A CNBC staff writer tried joining the 'early bird' club because that's what successful people tend to do.  It's arguably the most productive time of the day, according to The Wall Street Journal, because it allows you to tackle tasks before distractions arise. Apple CEO Tim Cook starts his days at 3:45 a.m. to get a head start on email, while Ellevest CEO Sallie Krawcheck wakes up at 4 a.m. for creative thinking time.

While Kathleen Elkins barely lasted one week, she did gain some valuable insights and got closer to establishing the ideal morning ritual for myself. 

Prior to this experiment, I started my days at 7 a.m., which allowed me 45 minutes to shower, dress for work and whip up lunch before heading out the door for my 40-minute commute. For Week One, she got up at 4 and followed a set regimen.  For Week Two, she dialed back to a 5 a.m. wake-up time.  The story ends with Kathleen now a content member of the 5 a.m. club.

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