My Brain’s on Fire at 6am. What About Yours?

Let’s get this out of the way: I am a morning person.
There are no ifs, no ands, and definitely no buts.
My brain is on fire in the early hours, and by 3pm? It’s fading fast.

My ideal wake-up time is 6:00am. That may not sound wild, but the real problem is… I naturally wake up at 4:30. Which is too early. I’m not trying to win a medal here. I’d love that extra 90 minutes of sleep, but my brain has other plans.

Know Thyself (And Stop Forcing the 5am Club)

It makes me cringe when I see “experts” declaring that everyone should wake up at 5am if they want to be successful.

Give. Me. A. Break.

That advice might work for some people, but it’s not a universal truth. We’re all wired differently. The key to being productive, if that’s your goal, is learning how you work best and building your schedule around that.

I know night owls who crush their to-do list at 11pm. Meanwhile, I’m practically drooling on the couch by then. Even back in college, I couldn’t pull an all-nighter. I was better off going to sleep early and waking up before the sun to study.

You Don’t Need to Copy Anyone’s Rhythm (Even Mine)

The worst thing you can do for your productivity is compare your routine to someone else’s. Just because someone is thriving with early wake-ups, two-hour lunch breaks, and a seven-step morning ritual doesn’t mean that will work for you.

You might hit your stride mid-morning. Or late at night. Or maybe your life is full of unpredictable variables - kids, caregiving, client demands - that make consistent routines a luxury.

I have the immense privilege of controlling my own schedule. I don’t take that for granted. But even if your life doesn’t give you total control over your time, you can start by noticing when you feel your best. Energy, focus, creativity... those are clues. Pay attention.

Then protect those pockets of time when you can.

Have You Ever Even Thought About It?

If you’ve never asked yourself when your peak energy hits, this is your invitation.
No pressure. Just curiosity.

• When do you feel most clear-headed?

• When do tasks feel easier or more fun?

• When do you get the most done without forcing it?

You don’t need to overhaul your life. Just start small. Even shifting one or two tasks into your “good brain” time can make a huge difference.

Here’s the Bottom Line

You don’t need to join the 5am club.
You don’t need to follow someone else’s schedule.
You just need to know what works for YOU, and then do your best to honor that.

The people who seem like they have it all together? They’re probably just working in alignment with their natural rhythm.

You get to do that too.

Be you. Do you.
Your best work lives right there.