I woke up at 4:30AM to end laziness forever

Summary

In this motivational video, the creator embarks on a 30-day challenge to wake up at 4:30 a.m., run, and capture the sunrise. The script explores the concept of self-discipline, inspired by Jocko Willink, and its impact on personal growth. The creator shares their struggles, progress, and insights, emphasizing the power of discipline over motivation. The video documents the transformation from a late-night routine to an early riser's lifestyle, highlighting the psychological benefits and challenges faced along the way.

Takeaways

• 🕒 The challenge of waking up at 4:30 a.m. every day for 30 days is used to test and build self-discipline.
• 🏃‍♂️ Running and other physical activities are part of the daily routine to start the day with a sense of accomplishment.
• 🌱 The idea of self-discipline is explored, emphasizing the control over feelings and overcoming weaknesses to do what needs to be done.
• 🌟 Jocko Willink's influence is mentioned as a source of inspiration for the challenge, highlighting the psychological win of waking up early.
• 🛌 The importance of going to bed early to ensure a successful early morning routine is discussed.
• 📝 Planning the day the night before is identified as a key strategy for maintaining momentum and productivity after waking up early.
• 🥱 The struggle with fatigue and the desire for naps is acknowledged, but the speaker commits to pushing through for the sake of discipline.
• 🚫 The 'no snooze' policy is implemented to avoid the temptation of going back to sleep.
• 🏡 The impact of being at the parents' house during the pandemic and how it affects the ability to maintain the routine is shared.
• 🔄 The speaker admits to missing a couple of days but emphasizes the importance of getting back on track and continuing the challenge.
• 🏁 Completing the 30-day challenge leads to a realization about the power of discipline and its impact on personal growth and goal achievement.

Q & A

What is the main challenge the speaker undertakes in the video?

The speaker challenges himself to wake up at 4:30 a.m. every day for 30 days, taking a photo of his watch, going for a run, and documenting his experience.

What does the speaker believe about the concept of self-discipline?

The speaker believes that self-discipline is the ability to control one's feelings and overcome one's weaknesses, doing the things you know you should do even if you don't want to.

Who is Jocko Willink and what influence does he have on the speaker?

Jocko Willink is a former Navy SEAL and thought leader who inspires the speaker with his idea of waking up early to gain a psychological win over the day.

What is the significance of the alarm clock the speaker purchases?

The speaker purchases an alarm clock that simulates a sunrise and plays birdsong to coax him into waking up at a restful pace, hoping it would make waking up more pleasant.

How does the speaker feel after his first run in the morning?

After his first run in the morning, the speaker feels alive and has been able to smash his to-do list, indicating a successful start to his day.

What is the speaker's strategy to maintain discipline throughout the day?

The speaker's strategy is to plan the day the night before, ensuring he knows exactly what to do after waking up and going for a run.

What does the speaker mean when he says 'do the things you hate'?

The speaker suggests that by taking the path of most resistance and pushing through tasks you dislike, you can improve at them and potentially change your perspective on them over time.

How does the speaker handle missing a couple of days in his challenge?

The speaker acknowledges that he is not perfect and misses a couple of days but decides to skip the missed days and continue with the challenge, focusing on getting back on track.

What is the role of the post-it notes on the speaker's mirror during the challenge?

The post-it notes on the speaker's mirror serve as reminders and motivators, each with a quote related to discipline, doing things you hate, and living life to the fullest.

How does the speaker feel about the idea of 'discipline equals freedom' by the end of the challenge?

The speaker interprets 'discipline equals freedom' as the concept that by enduring short-term discomfort through discipline, one can achieve long-term freedom from regret and a more satisfying life.

What is the speaker's final realization after completing the 30-day challenge?

The speaker realizes that committing to doing what he says he will do has become a stronger part of his character, and he feels compelled to follow through on his commitments.

Outlines

00:00

🌅 Early Morning Challenge Introduction

The speaker announces a 30-day challenge to wake up at 4:30 a.m., take a photo, go for a run, and resist the temptation to hit the snooze button. They believe that every decision to snooze or not can lead to different versions of one's life. The speaker, a world traveler, is inspired by Jocko Willink's idea of waking up early for a psychological win. They purchased a special alarm clock to simulate a natural wake-up but found it ineffective. Despite the challenge, they feel alive after the morning run and have been productive throughout the day.

05:01

🏋️‍♂️ Maintaining Discipline and Overcoming Tiredness

The speaker talks about maintaining discipline by not giving in to cravings and distractions. They mention feeling extremely tired by the afternoon but plan to continue with their workout routine to stay disciplined. They discuss the importance of planning the day the night before and how it helps to avoid falling back into bed after the morning run. The speaker also shares their struggle with waking up early and staying motivated throughout the challenge.

10:02

🚫 Overcoming Setbacks and Staying Committed

The speaker admits to missing a couple of days in their challenge but emphasizes the importance of discipline over motivation. They share their strategy of planning the night before to ensure they have a clear plan for the morning. The speaker also discusses the impact of social obligations on their routine and how they aim to stay committed to their early wake-up time despite distractions.

15:05

🎆 Balancing Discipline with Social Life

The speaker shares their experience of trying to maintain their early morning routine while enjoying social activities with family. They mention the challenge of going to bed early when everyone else is still awake but express their determination to stick to their plan. The speaker also talks about the influence of friends who have been inspired by their challenge and how they support each other in their journey towards discipline.

20:09

🏁 Completing the 30-Day Challenge

The speaker reflects on the completion of their 30-day challenge of waking up at 4:30 a.m. They discuss the difficulties they faced, including the lack of motivation at times, and how they overcame these obstacles through discipline. The speaker also shares insights gained from the challenge, such as the importance of asking 'why' to understand the root of their dislikes and the long-term benefits of discipline over immediate comfort.

25:10

🎉 Celebrating Success and Sharing Experiences

The speaker celebrates the successful completion of their challenge and shares their realizations about the power of discipline. They discuss the concept of 'discipline equals freedom' and how enduring short-term pain can lead to long-term freedom from regret. The speaker also offers a free worksheet for viewers to work on their own fears and emphasizes the importance of willpower in making significant life changes.

Keywords

💡Self-discipline

Self-discipline refers to the ability to control one's feelings and impulses and to take action despite difficult circumstances or resistance. In the video, self-discipline is central to the theme as the narrator aims to improve this skill by waking up at 4:30 a.m. and going for a run, despite not wanting to. The narrator sees self-discipline as a tool to shape a better version of oneself and overcome weaknesses.

💡Snooze button

The snooze button is a feature on alarm clocks that allows the alarm to be temporarily turned off, usually for a set period, before it rings again. The video uses the snooze button as a metaphor for delaying action or decision-making, suggesting that every time one hits the snooze button, they are choosing a path of less discipline and potentially missing out on personal growth opportunities.

💡Waking up early

Waking up early is a practice the narrator adopts as part of a self-improvement challenge. It symbolizes taking control of one's day and starting it with a productive activity, such as a run. The video emphasizes the difficulty and the psychological victory of waking up early as a form of discipline that can lead to a more successful and fulfilling day.

💡Workout

A workout in the context of the video refers to the physical exercise routine, particularly running, that the narrator commits to doing early in the morning. It represents a tangible action that the narrator uses to build self-discipline and is a key component of the challenge to change lifestyle habits and enhance personal well-being.

💡Jocko Willink

Jocko Willink is a retired Navy SEAL officer and author, known for his leadership and discipline-focused teachings. In the video, the narrator mentions Jocko Willink as an influence for the early morning wake-up challenge, highlighting how his ideas about discipline and the 'psychological win' over the enemy (in this case, personal weaknesses) inspire the narrator's journey.

💡To-do list

A to-do list is a set of tasks that one intends to accomplish. In the video, the narrator mentions smashing through their to-do list after the morning run, indicating that the early morning discipline of exercising leads to increased productivity and motivation throughout the day.

💡Motivation

Motivation is the internal drive or desire that encourages action. The video discusses the difference between motivation and discipline, noting that while motivation may wane, discipline must persist. The narrator initially feels motivated but later relies on discipline to continue the challenge, emphasizing the importance of discipline over fleeting motivation.

💡High-Performance Planner

The High-Performance Planner is a tool mentioned in the video that the narrator uses to plan their day the night before. It symbolizes the importance of preparation and having a clear plan to maintain discipline and productivity. The planner helps the narrator to stay on track and make the most of their early mornings.

💡Freedom

In the context of the video, freedom is discussed in relation to discipline, with the concept that through self-discipline, one can achieve a sense of freedom and control over their life. The narrator quotes Jocko Willink's book title 'Discipline Equals Freedom' to illustrate that by adhering to a disciplined routine, one can achieve long-term freedom and avoid the regret of missed opportunities.

💡Fear worksheet

A fear worksheet is a tool mentioned at the end of the video designed to help individuals confront and overcome their fears. The narrator offers this worksheet as a resource for viewers to work on their own self-improvement, indicating a commitment to sharing strategies for personal growth and the importance of facing fears as part of the discipline journey.

Highlights

The speaker commits to waking up at 4:30 a.m. for 30 days, incorporating exercise and discipline into their routine.

The belief that every decision can lead to a split in life's path, either towards self-improvement or stagnation.

Self-discipline is defined as controlling feelings and overcoming weaknesses.

The speaker, a world traveler, finds inspiration in Jocko Willink's理念 to improve discipline.

The psychological benefit of waking up early, seen as a 'win' over one's惰性.

The speaker's struggle with adjusting to an early sleep schedule.

The immediate positive effect of morning exercise on the speaker's energy levels and productivity.

The importance of planning the day the night before to maintain discipline.

The challenge of maintaining discipline on weekends and social occasions.

The impact of discipline on the speaker's relationship with their family and social life.

The speaker's realization that discipline is more important than motivation for long-term success.

The process of getting back on track after missing a couple of days in the challenge.

The speaker's use of post-it notes as a reminder to stay disciplined.

The unexpected benefits of waking up early, such as more family time and personal growth.

The speaker's conversation with fellow travelers about the challenges and rewards of waking up early.

The culmination of the 30-day challenge and the speaker's reflections on the experience.

The speaker's newfound sense of commitment to following through on promises made to others.

The concept of 'discipline equals freedom' and how it applies to the speaker's experience.

The speaker's offer to help others start their own early rising journey.

The speaker's final thoughts on the value of discipline and the changes it can bring to one's life.

Transcripts

[Music]

for the next 30 days I'll be waking up

at 4:30 a.m. taking a photo of my watch

going for a run

here's a teaser on how it went but first

though why here's what I like to believe

every decision you make every time you

press the snooze button every time you

say I'll start Monday your life splits

one version of you binge watches reruns

of the office the other crushes a

workout in one of these dimensions you

become your best self

the superhuman version of yourself and

in the other you become a potato

well the potato version of yourself at

least you always decide which reality

you live in and it all depends on

discipline define self-discipline

self-discipline means the ability to

control one's feelings and overcome

one's weaknesses also known as doing the

things you know you should do even if

you don't want to also also known as

something I need to work on normally I'm

a world traveler and I say normally

because in early 2020 we all had our

wings clipped

in my free time I came across a guy

named Jocko willing and maybe sealed

turned thought leader with the idea so

let's go now get up and get after it

there's no doubt he's legit but why does

he wake up early I like to have that

psychological win over the enemy my

enemy donuts don't let some slowly

fading away to a vague vanilla version

of myself for the comfort of a practical

routine the only excitement in my life

being a bowl of bran flakes and yelling

at kids to get off my lawn mostly Donuts

to master your self-discipline this man

recommends waking up at 4:30 planning

your day the night before doing the

things you hate and to get after it and

that is why all that's left now is to go

to bed

very early

No

I purchased this particular alarm clock

to coax me at at a restful sleep with

birdsong and warm morning light in hopes

I would awake in a pleasant note it no

it didn't work no snooze no snooze get

off oh my god

Oh

[Music]

Oh

I taste I taste blood it's a little bit

but I feel really good 550

now I do

I thought I would give you an update on

how the day is going okay so it's about

3:30 in the afternoon and my gas tank is

completely empty I got about five hours

sleep last night I couldn't get the bed

I'm not used to going to bed that early

so I stayed awake and it's laid awake

for about an hour and a half while I was

there but after the run this morning I

felt alive and I've been smashing my

to-do list the discipline I eat I mean I

almost didn't get up this morning Oh

almost postponed this another week but

by getting up as much as I didn't want

to that kind of set the pace for the day

that was the discipline milestone the

stake in the road telling myself this is

the standard I'm going to live today yet

so all these other little cravings and

distractions have not gotten in my way

I'm dead tired and it's 3:30 when you

start your day at 4:30 that's that's

like a that's a pretty full day you know

what I mean I'm actually back in Canada

at my parents house when you travel 11

months out of the year you don't really

have an apartment so luckily I've been

able to crash here and we have dinner

time in about an hour and a half or so

and I think very shortly after that I'm

gonna crash and get a jump on day two

which hopefully fingers crossed I can

get to sleep I'll get a fully eight

hours and tomorrow will be even better

than today that's the plan that's the

hope

luck

[Applause]

No

do you see that maybe not it's three

o'clock and I have smashed into the

brick wall I was thinking after getting

seven hours sleep I would be wide awake

but I this afternoon has been actually

the entire day I've been incredibly

tired so I have planned for this moment

I knew at some point during this

challenge probably on the first two days

I would get tired and a1 chicken out and

just cuddle right into this bed and have

a nap no naps I'm back at my parents

place I've been working out with my mom

every single day during the pandemic so

the plan now is to not blow it off go

down there get beast mode and hopefully

salvage the afternoon but this is the

face of a guy oh no no naps the enemy

doesn't nap let's go bulk bag get ready

to fly we're gonna get your lasso huge

that's you're gonna see them coming from

far away

so let's rock and roll baby ready let's

get beastie what do you do

[Music]

[Music]

okay I feel alive again how about you

beasty beasty let's continue the day

[Music]

five of this the birds are the hell

we up so early

I almost didn't stick to my plan I woke

up at 4:30 and I decided ah you know

what I deserve a sleep in and I was

trying to rationalize why I didn't have

to get up but I didn't get up and then I

wasn't gonna go for my run because my

legs were sore and it was really really

cold but I did go for the run but I

promised myself I was only gonna go

halfway because what's the point of

already awake anyway and that was half

the point but I did continue but I was

only gonna walk because why am i running

I can just walk the block but then I did

run slowly barely a jog but I did I

stuck to the plan and I realized

something when I got back I only felt

okay that today was the biggest success

yet because being motivated in doing

something is easy but being unmotivated

and still sticking to the plan that's

disciplined and that's how you craft

yourself is the best version of yourself

I didn't feel great today but I did it

and that's why it's the biggest a sex

game success success one week

okay just finishing off the first week

Tungus fastest crazy thought I'd show

you exactly what I do the night before

this book is called a high-performance

planner but honestly you just get the

sheet of paper and do the exact same

thing not spend 30 bucks on a fancy book

anyway the the thing that has been a

lifesaver in the mornings has been

planning the night before and that's

because after you go for that run after

wait for 4:30 then you go for the run

and then you get breakfast maybe a

coffee you're left with that moment

you're like what do I do now and if you

don't know what you're doing now it's

very easy to find yourself right back to

your bed because it's still quite dark

but by planning your day out in this

case our for our in this book you know

what you're gonna do right after that it

could be reading a book it could be

journaling it could be something

creative it could be emails whatever you

choose but you have a plan and the idea

is to stick to that plan throughout the

day sometimes it's a hidden amiss but

either way that big the key is being

able to have a plan for right after you

finish that run so I'm gonna finish this

up and Zach and we'll see each other on

the asphalt at 4:30 and 4:45 tomorrow

morning good night

well it's a little easier this week

anybody yeah only crazy people are up

this early I'm a crazy person things

were going smoothly then this happened I

missed a couple days let's talk about it

okay first though let me show you

something when I started this adventure

last week I put three post-it notes on

my mirror the first do the things you

hate I don't know who first said this

but we've talked about a lot in this

video

by taking the path of most resistance

and pushing into the things that you

really don't like doing you can get

better at them and then poof maybe

hopefully by 30 days from now we'll like

the things that we hate the second is on

your day on your life that's a book by

Aubry Marcus which is about discipline

which is about starting the morning

doing some things to get that win streak

popping if life has a chalkboard by

putting on a few wins right away you

have momentum to achieve more during the

day that's the premise of that quote and

the third discipline equals freedom is a

book by our man Jacko willing which is

very much the same thing by doing these

discipline things every day over and

over again you will have freedom you'll

be able to have the freedom to choose

what you want to do with your life and

life will deliver itself to you this

last one notice how it doesn't say

motivation equals freedom because that's

been my problem the past couple days I

am trying to get more discipline that's

why we're doing this this adventure I'm

not the most disciplined person it's

easy some days the first week I was

motivated it was new I was making this

video I was amped and it went easy but

then week two came along and I lost the

motivation and that's where the

discipline had to come into effect and

it didn't exactly there was one night

where I was

moving on my phone and was up until 11

then I was like oh my god I'm only gonna

get like five hours sleep and then I

missed that and I woke up late and

realized this is a 48-hour plan to get

back track again because if you go to

bed late you wake up late and then you

can't go to bed early again so you have

to think two days in advance anyway I'm

not perfect the whole point of doing

this is to be more disciplined and we're

getting there slowly skip two days let's

put it behind us and continue with this

grand crazy month together back on track

[Music]

we too in the mornings I had one simple

rule run and don't stop for the entire

block it doesn't have to be fast we're

not trying to set a land speed record

we're just trying to complete the plan

and get home it can be slow that's okay

just stick to the plan it's the weekend

it's the middle of May it is time where

my family opens up the cottage so I'm

headed there now it's booked two hour

drive the hardest part but one of the

hardest parts during this is waking up

at 4:30 but especially with some social

obligations so I'm not gonna have this

much time as my family ever again I

don't know it's the middle of pandemic

so I'm stuck home and I want to take

advantage of that when everyone's having

beers watching TV playing games and it's

8:30 and it's my bedtime yeah so I don't

know I'm gonna try to go to bed early

tonight I do want to spend time with my

family

we'll see how it goes see how it goes

[Music]

this one is there anything more Canadian

okay so my dad actually got his

fireworks license a couple years ago and

we always start the summer off with the

show I've got this a little Mavic mini

fireworks and drones anybody

Oh

continuing the month of doing what we

hate the water is about four degrees

Celsius all it took was a few glasses of

rum and some pyrotechnics to throw me

off my schedule but I felt like it was

worth it though I did need to show

myself I couldn't skip a day of

discipline without punishment

after struggling to maintain my 4:30

wake-up s' I heard my friends Karen Nate

also travel youtubers had been inspired

to pick up this journey as well so I

decided to jump on a call with them to

see how it was going so talk to me guys

what's it like waking up at 4:30

[Laughter]

so what do you tell yourself to get out

of it in the morning I've just made a

deal with myself from the start and

that's like I have a I snooze two or

three times every morning before I wake

up usually and when we were starting

this I was like okay that's another

habit I'm gonna kick just like as soon

as the alarm goes off I have to sit up

and so far I've kept that promise to

myself so when you describe yourselves

as morning people I'm very slow in the

morning it takes me a long time to get

focused and get ready and I also am a

terrible runner terrible I hate running

so for me this has been like wow I can

get out of bed before coffee and I can

run like it's been a huge like personal

journey like they'd said like we've

taken the like I don't know the 8 p.m.

to 12 a.m. hours where we were watching

Netflix and drinking wine and eating

popcorn and made that 6 a.m. like those

hours are now filled with exercise

showering and work before we were even

out of bed before like that's the best

part is when I'm at my computer with a

cup of coffee and an hour that I was

still sleeping for yeah definitely I

think that's a you replace those hours

the end of day that

like the dredges of the day with actual

morning time and the morning you're not

so inclined to like wake up on watch

Netflix unless you're really Menard it

was great to catch up and the talk about

the ups and downs I felt inspired I had

a week left and the finish line was in

sight I crushed it and we're Adam Adam

actually yeah we're Mike are we at him

or we add them either way we're awake

today which means Friday sadly suddenly

Monday and Monday is Dunn's day 30 days

we're waking up at 4:30 that hasn't been

easy

I buy myself a freaking cake

[Music]

[Music]

and the crowd goes wild so the dogs

probably shouldn't wake the neighbors

let's go inside and that my friends

[Music]

remember in the very beginning I said

this by myself a frickin cake I did it

today the celebration we did 30 days

well almost 30 days waking up at 4:30

and it was not easy it was not an easy

thing at all so the plan today go over

some things that I've realized the good

and bad during this amazing month and

also answer some of your questions look

at that alright Oh baby

the number one question pretty good that

I got from you guys was why but I really

hope the Y was answered during this

video but continuing with this idea of

why that's a question I asked myself not

so much about why I wanted to do this

but why I hated running and why I hated

waking up at 4:30 and so this is the

thought process that kind of started

this entire project I've only told you

about this yet I said I hated running I

said I hated waking at 4:30 why well

running isn't very fun and it's

exhausting and waking up early I've

never been a morning person

I asked why again well I've never the

morning person because I guess I never

really felt like waking up early in the

morning well why I guess I've always

stayed up late well why I guess I just

watch TV and go on social media well I

can fix that

okay so whenever like running why well

it's tiring why well I guess I don't I

don't finally interesting why well I'm

not like good at it

why well I guess I've never actually

practiced it that much so then a kind of

dismantles the entire argument so by

asking why three times four times pretty

much all of my arguments fell completely

to pieces so that's something I'd like

you to take away from this to ask

yourself why a few times consecutively

about the things you don't like or

aren't good at and you'll find some

pretty tough answers pretty quick pause

this is Mike from the future cutting

into this outro because I realized

something else I spent 30 days doing

what I told myself I was going to do and

now weeks later I'm realizing that

that's carried forward in an unexpected

way when I've told my friends and family

that I was going to do something I found

myself much more compelled to do it

not saying I always blew people off but

now I feel like it's my duty to do what

I say and that my word is my bond much

more strongly than before and I think

that's worth a lot resume so I put out a

poll I'm answering your questions and

here we go you say freedom is discipline

but why is pain for you freedom that's

an interesting one because you're right

like what be forcing myself to do this

every single morning is definitely not

freedom it's like a I guess you can

almost like a uncomfortable prison but

you have to think about the long term

and when the idea of discipline equals

freedom it's thinking about the big

picture

so bi is a quote about this let me see

if I can find it by Jim Rohn we must all

suffer from one of two pains the pain of

discipline or the

pain of regret the difference is

discipline weighs ounces while regret

weighs tons the idea here is by putting

yourself through these small moments of

discipline that are painful sure you

then hone your focus you craft a life

you don't have to do with the pain of

regret later

maybe you're not the kind of person who

will sit on the best plate and say you

know what I should have ran that

triathlon you know what maybe I could

accomplish more in life and love or

whatever it be and by disciplining

yourself now and putting a bit of pain

in your life on purpose to find the

pleasure in it you will have freedom

later you'll have freedom from regret

and you'll be able to feel comfortable

and like you've accomplished your goals

in life and I think success in this

light if it's one thing in your last

moments on your deathbed it's this it's

laying there and saying yeah yeah that

was a good ride what was your wake-up

song you know what I got right here I'm

probably gonna get copyright flag I'll

put it in the description and I'll put

it below if I now had one wish it would

be that all of you would come along and

help me eat this beautiful cake there

were so many people who inspired me to

get up in the mornings that I didn't

want to who actually started there for

35 am journey themselves and I just want

to say we did it together and if anybody

wants to do it themselves

message me I'll be here to help you I

think if you're looking to change your

life drastically

flip on the discipline switch to flex

those muscles that need flexing this is

the best way to do it it's just

willpower nothing crazy

you get off at 4:30 or early and you

just move your body outside lastly I

made a fear worksheet that if you did

enjoy this video and you feel like you

want to work on yourself a bit more and

fight your greatest fears it is a free

worksheet you can push through all of

the hard questions I've asked myself

over the past six years of fighting my

fears I'm still a sturdy cat but I've

least learned how to deal with those two

and if you have a relationship we're

kind of dating sorry ever and that is

below for you to check out all I use

your email it'll go into your inbox

thank you so much dragons for watching

chase your fears and I'll see you on the

next video here on fearless and far

you