Why I Could Never Be A 5 AM Girly

Why I Could Never Be A 5 AM Girly

BY NAVEESHA GHEDIA

I used to love watching people’s daily routines on TikTok — until I stumbled upon the 5 AM corner of the internet. 

Suddenly, the threatening call of “Girlboss Tok” loomed over me like a predator circling its prey. Women were posting carefully curated, timestamped 18-step morning routines. And that was just their skincare. The rest of these routines were rigidly prescribed, consisting of a workout, meditation, journaling, and a perfectly concocted matcha smoothie. 

Forget the 9 to 5. It was all about the 5 to 9 for these “no snooze baddies.” 

As I scrolled, my eyes glazed over in panic. It felt like these women were all handling life so much better than I was. Did I have to start waking up at 5 AM to be a successful person? 

Throughout my life, mornings have been pushed as the source of success and the root of productivity. But my brain is at its most alive at night — my creativity flows when the rest of the world is deep in their REM cycle.

At university, I found it much easier to hit deadlines at 4 AM than 4 PM. All my ideas and creativity flowed, and I was able to hyperfocus for hours on end. However, my body came to hate me for it in the morning. I struggled to get to early morning lectures and would need to dose up on as much caffeine as I could stomach. I came to dread early morning lectures and would try my hardest to move them to the afternoon. 

I don’t have that luxury in adult life. My 9-5 set in stone, I began to realize the significance of a morning routine in setting you up for the day and working toward your overall goals. My housemate would go to the gym at 5 AM and then head to the office straight after, focused and productive. I wanted to start my days with such discipline, but the thought of sacrificing sleep to jump on a treadmill filled me with dread. 

I have struggled to fight being a night person and embrace using my mornings to tick off as much as I can off my to-do list. I always tell myself I’ll go to sleep before midnight — and then suddenly it’s 3 AM and I’m doomscrolling on Reddit or trying to finish an episode of The White Lotus. When I wake up, the first thing I want to do is lie in bed for as long as I can to savor that cozy feeling rather than jump up and do a 10-step wellness routine. 

But it isn’t just me. Studies have found that 80% of adults with ADHD also suffer from a sleep disorder. Neurodivergent people can experience sleep troubles due to issues with melatonin production and delayed circadian rhythms, so it makes sense that we’re more likely to be night owls. If we try to complete everything on our to-do list shortly after waking, it can easily become sensory overload as we’re flooded with tasks, soon followed by guilt.

So I’ve begun to reject the norms of morning productivity and accept my circadian rhythm for what it is. My brain is designed to work differently. Instead of diving headfirst into a 5 AM wake-up call, I’ve started to find my own morning system.

My new routine starts an hour before I’m meant to start work. Instead of reaching for my phone and being hit with dozens of notifications first thing, I’ve started going on my balcony and sitting for 5 minutes. I feel the sunlight on my face, watch the trees sway, and listen to the birds sing. I let the calm wash over me and feel myself regulate.

Next,

instead of diving into a rigid checklist, I open my novelty-seeking grab bag.

I’ve made a list of things to include in my morning routine; each day, I mix it up to give my brain its own unique morning dopamine menu. So on Monday, I could meditate, Tuesday, stretch, Wednesday, journal. It isn’t the heavily dictated scheme that social media prescribes. Instead, the options allow me to listen to my body and brain that day — and give them what they need.

I give myself at least 20-30 minutes to do my activity, and then I’m really ready to start my day. It’s a stark contrast to the morning rush I previously felt after snoozing my alarm as long as I could. I feel lighter and more positive about the day ahead. 

Leaning into my late-night creativity is something I refuse to give up. But equally, I wanted my mornings to feel natural and relaxed rather than like a rat race. Since I’ve slowed down my AMs and made space for my own routine, I feel calmer. My brain isn’t pinging 10 things at me. Suddenly, my mornings aren’t filled with chaos but a time for solitude, peace, and reflection. 

I may not be a 5 AM girly — but I am starting to feel like I’ve conquered mornings in my own girlboss way. 

BIO: Naveesha is a London-based journalist and creative writer interested in culture, identity, and the places that shape us.