I always considered myself a morning person, that could be because as a child, my mother would be banging pots at around 5am to force us to get up. The school bus, which was in fact a jeepney, would be arriving soon. We were in the middle of the bus route so the driver would really not hesitate to leave us behind if ever we were late. So begrudgingly I would get up from bed, head to the toilet for that morning’s movement and wait in the 10-15 degree Baguio air for five to ten minutes before my ride to school would arrive. I was very young then, and upon leaving grade school my father would learn to drive and no longer would we have to get up early in the morning to wait for the bus.
No. We would have to get up early if we wanted to get a ride with my father. It was the same pan banging nonsense, only this time the ride was already there waiting.
Things would get worse when I reached high school, it was the beginning of my sophomore year in the prestigious Saint Louis University Laboratory Boys High School (that’s its official name, but colloquially it was just the Boy’s High), when we would be moving to the mountains of Ambiong La Trinidad. Goodbye to the suburban streets of Aurora Hill, and hello to the countryside pathways of the community where the entire country’s vegetable produce is grown. At first it was a terrible experience, I had to wear rubber boots to keep my clothes from getting muddy because we had to walk around ten to fifteen minutes to get to where the car was parked. Of course this meant that the pan banging would continue, only at an earlier time.
Though growing up, I got to appreciate the routine of waking up early. It was easier especially when I had to leave the house for my hospital duties, or when I was part of the group tasked with making the breakfast for our community service, but even in my free time, mornings are when I would feel the most alive. It just made sense, after sleeping six to eight hours, opening my eyes would be the start of my day.
Excuses breed no genius.
Robin Sharma
The 5AM Club however suggests that waking up early must also lead to more than just productivity, but also personal growth. I guess I never really thought about it that way, getting up early simply meant an early start on the tasks of the day, I had morning class, or I had errands to accomplish, or I could finally finish that level in the video game I was currently playing at the time. But what if we spent our first few waking moments contemplating on ourselves?
Meditation is one of the things the book tries to emphasize, how self reflection improves our outlook, relaxes our body and that we face the day focused and determined. I myself never really tried this, as regularly, my morning routine involves checking my phone, scrolling the feed then getting up to brew coffee.
So perhaps a good habit is to leave my phone on my desk when I go to sleep. But not having my iPad might be something I would struggle without.
I might just start meditating in the next few days and see what happens.
I have been reading a lot more in recent days, and it has given me so much insight into so many things, but I feel that this would be a better alternative to mindless scrolling through social media.
Another habit the 5am Club suggests is exercise in the morning, which should be a no brainer, but is a habit I never really developed for myself. But if you think about it, it makes sense. Squats strengthens your core, improves overall bloodflow which would be beneficial as your start your day. Even push ups, which is a little bit more difficult would have a similar effect.
But to sum up the main idea presented by Robin Sharma, my take away has been simply the fact that by starting your day early and taking steps to activating your mind and body, you can accomplish so much more in your day.
The book continues with more philosophical ideas in the later chapters, which I do recommend you keep on reading when you digested the bulk of the message and it does have other materials you could incorporate into your daily life as a member of the 5am Club.
“Take excellent care of the front end of your day, and the rest of your day will pretty much take care of itself. Own your morning. Elevate your life.”
I do still wake up occasionally early, but with me in my early 30s, I found that I have less energy and motivation. I part of me blames my age, but when I look back at that one scene in the movie Wanted. Wesley (played by James McAvoy) had to have his ass whopped to break down years of bad habits, and with my own self reflection, I feel that how I feel early in the morning is an effect of my own bad habits.
But I do know better now.
Aga Aquino 
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