Enthusing or snoozing? The 5 a.m. wake-up

Are you an early riser? Or a snooze button addict?
Louisiana has its share of 5 a.m. waker-uppers, or so says a survey by PDF Expert, a productivity app.
In 2025, how many people were truly living it? PDF Expert analyzed thousands of Instagram posts across major US cities using the #5amclub hashtag to uncover which cities were the most “productive” in 2025.
Residents of New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport rank relatively high when it comes to the number of Instragram users with the hashtag #5amclub.
In Lafayette, well, just give them five more minutes.
In Louisiana:
•No. 55: New Orleans (64.9 posts per 10,000)
Late nights define New Orleans, but early mornings belong to service workers, chefs, and locals reclaiming a quieter, moment before the city stirs again.
•No. 89: Baton Rouge (52.8).
•No. 112: Shreveport (45.3).
Lafayette ranked 199th with 18.4 posts.
“Lafayette favors slow, comfortable wake-ups over dawn displays of productivity,” PDF Expert said.
"Early-morning hashtags barely register — and that seems to suit locals fine.”
New York City was No. 1 with 92 #5amclub posts per 10,000.
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. 
Surveying 500 Americans, PDF Expert uncovered a mix of ambition, fatigue, and quiet rebellion beneath the glossy #5AMClub aesthetic.
Bragging rights
Nearly 48% admit they negatively judge people who boast about their 5 a.m. grind. In other words, early risers may earn productivity points – but not always popularity points.
Incentives
More than half of respondents (51%) say they would start getting up before 5 a.m. if their employer paid them to do it. It seems even the most committed night owls have a price.
Messages
Americans are glued to work before they have even had coffee: 52% check emails or messages every day before getting out of bed.
The Boss
Attitudes toward early productivity culture are surprisingly split. A total of 34% say their employer strongly encourages early starts, and 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
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 gray 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
“Our data shows that while Americans love the idea of mastering their mornings, real life is more complicated,” says John Woods, vice president of marketing at PDF Expert. “Between stress, screens, and demanding work cultures, people are trying to balance ambition with reality. “