If you’re partial to a lie-in, your daily life could be turned upside down by the new morning routine that’s all the rage on social networks: the “5-to-9am routine”.

This lifestyle is based on strict self-discipline in terms of sleep, nutrition and physical activity, but especially on the idea that human beings are more productive in the morning.

The concept seems to be widely supported, if the 20 million and 17 million views scored by the hashtags #5to9routine and #5amroutine are anything to go by. Hundreds of videos of individuals – some men but mainly women – are sharing their early-morning routine, from getting out of bed to leaving for work.

And if there’s one thing is sure, it’s that these social media users seem to pack in much more than the average person.

Making me-time

If you haven’t yet embraced this trend, chances are your daily routine is filled with a seemingly neverending cycle of work, commuting, and other commitments, with some variations depending on where you live, whether you have kids, or your social life.

In any case, the fact remains that almost everywhere in the world, we are constantly chasing time. This hectic, fast-paced lifestyle was thought to be on the wane with the pandemic, but it seems to have picked up again since restrictions eased.

And this is where the new routine preferred by stars, wellness influencers, and other TikTokkers comes in, promising to promote a calmer and healthier lifestyle focused on wellbeing.

Jeff Bezos, Jennifer Aniston, and Oprah Winfrey all agree that getting up at the crack of dawn is not only good for your mental health but also for your productivity and efficiency. And they have made it their mantra: go to bed early, get up early to embrace a healthier lifestyle.

You just have to watch the videos of TikTok users who have adopted this routine to realise you can indeed get a lot done when you get up at 5am.

Preparing a delicious breakfast, with freshly squeezed juice, smoothies, freshly cut fruit, and bowls of cereal with all kinds of seeds; exercising; meditating; going for a morning walk; embarking on an optimal beauty routine; and even reading a book…. these are some of the activities carried out by followers of the 5-to-9am routine before they even head to work.

It’s a way to take care of yourself, to refocus, and to stop putting off what you can do – at 5am. And from the look of the comments posted under these TikTok videos, this routine is a source of admiration, if only because it requires a lot of self-discipline.

The cult of productivity

But it’s also a source of frustration for those who habitually get up at the last minute, just in time to have a coffee and a shower before rushing off to work. Some people feel obliged to specify that while this way of life is beneficial to them, it is not about criticising or belittling those who do not manage to get up at dawn.

In the same vein, many health professionals are praising the 5-to-9 routine on the Chinese social network while stating that it is important to respect the sleep needs of each individual. And that’s without taking into account the fact that some people aren’t necessarily more productive in the morning, contrary to popular belief.

Speaking to “The Independent”, psychologist Suzy Reading explains: “Some people naturally feel greater mental clarity in the morning, while others will feel more switched on later in the day. Go with what works best for you as an individual.

“What’s most important is respecting and meeting your sleep needs – for adults, this is seven to nine hours of sleep daily. Sacrificing our sleep needs will not serve us in the long-term.”

Another issue raised by many TikTok users is the glorification of productivity. At a time when people’s mental health is under strain, with an increase in anxiety disorders, depression and even burnout, some wonder if it is really necessary to adopt a routine aimed at being ever more productive and efficient.

Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to determine whether this lifestyle can be beneficial to their wellbeing, without trying to achieve objectives that do not work for them.