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Does the early bird always catch the worm? This seems to be true in the world of corporate leadership. If you study the profiles of executives, you will find that many successful CEOs recite the same mantra: “I wake up at the crack of dawn to be more productive.” Elon Musk wakes up at 7am, Jeff Bezos at 5am, and Tim Cook at 3:45am. It’s as if there is a silent competition going on over wake-up times, and the earlier the better the gauge.
The TikTok community recently joined in on this productivity cult, but with a modern twist. Against the backdrop of the work-life balance micro-trends “quit quietly” and “lazy girl work,” the latest viral trend is called “5-9 before 9-5.” As the name suggests, “5 to 9” refers to the morning hours from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., before the regular workday of “9 a.m. to 5 p.m.” This trend requires workers to wake up at 5 a.m. and develop a morning routine before starting their shift.
Unlike the morning rituals of business leaders, filled with emails and strategic plans, they are not waking up early for work. Rather, they are encouraged to spend these golden four hours on self-care and wellness: eating a hearty breakfast, going to the gym, doing laundry, walking the dog, running errands, reading, listening to podcasts, etc. The core of this productivity movement is to motivate workers to prioritize their health over work and find a routine that fits their individual needs.
Should you join the trend?
Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, it’s worth a try. Breaking down his 24 hours during a normal working day, he spends 9 hours working, 8 hours sleeping, and only 7 hours for himself. These precious waking hours are often spent on basic tasks such as grooming, eating, housework, and commuting. Therefore, if you can take time for your health first thing in the morning, you will be able to finish work on time and be able to step away from work.
This new trend may be an antidote especially for those who feel tired after work but struggle with guilt for spending their off-duty time relaxing and not doing anything productive. Embracing this trend may be a way to regain autonomy and mental clarity in your life.
Waking up at dawn has countless benefits. There are usually fewer distractions during the early hours of the morning, which helps you feel more focused and make better decisions throughout the day. Dedicating your morning time to self-care and personal growth can make you feel accomplished and more productive throughout the day.
The backbone of this trend is building a solid nighttime routine. Waking up early doesn’t mean sacrificing sleep. It’s important to get at least seven hours of sleep every night. Lack of sleep can lead to serious health risks, including stroke, asthma attacks, depression and mental illness. One last thing to note: not everyone is a morning person. Don’t be afraid to hit the snooze button if you need some extra sleep that day. Find the productivity tricks that work for you.
How employers can support their employees
Unlike the “lazy job” and “quiet quit” trends, employers can benefit from this trend. By supporting this trend, employers can develop a happier, more engaged, and ultimately more productive workforce.
One way to facilitate this is by offering flexible working arrangements. For example, remote work options reduce commute strain and allow for smoother transitions between work and personal time, while offering flexible working hours allows employees to manage their schedules more efficiently, improving work-life balance and overall satisfaction.
In addition to providing flexibility, HR professionals can creatively offer employee benefits to support employee health. We’re seeing a trend for employers to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and customize benefits to address the unique needs of different employees. For example, provide child care assistance or on-site child care for working parents or tuition reimbursement for employees with student loan debt.
Beyond work perks, this is also a good time for employers to reflect and reassess their team members’ workloads. If employees are constantly feeling overwhelmed at work, it’s a red flag for employers. Simply practicing self-care habits won’t be enough in the long run. Employers need to address the underlying issues and ensure that goals are realistic and workloads are manageable.
Returning to the opening question: “Do early risers always catch bugs?” No bugs are worth catching if the bird burns out. The future of work lies not in a strict “early bird” mentality, but rather in a disciplined “early riser” mentality, whether that means completing a task at dawn or tackling it under cover of night. The goal is to create a personal schedule that you optimize. For night owls, this tendency can evolve into “9 to 5 followed by 5 to 9.” After all, the key to catching worms is understanding what works best for you.
Like other TikTok work trends, this “5-9 before 9-5” trend may eventually fade away. Moreover, the underlying message of prioritizing happiness remains as the emphasis on work-life balance is ingrained in the brains of the modern workforce.
James Neave, Head of Data Science, Adzuna
