Lets not call 5pm a club just yet. It is a concept still in works.

A rip-off , a prequel to the 5am club?

Yes it is. And that is why I think the 5am club is such a powerful concept. There are scores of people including myself who have been trying to become a part of this much coveted lifestyle. What does it take? Well, months if not years of practice, lifestyle changes, tiny habits and routines and if possible, partner(s) in crime. And it is still hard to get it perfect each time.

And yet, there is a certain attraction to the idea of getting your body and mind in the right space at the start of the day. There is so many things during the day, that I link to these few morning hours. If the morning is not perfect, I struggle to find time during the day for those activities, make an excuse to not workout, binge eat or not meditate. The outcome is regret most of the times, but to the trained club members, this offers an opportunity to correct the wrongs of a day and fix the next day. Its quite a difficult, cyclical process. I would like to think I come out a winner from doing this while cheating only a few times.

Once you become an early morning person, you are quite a threat to your own social standing. Firstly, you are such a strong proponent of this new way of life, that you may end up pissing off friends and family with some difficult and unreasonable rules. “No calls after 9pm, Have to eat early so no dinners please, Lets start work early folks, eh?, No wishing birthdays at midnight plz”. Arrrghhhh. Secondly, where has all the fun gone? The spontaneity, the surprise calls, late night dancing, binge watching a series. It is difficult to understand how people like me have fun and still have friends !

The simple answer is - it is impossible to accomplish both - discipline and fun. And if you still want to ensure you have the support of your family and have fun with friends, there are a few compromises to be made. That’s how 5PM club evolved. Lucky for me, I have like-minded and very adjusting friends and family. The most critical aspect of being an early bird is to have a good and healthy evening routine. Noone became healthy by sleeping less. It is not just about waking up early, it is about waking up fresh and effortlessly. I think you get the gist now.

5PM routine leading to a fresh start every single morning without losing on the fun

And you will see how rewarding this is. So, what all can we do at 5PM? I will go into detail of some of these experiences

An early start to the party with friends is amazing. When I had traveled to the UK, I was so inspired by the early start in offices and drinking beer at pubs at 5:30pm. Coming from India where long work hours is the norm, I had just witnessed a life changing event. It is a hundred times better to start a party early, eat earlier too and be in bed before the stroke of midnight. Nothing hurts the next day more than realizing you slept at 2am. So, this has pretty much become a trend with my friends - early bird or not.

The positive outcome of this plan can also be felt in closing your work day on time. It is a time to keep away your laptop and files and start winding down for the night. There is enough time to have a conversation with family, watch some TV, have an early dinner and maybe take a walk post dinner and read before you snooze. What an amazing evening that sounds, just like an amazing morning. And if every day were like that, we would make for happy, healthy and productive individuals.

We live in a world where devices all around us consume our every waking minute. It does not necessarily have to be so. It takes a lot of discipline and some house rules for the vulnerable, but this is essential for calming your mind and going about your day mindfully. Device off policy in my house is at around 45 min before going to bed, but the process starts much earlier. If you keep thinking about that email, that problem at work, a meeting you forgot to set up, there is always an excuse to pick up the phone. It is best to let everyone at work know that post 5pm (or a x time) I will only be available on call in case of something urgent. You will be amazed to see how people adjust their ways of working and their expectations.

Lastly, think of this additional time as an opportunity to do something you have always thought of doing, but have been neck deep in work to actually go ahead and accomplish. While there are few things that are beyond your control during the day and may spill over beyond 5pm, majority of the times, you are able to finish your work on time, the moment you make provisions for that to happen during the day itself. There are examples of organizations that are going the extra mile to make their employees feel trusted, to give them ample time off meetings and are creating policies, unthought of, before the pandemic happened. Let us be examples of that change around us.

After doing all this and more, there is so much respect you are giving to your body and mind. And the body returns it back in heaps and bounds. After a busy morning, I am filled with even more energy than I would have had had I lazed in bed until late. Once again, this is only possible after a restful sleep grateful about the beauty and happiness all around us.

It is easier said than done

Consciously practicing is what brings about a lifetime of change. If this is not your thang, so be it. Just find a way to slot more time for yourself and invest in all the people you call family.

If you liked these thoughts, do read the post on 'Rose Thorn, Bud, Soil - It has touched lives in ways unimaginable for the uninitiated ! '.