I Tried Waking Up at 5am Every Morning, Here's What Happened

Morning routines have always eluded me. But NOT THIS TIME! I tried getting up at 5am, exercising and running right away, meditating, cold showers, and all that good stuff. Did it help me be happier, more productive, a better husband and father, a better Youtuber, a better man?!?!?

Intro 0:00
Day One 1:22
Day Two 5:17
Better Help 8:27
The Rest of Day Two 9:55
Day Three 11:12
Day Four 13:35
Conclusion 15:25

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👕WHEEZY WARDROBE

I post random, hard to categorize silly videos over here. Also a few occasionally active podcasts.

I often post questions on here related to videos I'm currently working on. Sometimes the answers end up in videos. Others post great or goofy or groofy discussions as well.

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🙏 THANKS TOP TIER PATRONS
Joseph Middleswart

[FlesHBoX]

I love the metaness of releasing this at 5 am

[teabagfc]

Fellow 5am dad here, it changed my life too. I can guarantee myself time to workout everyday, get a peaceful cup of coffee, read a little bit or just get some work done without affecting anyone else in the house. Whether it's weekdays or weekends I don't mind getting up and barely seeing anyone outside. It's such a peaceful time of day, and I'm never going back!

[kailetaylor]

"You are never going to feel like it" that one sentence has helped me get up on time and get stuff done. Waiting to feel awake before you get out of bed is a bad plan. Now that I've accepted that mornings are easier. I'm usually wide awake within about 5 minutes of getting up

[urpalval]

I'm having trouble wording this . I've been following you for literal years and years . I want to express my appreciation for the in depth cataloguing, allowing for our analysis, of the journey of adulthood. Constantly trying new things with the goal of improvement. It's so multifaceted. Diet. Exercise. relationships. Mental focus and clarity . It's just amazing . It's not always easy . It doesn't always work or stick but at its core... That's life. It's realistic . Every time I watch one of your videos I think to myself, it's not too late to start today. I started watching you in my 20s and now I am 34. And you are a huge source of motivation for me. So simply put, thank you for just being you.

[Medafets]

I've been watching you since I was 16 Craig. I'm now 28. Seeing you playing with you daughter hit me deep in the chest. Well done sir. :, )

[emy]

This video feels weirdly zen, it's not as chaotic as some others feel and it leaves me feeling peaceful but slightly disturbed at the same time 😄

[rebeccametcalf]

I totally get that feeling of being awake before the rest of the world, and watching the sun come up and the rest of the world wake up slowly. It's magical.

[MrMacgamut]

Reading the comments makes me realize that you mean a lot to, well, a lot of us. I myself have been watching your videos since 2010. I've commented about this quite a bit but it still hits me hard sometimes how much I enjoy your videos even 12 years later. You are the only one that has survived my subscriber cleanses. Thank you...again.

[DustinUnderwoodMKE]

This turned out great. I really like the vlogginess as a change of pace. I'm surprised how much it changed your sense of humor, but I like it!

[Accolonian]

The reason you hate the cold shower is that you always put your head under right away. Try my routine: First normal warm shower (soap needs warm water to work), then the cold one. Start the cold shower by counting to 30, slowly turning around. But not on the head! Then put your head under for a few seconds, no more. Repeat 3 times and ease out for the last 10 count for a total of 100 count. (count may be seconds, but I don't know because your sense of time slows. Yes, I have tested that). The problem is that you expose your (hairless) scalp too sudden and too long. Try it.
In the beginning I kept adding seconds every day until I was under the cold shower 5 minutes, but I found out that count 100 is the right amount for me. There is no gain beyond that besides losing time. Count to 100 is perfect, though.

[ShortneysLife]

I appreciate you mentioning how this doesn't always fit everyone's schedules AND how there are people that already HAVE to wake up at 5am for work and such. I feel like that conversation goes wayside to the mysticism of waking up earlier = morally better?

[samvoigt]

I am 24, and have gotten up between 5 and 6 everyday since I got an 'adult' job 2 years ago and I love it. I get to walk the dog and shower and am lucky enough to have the freedom to go in to the office at 7 so I can get done earlier and have more free time in the evening. The trick to sticking with it is just to establish the routine, so even if you're super tired and don't want to get up one morning, you're so used to doing it that you're not easily deterred. Can't wait for the update video!

[muneeb-khan]

Those extra hours in the morning are actual magic. It's so serene and quiet and it feels like you can get so much done so quickly because you just woke up and your mind is fresh. But for me at least, it just gave me a depressive episode for a few months because my day was ruined after 11am since I had no energy. Even if I did nothing in the morning other than watch a movie. But dang, I wish I could integrate waking up early in my routine.

[Sherritasworld]

I love that Chyna keeps making you ask what she’s eating and it’s always toast! 😆

Oh, and a belated happy birthday to you! 🥳

[bowie]

This is already my life. It's nice to be ahead of Wheezy for a change.

[JasonLestage]

You are such a great storyteller. I get up at 4:45am but it’s not by choice, it’s so I can get out of work in time to pick up my kids from school. I love being able to do that but hate how tired I am and I don’t get the benefit of the extra workout time in the morning. I also crash on the weekends.

[dawdlingHoots]

every single "toast" bit made me laugh out loud, thank you very much for that lol

I already get up at 5AM every day but didn't want to miss your story! your videos are so high quality- well edited and written, thankyoutyty for your work
oh! maybe try Andrew Huberman's NSDR instead of napping? (the neuroscientist that was mentioned during morning sunlight bit)

and looking forward to my Tuesletter after work, thanks!
good luck continuing your new routine Craig!

[ZBginji]

Just wow. The script and the production values, usage of music during transitions and transitions in general, all of it was very well done. I like seeing glimpses into your daily life and uplifting relationship. I really enjoy this video format. I love your work. Thank you for your efforts and passion!

[anna-maymoon]

I appreciate when you do these videos, it's always that gentle push to do better in my life:)

I've been going to sleep at 9pm these past few weeks (mainly bc there's nothing on telly and it's freezing in my room) and it's made such a difference to my productiveness AND mood swings. Which is impressive cos I've been inconsistent with my meds 😅

But I'm very much team "fuck cold showers", medicated or not. Nothing quite like being just the right temperature and the luxury of a warm towel when you get out of a warm shower... 👌

[EllieeMorrissey]

I would love a video on why good habits/routines that we enjoy and know make us feel good are still so hard to keep up in the long term!