Waking up at 5 am, making an aesthetic breakfast, working out, showering, and getting ready for the day. This is a current trend going around social media, and it is also known as the 5 am “that girl” morning routine. Many girls follow it for the clean aesthetic, as the trend is known for promoting health and productivity.

On social media sites like TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest, we often see influencers post their version of the morning routine. Most consists of them making the prettiest breakfast, like avocado toast or pancakes, drinking green juice and lemon water, wearing a matching Lululemon or Alo Yoga set, working out at the gym doing cardio or yoga, showering with the newest trending products, having a luxury skincare routine, and getting lots of work done all before noon. It seems as if these girls have a whole week’s worth of time just in one morning.

Seeing videos like these often entice regular people like you and me to give the routine a try. The positives of the routine include how it sets a schedule for those with time management issues and helps to kick start their day. For example, working out in the morning is known to help increase your energy levels for the day and help with increased alertness. Additionally, having a nutritious breakfast fuels you. Many who have tried the routine also stated that it helps to provide quality time just for yourself and helps with your ability to go to sleep earlier, as a productive day leads to tiredness which makes it easier to fall asleep, overall bettering your sleep cycle.

However, others would argue that the routine is not the solution to being more productive for most people. Going to bed early each night is unrealistic, as most teenagers don’t sleep until midnight, and waking up at 5 am would not provide sufficient sleep hours for them. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that teenagers between 13–18 years old sleep 8–10 hours per 24 hours (CDC). In addition, many believe that the idea of waking up early to increase the productivity of your day is great, but it is also unrealistic for the average person. Chelsey Natividad (9), a YLHS tudent expresses, “You don’t need to wake up at 5 am to love yourself more, and I think the “that girl” mindset is subjective and can come with extreme habits that most people can’t even keep up with.” Many others in the comment sections of posts seem to agree with waking up so early for the routine to be unattainable.

The 5 am “That Girl” morning routine is a trend with its pros and cons. Many would love to try and follow while others find it unrealistic. In the end, we should all do what works best for us as an individual as we all have different preferences and goals that need to be accomplished.