As productivity trends swing wildly between hustle culture and burnout, one movement keeps resurfacing: the 5AM Club, popularized by Robin Sharma’s bestselling book encourages people to reclaim their mornings through discipline, focus, and early starts.
But in 2025, how many people were truly living it? PDF Expert, a productivity app for all things PDF, analyzed thousands of Instagram posts across major US cities using the #5amclub hashtag to uncover which cities were the most “productive” in 2025.
The top 5 were as follows (no. of #5amclub hashtags per 10,000 posts):
#1. New York, New York (92)
The city’s mix of shift workers, fitness die-hards, and round-the-clock creatives keeps the 5AM hashtag buzzing harder than the subway at rush hour.
#2. Los Angeles, California (91.4)
From surfers chasing dawn swells to influencers chasing golden hour, LA’s early risers make sunrise feel like a built-in lifestyle accessory.
#3. Chicago, Illinois (90.8)
Chicago’s commuters and competitive corporate crowd fuel a strong pre-sunup culture where getting ahead often starts in the dark.
#4. Houston, Texas (90.1)
Houston’s blend of medical workers, energy professionals, and ambitious entrepreneurs drives a surprisingly strong early-morning posting routine.
#5. San Diego, California (89.5)
With perfect weather and endless coastline, San Diegans seem more than happy to start the day before the sun does.
5 North Carolina cities emerged among the earliest risers in the nation, according to #5amclub Instagram posts:
#23. Charlotte (80.3)
Charlotte’s banking professionals and booming business scene support a lively early-morning rhythm. It’s the kind of place where “first to the office” still carries bragging rights.
Charlotte was followed by:
#30. Raleigh (76.7)
#59. Greensboro (63.1)
#67. Durham (60.7)
#82. Fayetteville (55.6)
However, 1 North Carolina city placed among the least likely to rise at 5am:
#203. Wilmington (17.2)
Wilmington’s coastal ease shows up in its morning rhythm. Locals greet the day without urgency — and without many 5AM declarations.
Infographic with study results
Digging Into America’s Work-Hard, Sleep-Later Culture
Surveying 500 Americans, PDF Expert uncovered a mix of ambition, fatigue, and quiet rebellion beneath the glossy #5AMClub aesthetic.
How do we feel about the bragging rights?
Nearly 48% admit they negatively judge people who boast about their 5AM grind. In other words, early risers may earn productivity points – but not always popularity points.
But incentives still matter
More than half of respondents (51%) say they would start getting up before 5AM if their employer paid them to do it. It seems even the most committed night owls have a price.
Morning messages: the inbox problem
Americans are glued to work before they have even had coffee:
52% check emails or messages every day before getting out of bed.
Employer expectations
Attitudes toward early productivity culture are surprisingly split:
34% say their employer strongly encourages early starts
Another 32% say their employer is neutral
Why waking early is so hard
The biggest obstacles?
- 39%: Stress or poor sleep quality
- 28%: Going to bed too late
- 16%: Pure lack of motivation
Children, shift patterns and household demands make up the rest.
Very little consistency
A narrow majority, 51%, say they wake up at the same time daily.
About 29% admit their routine is all over the place.
The remaining group lives in the grey zone of “mostly consistent.”
What would actually help to wake up earlier?
Respondents were refreshingly honest:
- 41% want a better sleep schedule
- 23% want less stress
- 18% want less late-night scrolling
- Another 18% just want more motivation
