I Tried the 5 a.m. ‘That Girl’ TikTok Morning Routine

There’s something strangely hypnotizing about watching TikTok morning routine videos. You know the ones—sunlight streaming through the windows, a perfectly made bed, green juice in hand, and somehow, everything looks like it belongs on a Pinterest board. It’s a vibe, but let’s be real: waking up at 5 a.m. and journaling your thoughts isn’t exactly as effortless as it looks on your For You page. I decided to give it a shot, because who doesn’t want to be more productive, right? Plus, I’ve been feeling like my mornings have turned into a whirlwind of stress. Maybe this whole ‘that girl’ thing was the fix I needed.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it: waking up at 5 a.m. felt like some kind of cruel joke at first. My bed has never been more comfortable, and peeling myself out of it in the dark? Not cute. But after a few days, I started to feel the change. Once I stopped hitting snooze, something clicked. By the time most people were just rubbing the sleep out of their eyes, I was already crossing things off my to-do list. And honestly? That felt pretty damn good.

The Early Bird Struggle

The first few mornings were rough—like, “who willingly does this?” kind of rough. My alarm went off, and I immediately questioned all my life choices. But the thing about the 5 a.m. start is that after a few days, it kind of became… bearable? I wouldn’t say I’m jumping out of bed, but I started to appreciate the quiet. There’s something nice about having time to yourself before the rest of the world wakes up. Plus, getting things done early gave me this satisfying feeling of being ahead of the game for once. I wasn’t rushing through my morning; I had time to breathe.

Once the initial shock wore off, I found myself enjoying this new pace. There was no mad dash to check my emails or stress over being behind. I could take my time, make a proper breakfast, and just, you know, exist before the day got chaotic. It felt weirdly luxurious. I wasn’t just reacting to the day—I was starting it on my own terms.

Morning Movement

Of course, no TikTok morning routine is complete without a workout. I’ll admit, this was the part I dreaded the most. I’m not exactly the type who enjoys getting sweaty before 8 a.m. But in the spirit of ‘that girl’, I laced up my sneakers and gave it a go. At first, it felt forced—dragging myself through the motions of a workout I wasn’t mentally ready for. But once I found a rhythm that worked for me, things started to shift.

Instead of diving into some intense cardio, I leaned into workouts that felt good—like yoga or even just a long walk outside. And here’s the thing: moving my body first thing in the morning set such a positive tone for the rest of the day. It wasn’t about burning calories or hitting some fitness goal; it was more about waking up my body and mind, shaking off the grogginess, and feeling like I had done something just for myself.

Green Juice…Sort Of

Now, here’s where I slightly deviated from the TikTok script. I’m all for eating healthy, but the whole “green juice on an empty stomach” thing? Not for me. Instead, I started my mornings with water (okay, sometimes with a splash of lemon if I was feeling fancy), followed by a coffee. Look, there’s no way I’m giving up coffee—that’s just not happening. I also made sure to eat something real for breakfast. A bowl of oats, avocado toast, or even a quick smoothie. TikTok might love a good juice cleanse, but I’ve learned that I actually need food to function.

I did notice, though, that being more mindful about what I ate in the morning helped me feel less sluggish throughout the day. Gone were the days of mindlessly shoving down a bagel on my way out the door. I was actually sitting down and having a proper meal, and it made a difference in my energy levels.

Staying Off the Phone

Now, this was a tough one. My phone is practically glued to my hand, and like most people, my instinct is to grab it first thing in the morning. TikTok routines usually preach about staying off your phone for the first hour, and while that seemed impossible at first, I gave it a try. It wasn’t easy—I had this itch to check my notifications, but I forced myself to resist.

The result? Surprisingly peaceful. I didn’t start my day with a million voices (and memes) from the internet. Instead, I had a quiet moment to just be. No social media scrolling, no endless email check—just me, my breakfast, and maybe a book. It felt grounding in a way I didn’t expect, and even though I’m not sure I’ll stick to the no-phone rule 100% of the time, it’s definitely something I’ll be incorporating more.

A Little Bit of Self-Care

The whole ‘that girl’ trend loves a good self-care moment, and honestly, I get it. Taking time to care for yourself in the morning isn’t just about slapping on a face mask and calling it a day—it’s about slowing down and creating space to breathe. For me, that looked like a simple skincare routine, brushing my hair, and actually making my bed. I used to rush through these things, but making them a priority in my morning routine gave me a sense of accomplishment, no matter how small.

There’s also something to be said about how those small habits impact your mindset. It’s like starting the day with the intention to care for yourself, even if it’s just a few minutes of moisturizer and a tidy room. It’s not revolutionary, but it does make a difference.

The Journal I Almost Didn’t Use

Journaling is another cornerstone of the TikTok morning routine. I’ve always been a little skeptical about it—what do people even write about that early in the day? But I figured if I was going to do this, I might as well go all in. So, I grabbed a notebook, sat down with my coffee, and just started writing. It was awkward at first, like I didn’t know what to say. But once I let go of trying to make it perfect, it became easier.

Journaling in the morning felt more like a brain dump than anything else. I wasn’t writing about my deep thoughts or emotions, just jotting down what was on my mind. It cleared up some mental space and helped me feel more organized. Would I journal every day? Probably not. But I can see why people find it helpful—it gives you a moment to pause and reflect before diving into the day.

So Am I ‘That Girl’?
Short answer: no.

Did following the TikTok morning routine actually make me more productive? Yes, but with some caveats. Having that extra time in the morning definitely made me feel like I was ahead of the game. By 9 a.m., I had already exercised, eaten breakfast, and tackled some tasks. That’s a good feeling, no doubt.

But here’s the thing—it’s a lot to maintain. Waking up at 5 a.m. every single day isn’t realistic for me in the long run. I also realized that productivity isn’t just about getting things done early; it’s about pacing yourself so you don’t crash by 3 p.m. There were days when I was super productive and others where I just wanted to crawl back into bed by lunchtime. It’s all about balance.

Trying to be ‘that girl’ with the perfect morning routine taught me a lot. I’m not about to become a 5 a.m. convert, but I did take away some valuable lessons. Making time for myself in the morning, even if it’s just an extra 30 minutes, has had a positive impact on how I approach my day. I feel less rushed and more in control, which, let’s face it, is something we all need.

I might not do the whole routine every day, but bits and pieces of it will definitely stick around. I’ll keep the early wake-ups (but maybe more like 7 a.m. instead of 5), the mindful breakfast, and, yes, even the occasional journaling session. At the end of the day, the ‘that girl’ morning routine isn’t a one-size-fits-all. You have to find what works for you, and once you do, that’s where the magic happens.