Why the 5 A.M. Club Is Not Good for Everyone: The Dinacharya Clock Explained
A few years ago, I read the bestselling book The 5 A.M. Club by Robin Sharma, a name widely recognized in the world of motivation and high-performance living. The idea was simple yet powerful: wake up at 5 a.m., follow a structured morning routine, and unlock your highest potential.
As someone always looking to optimize life and bring more meaning into daily routines, I was captivated. This could be it—the missing secret to success! After all, don’t high achievers like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg start their days before sunrise? Isn’t that how they build empires?
I was ready to become that successful early bird.
⏰ My Short-Lived 5 A.M. Club Membership
For a few months, I really tried.
I set my alarm for 4:50 a.m.—no snooze, no excuses. My running shoes and clothes were always right next to my bed. By 5:10 a.m., I was out of the house, hitting the pavement. I lived in Singapore back then. The early mornings were a gift—cool, quiet, alive with possibility before the city heated up. I’d go for long runs—10, sometimes 15 kilometers—watching the sun rise, listening to the subtle sounds of a waking world. On other days, I’d hit the gym.
By 7:00 a.m., I was back home, showered, and ready to start the workday. I felt proud. Not lazy. Accomplished. My "me-time" was already checked off before most people even woke up. I watched the weight fall off. I felt in control.
Running became a passion. Then an obsession.
🧭 KNOW YOUR WHY
Even when migraines crept in—at first occasionally, then with eerie regularity—I pushed through. I ignored the warning signs. I kept going. Because something about that rhythm, that discipline, that early morning solitude made me feel powerful. Or at least, it made me feel like I was trying hard enough to become powerful.
But before I explain how this ties back to the famous “5 A.M. Club,” I want to pause and underline something crucial:
Whatever we decide to do—whatever habits we try to build—it’s important to reflect on the why.
Maybe it wasn’t the 5 A.M. Club alone that drained me.
Maybe it was the combination of waking up early and my deeper, unexamined why.
Why did I want to be so perfect?
Why did I want to lose weight so quickly?
Why did I choose running of all things?
Why did I run?
Was it because it felt meditative?
Because it helped me forget?
What was I trying to push into the corner of my mind—until exhaustion left no space for the thoughts to return?
That’s what I learned. Not from a book. Not from a morning routine. But from burning out trying to chase a version of success that wasn’t mine.
Eventually, I gave up the 5 A.M. rhythm. And at first, I felt disappointed. Maybe I lacked willpower. Maybe I wasn’t made for greatness.
Then a close friend asked me a question that changed everything:
“Why do you need to be this successful?
What makes you believe your worth depends on constant performance?
And what does success even mean to you?”
Those questions left a mark.
Because the truth is, I had been chasing someone else’s definition of success. I was pushing my body against its natural rhythm—and paying the price.
So I stopped.
I let go of the 5 A.M. Club. I let go of the obsession. I let go of punishing routines that came from someone else’s rulebook.
My mornings slowly returned to their own rhythm—waking around 7:30 or 8:00 a.m. And to my surprise, I felt better. More present. More at ease.
I still move my body. I still reflect. But now, I know why.
And that changes everything.
🌿 Not All Bodies Are Built for 5 A.M.
What I didn’t understand back then is this:
Not everyone is built for the same schedule. We each have a unique inner rhythm.
And Ayurveda honors this. It teaches us that true health and success come from aligning with nature’s cycles—not overriding them. This alignment is guided by what’s called the Dhinacharya, or daily routine.
🕰️ What Is the Dinacharya Clock?
In Ayurveda, the day is divided into six time blocks, each governed by a specific dosha—Vata, Pitta, or Kapha. These cycles repeat every 24 hours and influence our energy levels, focus, and digestion.
🌞 The Ayurvedic Daily Clock:
The early morning hours (2–6 a.m.) are universally governed by Vata, which makes this time ideal for spiritual practices and inner clarity. That’s why waking during this window is often encouraged.
But here’s the nuance: how we respond to these natural energies depends on our individual dosha constitution and current state of balance.
🧬 Your Dosha Determines Your Ideal Routine
Let’s explore what this looks like in real life—so you can work with your individual nature, not against it.
🌬️ Vata Types
Light, mobile, creative, and sensitive (air + space)
Vata types are naturally energetic and inspired, but also prone to anxiety, dryness, and fatigue.
Challenge: Waking too early (especially before 5:30 a.m.) can increase nervous energy and make them feel ungrounded.
Best Wake Time: 6:15 – 7 a.m.
Morning Support: Warm drinks, oil massage, slow yoga, and a gentle start.
Example: You’re full of creative ideas, but waking up at 5 a.m. makes you scattered and anxious. Starting your day at 6:45 a.m. with grounding rituals brings more stability and clarity.
🔥 Pitta Types
Intense, driven, focused, and ambitious (fire + water)
Pittas are natural leaders with sharp minds—but they burn out quickly if not balanced.
Challenge: Waking too early when sleep-deprived can lead to irritability, acidity, or tension.
Best Wake Time: 6:30 – 7 a.m.
Morning Support: Calm breathing, cold showers, unhurried routines.
Example: You’re highly productive, but early waking leaves you edgy. Adjusting your wake-up to 6:30 a.m. and starting with cool, calming practices helps preserve your focus.
✨ Kapha Types
Grounded, calm, steady, and nurturing (earth + water)
Kaphas are resilient and caring but may struggle with sluggishness or heaviness.
Challenge: Sleeping in too late increases heaviness and emotional stagnation.
Best Wake Time: Before 6 a.m.
Morning Support: Brisk movement, energizing music, light breakfast.
Example: You love your cozy bed, but feel groggy all morning. Waking at 5:45 a.m. and doing light cardio shifts your energy and lifts your mood.
🔁 When You’re Out of Balance: Adjust Accordingly
Ayurveda isn’t rigid. It recognizes that your current state matters just as much as your natural type.
A Vata person in Vata imbalance (anxiety, dry skin, insomnia) may need more rest and grounding.
A Pitta person feeling burned out should avoid overly early wake-ups and intense routines.
A Kapha person stuck in heaviness may need a jump-start at dawn with light exercise.
👉 Your daily rhythm should support your healing, not your performance.
🌸 What I’ve Learned: Success Is Alignment
The 5 A.M. Club is inspiring—but it’s not universal.
Ayurveda invites us to align with our unique rhythm, not mimic someone else’s. When you live in sync with your energy and the natural flow of the day, life becomes more sustainable, joyful, and deeply nourishing.
You don’t need to join someone else’s club. You can build your own.
One that honors your sleep, your fire, your flow, your grounding.
And that, to me, is the real success.
🌿 Ready to Discover Your Rhythm?
If you’re feeling out of sync, tired, or just curious to understand your natural rhythm, I’d love to support you to:
✔️ Identify your dosha
✔️ Understand your imbalances
✔️ Create a personalized daily rhythm, nutrition, and self-care plan
✔️ Feel more grounded, rested, and in flow with your life
📩 Reach out or visit soulveda.art to learn or book a consultation.
✨ Let your rhythm be your medicine.
✨ Let your day begin with you.
With Love
Mamta - Soulveda.art
