He that would thrive must rise at five: he that has thriven may lie till seven" goes a proverb. It's a habit that has been endorsed by some of the world's most successful people, including politicians, billionaires and sportspersons. It follows the belief that every man is the architect of his own fortune. A 5am wake up call gives you clarity to your desires and a direct path to immediately take action towards achieving that desire.

Says productivity blogger Leo Babauta, "It's a healthy way to improve your mind with focused attention, persistence and passion." Corporate trainer Jagmohan Bhanver, "I get a lot more done in the two hours before 7 am, when the rest of the world usually wakes up, than in the second half of the day." Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has time and again attributed his success to waking up at this magical hour. During his days as a struggling actor, Danny Denzongpa would teach yoga to students at a film institute. Even today, he wakes up at this time and uses the time before sunrise to practise vipassana meditation and do some breathing exercises.

Why it works

Waking up at this magical hour can be the catalyst to reset your habits and change your life. The all-important action taken during that 15 to 60 minutes will physically change your mind by rewiring your brain. Neuroscience has shown that by using the correct technique you can measurably change both the physical structure of your brain, by increasing its size, and the quality of your brain, by increasing its speed and efficiency. It is similar to working out your muscles, which become more efficient with exercise.

The routine of waking up at 5am forges new maps in the brain, which grow in size, speed and efficiency over time until a habit is formed and the brain has physically been changed. US-based entrepreneur and trainer Bryce Chapman says in his productivity manual, "If you think about your magnificent obsession during your early morning habit that too, will become a well-used path; bigger, stronger, faster. Early in the morning, the brain is well rested, having processed the previous day's input overnight. You don't have many distractions, it is quiet and the time is yours to do whatever you choose."

Benefits of being a 5amer

- It gives you an amazing start to the day. Instead of jumping out of bed and hitting the ground running, rushing to get the kids ready and arriving at work grumpy and tired, you can have a renewed morning ritual.

- 5amers start their day peacefully. At this time, there are no yelling kids, crying babies, honking cars, radio or television noise. It's the time you can truly enjoy peace, breathe and meditate.

- You get plenty of time to exercise. It's no secret that early morning is the best time to exercise and get the metabolism running. This habit gives a positive kickstart to the day thanks to the rush of endorphins.

- Setting goals is easier. There is no better time to review and plan your goals than in the first hours of the day. Babauta suggests that you set one goal at a time, and decide every day the one thing you will do that day towards accomplishing it.

- 5amers never miss breakfast, which is also the most important meal of the day.

- Commuting is a breeze since you are beating the rush hour by a wide margin. You will also get to work earlier, giving you a great headstart.

- It is much easier to schedule and make it to your appointments and meetings since you have had the time to plan them.

BDST: 1859 HRS, Aug-28, 2014