22nd Day of the 5AM Club Morning Routine Challenge

This morning was such a surreal start to the day for me on this 5AM Club challenge. I woke up, struggled a little, it was dark outside, but I pushed through and washed my face to get ready. I did my exercises and even increased the number of my sit ups for the first time in weeks. I made it all the way through to my learning stage and was reading my book before I thought, I haven’t heard the early morning call to prayer which has been about 5:40AM lately.

I haven’t been timing myself lately during my hour of power because I know roughly how long it takes me to do each stage now. So I went to have a look at my phone to see what time it was and it said 1:55AM…

WHAT?!!!! I couldn’t believe it. I thought my phone must have stopped working as it’s an old iPhone 4S that should have been retired years ago. So I had a look on my computer and it was the same 1:55 in the morning!

It felt like a strange surreal movie where reality had suddenly moved sideways. The good thing is it also felt like I had been given an extra 4 hours of time but the bad thing was that I was running on just 3 hours sleep.

The first odd moment I experienced was seeing that I had forgotten to take my water bottle out of the freezer but it hadn’t completely frozen. Usually when I leave it in the freezer over night it freezes solid. But this morning I could still drink a little bit of iced water from it. I thought that was strange but thought nothing more of it.

Also I didn’t get up though the night to go to the toilet. I drink a lot of water and always have to go at least once during the night.

But it was the ezan or call to prayer that was the final light bulb moment for me. Here in Istanbul they call out over loud speakers religiously every morning. Pun intended. I assumed that I woke at 5AM and I had been doing my morning routine for more than an hour because I had a shower too. And still no ezan. Something wasn’t right.

So what I think I’ve done is. I have woken up to go to the toilet but in my sleepy stupor I have mistook this for my 5AM start. I remember feeling super sleepy but I was determined to do 5 days in a row of the 5AM morning routine, so with determination I dragged myself out and got started.

It’s just as dark at 1AM as it is at 5AM now so outside gave me no clues as to what time it actually was. Being in a fourth floor apartment in a big city cuts you off from any natural signs. Actually I noticed a few more lights on in other apartments and I remember thinking that there’s more people awake early today.

But anyway, that’s my strange start to the day. Which leads me to the question: Did I succeed or fail in doing my 5AM club morning routine today? I did my hour of power and I was up before 5AM.

I would definitely say I made a mistake, but I believe I didn’t fail. So I think I’m still on track to do 5 days in a row. What do you think?

I’m estimating these times obviously as I didn’t look at my phone until 1:55AM lol

1:00AM Wake up and sweat: I struggled to get started with my push ups. Little did I know that it was 1AM and I had good reason to be struggling as my body should have been recovering in bed! But anyway, I pushed out 200 push ups and 140 sit ups.

I’m increasing my sit ups and I’m looking for new abdominal exercises now that I have set myself the epic goal of having a 6 pack stomach! I’ve never had one but it’s better late than never 😎

1:30AM Contemplate master: So I also had a quick shower at about 1:20AM after my exercises. I’m not sure how much my neighbors can hear me in this apartment but they must have thought the foreigner is up late having wild sex and then a shower..lol (the foreigner wishes!)

So I worked on my daily diary. I even wrote what time I woke up in my diary today. It says 5AM but that’s a lie! I’ll be double checking the time from now on.

The second part of my hour of power was the same as my recent previous days. First the daily diary and then writing a page on my goals achieved. Writing about them as if I have achieved them. I am!

1:50AM Learn. It was 1:55AM when it clicked that it was much earlier than 5AM! I was wide awake by this point so I continued to read the book by Scott Carney, What Doesn’t Kill Us.

22nd Day of the 5AM Club Morning Routine Habit Installation

I’m still laughing at how I was up at 1AM doing push ups, sweating, taking a shower, writing in a journal, and then reading! All without realizing just how early in the morning it really was! I’ve made myself laugh a few times recently.

Yesterday I froze my lips to my stainless steel drinking bottle before I went for my daily walk. I didn’t realize that it had frozen solid and my lips were not going anywhere once they locked on. I had to rush to the kitchen sink and pour water over the bottle and my mouth for my lips to come free. Who does that sort of thing? So I had a good laugh at myself. My lips were a little frostbitten after the ordeal but I got a good laugh out of it.

Exercise: 200 push ups, 140 sit ups and 70+ minutes walking.
Diet: I ate some bread as I still had some left over from the recipe photographs that I took. I didn’t want to throw the bread out after it so I’ve decided to eat it.

How Could I Improve?

Check the clock before you start. I know I’m very determined to be up before 5AM everyday this week but a 1AM start is a little extreme!

Also, remember to do weights. I’ve been missing them everyday this week. Create a time that works and make it a habit.

Conclusion for Day 22 of My Morning Routine Habit Journey

Besides my crazy 1AM wake up everything is going well. I slept after my hour of power and was afraid that I would lose this amazing energy that I have been experiencing for the past several days. But I woke up between 7 and 8 and I still felt great.

I’ve had plenty of energy and I have been super-productive all day, leading into the evenings. I’m not sure what I’m doing exactly but I feel amazing and I want it to continue for as long as possible. So I’m just continuing to do what I’m doing and hopefully it’ll become clearer to me. I’m assuming it’s a combination of all of the things I’m doing rather than any one particular thing though.

So, thank you for reading about my crazy 22nd day on the 5AM Club morning routine habit challenge. Please see my previous days here.

See you tomorrow!
D