5 am Club is written by Robin Sharma a renowned Canadian writer.
The 5 am club falls in the category of self-help books. It is essentially about the benefits of waking up at 5 am and how such a small habit could shape our whole day and eventually our entire life. Self-help books are usually written in two ways - direct points or through a meaningful story. 5 am club is an amalgamation of both as It makes clear points through a meaningful story. Apart from this, it also talks about other aspects of life, how to keep your mind and body healthy, and how a person must strive for not only material but also spiritual growth.
SUMMARY
The story begins when a depressed Entrepreneur and a frustrated writer meet together during a business seminar. While conversing they make acquaintance with a businessman. Although extremely rich, he wears tattered clothes to remind himself about where he has some form. He gives them several pieces of advice on how to live a successful life. His major advice revolves around waking up at 5 a.m. He lists all the benefits of waking up early in the morning and how it has improved his life for the better. He tells them, that at 5 am, the Frontal cortex of our brain, which is responsible for logical/critical thinking is inactive. That means we could focus on one particular thing without getting distracted.
Waking up early increases productivity reduces overthinking, and improves health. He also explains what to do when you wake up early through the 20/20/20 rule. According to him, after waking up, we should exercise for 20 min, which reduces the production of Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. The next 20 minutes should be spent on self-reflection. Sit in a peaceful environment, write a journal, or practice meditation. After that, you can learn something new, like a new language, new skill, or anything that will lead to personal growth for 20 minutes.
Four pillars of life -
Mindset - one should always stay optimistic and determined to achieve the life that one wants. Calibrating your mindset is a vital move as our mental state can shape our lives for better or worse.
Heartset - Correct mindset alone won’t give the desired result, one’s emotional well-being has a lot to do with success. Your heart should be humble and kind, and clear of negative feelings to fully focus on your goals.
Healthset - Health is one of the most important assets of any living being. The quality, the effort we put in, and the result of our work all depend upon our mental and physical health. So, earning money at the expense of our health is not a smart choice. No matter how much we earn, if we are unhealthy we would never be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Soulset - Just like we take care of our physical and mental health, we should also take care of our inner soul by practicing spirituality. One should meditate regularly and spend some time in solitude to nourish their soul.
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Is the 5 am club worth a read?
If you are someone who strives for personal growth and development then absolutely. The language of the book is simple and gives genuine and practical advice which although, quite generic are also quite easy, and effective. The main crux of this book is habits that will lead to not only monetary but personal, and spiritual growth and success.
Noteworthy points from the book - The 5 A.m. Club.
1. Keep your environment clean: The place you inhabit influences the output you produce. So keeping your surroundings clean is essential for good productivity.
2. Surround yourself with optimistic people: Don’t underestimate the power of your associates. We get the same energy and creativity level as the people we interact with. Stay away from those who drain your energy. Also, try to be a positive influence in others' life.
3. Place yourself into voluntary discomfort: Don’t try to live an easy life, rather take challenges, strive to do better than before, and don’t shy away from initial discomfort as it eventually leads to personal development.
4. Strive to improve all the time: We tend to live up to the image we create in our minds. The habits mentioned in the book make one believe in oneself and strive to become more confident, powerful, and resilient.
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Conclusion-
The book does a great job of explaining itself and making all the points clear without going into too much detail. Little scholars would recommend this book to teenagers filled with ambitions to become their best selves, adults, office workers who feel as if they can reach a higher level of performance every day, and everyone who wants to stay enthusiastic throughout the day. Overall, one of the best books for those who strive for personal growth and development.
