep, you’re up and taking the first steps toward a productive day.

Sharma explains that the early hours of the morning hold a unique power. At 5am, you’re in a state of calm before the world gets busy. The peace and stillness of the early morning can be incredibly restorative and allows you to set a tone for the rest of your day.

Think about it—if you start your day with intention, with energy, and with focus, it’s far more likely that the rest of your day will follow suit. You get a head start before anyone else has even started their routine.

What I’ve Learned from The 5am Club

While reading The 5am Club, I found myself thinking about the way I approach my mornings and the impact that has on my overall productivity and happiness. I’ve learned some key insights that I want to share with you, as they’ve changed how I think about each day:

1. Morning Routines Shape Your Life
   One of the most powerful ideas in the book is that how you begin your day has a profound effect on the rest of it. If you wake up rushed, stressed, or distracted, that sets the tone for your entire day. But if you wake up with purpose and clarity—if you take the first hour for yourself—then you can cultivate a sense of calm and control. This idea has encouraged me to take my mornings more seriously. I now focus on setting the stage for my day with intention.
2. Exercise is Not Just Physical—It’s Mental
   The first 20 minutes of the 5am Club are dedicated to exercise, and this isn’t just to get your body moving. Exercise, as Sharma points out, is a mental booster. It floods your brain with endorphins, sharpens your focus, and sets the stage for high performance throughout the day. I’ve found that even on days when I feel tired or unmotivated, getting in a quick workout can boost my mood and productivity for the entire day. Movement is truly the fuel for both the body and the mind. Too many people die at 30 and get buried at 80.
3. Reflection Helps You Stay Grounded
   The next 20 minutes are for reflection. This time can be spent in meditation, journaling, or simply sitting quietly and thinking about your life, your goals, and your gratitude. For me, it’s been an eye-opener. I’ve realized that taking a few minutes each day to check in with myself and reflect on my purpose, my intentions, and my challenges is a powerful way to stay grounded. Life can get chaotic, but these moments of reflection help me reconnect with what’s truly important. I’ve found that taking time each day to reflect allows me to move forward with clarity, and it helps me stay aligned with my values.
4. Growth Is a Daily Habit
   The final 20 minutes of the 5am Club are dedicated to growth—whether that’s reading, studying, learning a new skill, or exploring something that challenges you. The key idea here is that growth is not something that happens sporadically. It’s something you make part of your daily life. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that personal development should be a non-negotiable part of your routine. By making growth a daily habit, you make progress every single day.

Why I Want You to Understand This

As I write this for you, I’m thinking ahead to the future. I want you to understand that success is not a result of big, dramatic moments—it’s built in the small, consistent actions you take every single day. The habit of waking up early and investing in yourself during those quiet moments of the morning is a game-changer. It teaches you discipline, focus, and self-care—all of which will help you live a meaningful and successful life.

I know life will throw challenges your way. There will be days when you don’t feel like getting up early, days when things don’t go according to plan, days when everything seems harder than it should be. But in those moments, remember this: Day by day, small steps lead to big changes. The most successful people aren’t necessarily the most gifted or the most talented—they’re the ones who show up, who commit to their own growth, and who take action every single day, no matter what.

So, if you ever feel lost or overwhelmed, come back to the basics. Start your morning with intention. Follow the 5am formula—or adapt it in a way that works for you. Take those first few hours of the day to center yourself, focus on what matters, and invest in your growth.

One day, when you look back at your life, you’ll see that your success was built one small, intentional day at a time. And those days? They all started with your own commitment to wake up, show up, and grow.