How the “5 to 9” TikTok Trend is Making Us More Productive

When you work a “9 to 5,” sometimes it feels hard to do anything outside of work. Channeling your inner girlboss takes lots of energy! But there’s a new “TikTok made me do it” trend on your fyp to help you bring that productive mindset to your personal life too.

 

@morganflitt My 5-9 after my 9-5 👩🏻‍💻 #nightroutine #afterworkroutine #wfh ♬ original sound – Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Movie

They cleverly call it the “5 to 9” routine 

The “5 to 9” trend highlights what people do during the margin of time either before or after the average work day.

With over 46 million views on TikTok as I write this, #5to9 is an opportunity for content creators to show how they practice self care between the hours of 5 to 9 AM and 5 to 9 PM. Remember this is TikTok, so most of the videos are also ✨aesthetic✨ to motivate their followers to do the same. 

Full of skincare routines, wholesome recipes, and lots of workouts, the “5 to 9” routine videos bring a stylish and energetic approach to the average week day. Not only is this trend a fun way to get fitness motivation, but it may be one of the most impactful trends on TikTok when it comes to promoting mental and physical health.

Swap mindless habits for productivity

It’s easy to fall into a pattern of mindlessly scrolling through social media after a long day of work. For most of us, it’s just the easiest way to decompress. Grab your phone, turn your mind off. But what if having focused time dedicated to self-care took the place of scrolling? Zoning out with a screen might feel like what you need right now, but maybe you’d feel even better doing something that engages both your body and your brain.

The “5 to 9” videos aren’t all hustle. They actually showcase a variety of ways that users de-stress, whether it’s cleaning their homes, hitting the gym, grabbing a coffee, or even watching a show that brings them joy. 

Whatever their particular routine, self-care is the common factor within each of these videos. And with an increase in people experiencing burnout, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns in recent years, daily self-care is more important now than ever.

@elenacecilllia I love my cozy little evenings where I’m in bed by 9 #5to9 #minivlogs #wednesdayvlog #afterworkroutine #eveningroutine #wfhroutine #afterworking #nightroutinevibes #nightroutineaesthetic #workfromhomeroutine #wfhvibes #wfhcheck #workfromhomelifestyle #eveningvlog #apartmentaesthetic ♬ CHARLI USED MY SOUND OMG – alyssa

Everyone has a unique 5 to 9 

As opposed to other health and fitness trends on the platform, the “5 to 9” routine emphasizes individuality and personalization to fit your own personal needs. 

I’ve seen some backlash on the trend, claiming that it’s just another form of hustle culture. But from my POV, that’s not the case. Some perfectly curated routines appear that way – working out at 5am and cooking a restaurant-quality breakfast every day isn’t realistic for all of us, no matter how nice it looks.

But if you keep scrolling, content creators don’t present one particular routine as ideal. Instead, they show a wide variety of routines as inspiration that can be applied to their audience’s lives. Some for the go-getters out there, and others for those of us who find it hard enough to simply take a sec for ourselves.

Scrolling through 5 to 9 videos was a good reminder for me that every day is different and therefore you shouldn’t feel pressured to maintain the same routine day after day. It celebrates that each individual person has their own unique style and needs when it comes to their health and fitness journey. 

While TikTok users posting these videos provide some amazing inspiration, real life 5 to 9s aren’t usually quite as aesthetic as the videos show. Starting with small changes is a great way to begin transforming your routine into one that will help you be your best self. 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Everygirl (@theeverygirl)

Here’s some 5 to 9 inspo to try

If you don’t know where to start, try incorporating some of the following ideas into your routine.

  • Take a few minutes to do a full skincare routine 
  • Listen to a podcast 
  • Read a chapter of your favorite book 
  • Center yourself with meditation (you can find some amazing guided meditations on YouTube)
  • Start a gratitude journal 
  • Create a peaceful atmosphere by organizing your home space 
  • Find your strength with a workout that’s right for you 
  • Up your fitness with a workout challenge
  • Choose one day to meal prep healthy and delicious meals for the week

 

Most importantly, remember that your “5 to 9” may look different than someone else’s, and that’s okay! It’s simply a way to identify your own body’s wants and needs and act on them. Work-life balance can be tricky, but by motivating and inspiring each other, we can give ourselves love like never before. 

What are your favorite ways to spend your “5 to 9”? Comment them below and let’s inspire each other! 

19 thoughts on “How the “5 to 9” TikTok Trend is Making Us More Productive”

There are 19 comments posted by our users.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Gemma says:

    I like this trend, but it’s important to note that being productive doesn’t necessarily = aesthetic. I feel like it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to make everything aesthetic and not actually focusing on your productiveness. Just a thought 🙂

    1. Kristen says:

      Absolutely! The dangerous side of the trend is thinking your 5 to 9 might look a certain way. It’s important to take it and interpret it in your own way for your own life! Thanks for your thoughts!

  2. Sara says:

    I’ve seen a couple of TikTok’s on my fyp showcasing this trend- I’ve loved them and they’ve inspired me to do more with my evening 🙂

    1. Kristen says:

      So awesome! Thanks for sharing, Sara! <3

  3. Lainey says:

    This is a great article. I hadn’t heard of this trend before reading, and it’s just what I need! This sounds like a really positive trend that I can get behind.

    1. Kristen says:

      Love to pass on the word about the cool trends going on in my TikTok fyp! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed

  4. Melanie Smith says:

    This morning’s 5-9 was playtime with my dog, Vinnie. Thanks for the inspiration!

    1. Kristen says:

      Love that!

  5. Mir says:

    I love that this trend incorporates productivity! I def need motivation to do things so this helps for sure.

    1. Kristen says:

      Happy to help! Hopefully some of our 5 to 9 ideas offered some good inspo 😉

  6. Lily says:

    I love this article! I absolutely agree that the 5-9 is productive. Since quarantine, I’ve started to try to use my time for self care.

    1. Kristen says:

      Love that you’re taking some “me time”! Self care is so important 🙂

  7. Cris says:

    Great writing and analysis of the trend!
    Some of my favorite ways to spend my 5-9 is by getting a good boost through weightlifting, decompressing through some creative writing or drawing, and ending it with some meditation that usually puts me to sleep.

    1. Kristen says:

      Those are some awesome and well-rounded techniques. Definitely some good things to incorporate into your routine. Thanks for reading! <3

  8. Kat says:

    How well written! These are definitely practical tips to change up a routine and add some self care in every day. Love it!

    1. Kristen says:

      Thanks Kat! Always happy to provide some inspiration for self-care.

  9. Karrie says:

    I love this. It kind of shifts your mindset.

    1. Kristen says:

      Thanks Karrie!

  10. Kristen says:

    Personally, I love starting my morning with a homemade cup of coffee and ending my day with a group workout class! I begin my busy day with a relaxing activity and bring it to a close with one last burst of energy.