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The 5 AM Miracle

1. What is The 5 AM Miracle?

The 5 AM Miracle is the name of my podcast and book. Here’s the official definition: The extraordinary act of dominating your day before breakfast, intentionally bouncing out of bed bright and early in order to make significant progress on your grandest goals.

In short, the miracle is the phenomenal progress that can be achieved in the early morning hours when the world is quiet and there is nothing standing between you and what matters most. Read more.

2. Where do I begin?

The best place to begin is The 5 AM Miracle Podcast for weekly inspiration, lessons, and resources to help you literally bounce out of bed with enthusiasm.

3. Do I have to wake up at 5:00 am?

No, 5:00 am is arbitrary and totally optional. I chose 5:00 am years ago because it happen to fit well with my work schedule at that time.

The key is intentionality. Regardless of the time you wake up it’s best to have a written plan of action for how your day will flow. However, I am certainly a huge fan of early mornings and I believe you will have a huge advantage over others if you embrace a sunrise wake up call.

4. What’s the best way to transition to waking up earlier?

Slowly. Waking up at 5:00 am tomorrow morning will probably just make you incredibly tired and wildly upset at me for suggesting such a thing.

Start by adjusting your alarm clock backwards by just 15 minutes. Then, go to bed earlier by just 15 minutes. A few days later, adjust your time by another 15 minutes. Repeat this process until you reach your desired wake up time.

A great strategy to try is to use those extra 15 minutes for something you have been missing out on. You could do 15 minutes of yoga, or reading, or some other project that means a lot to you. This will ensure you will get real tangible progress from your new early morning routine.

5. What about the weekends?

This is totally up to you. I usually sleep in on the weekends, but not by much. Our bodies function best if we stick to a solid routine. So, if you choose to sleep in, don’t overdo it.

6. What am I supposed to do at 5:00 am?

This is key: use your early mornings for your current highest priority. Don’t make the mistake of waking up early just to check Facebook.

Wake up early with a written plan that includes you prioritizing your most important project in this season of your life. If that includes exercise, then exercise. If it’s writing your novel, then write your novel.

Take advantage of those early hours when no one else is awake and you can focus on something that means a lot to you.

7. Can I still have a miracle if I’m a night owl?

Yes! There is no requirement to become an early morning person in order to be more productive. The miracle is the phenomenal progress that can be achieved when you intentionally plan your time and work on something important.

Though I would make the argument that early risers are more productive over time, if staying up late works for you then stick with it. Just be sure to avoid typical late-night time-wasting tendencies (e.g. watching TV, social activities, working when you’re too tired, etc.).

8. What I have an irregular schedule?

This can still work. Having a schedule that flexes from day-to-day does not preclude you from being productive. The goal is to be intentional, which in this case means staying on top of your schedule more so than someone with a predictable schedule.

Make a list of the key activities you want to work on when free time shows up. Then, take advantage of that open space in your calendar by working through that list.

9. What advice do you have for parents?

First, yes! It is totally possible to be a productive parent.

The best example of this in action is Lisa Canning. She is the mother of 8 children (that’s right, 8!) who is one of the most productive people I know. Listen to my interview of Lisa.

Also, the #1 thing I see with parents is that they expect to be as productive as others who don’t have children. As you likely already know, parenting (though extraordinarily fulfilling) is hard work and can take up quite a bit of your time and energy.

The key is to be intentional with your priorities and take advantage of every free moment you have. Be ruthless in saying no to invitations and new projects and reward yourself with a nap whenever possible!