A wellness routine that starts before 4 a.m. and includes two ice baths, a banana peel facial, spiritual journaling, and a luxury bracelet has taken the internet by storm.
Fitness influencer and entrepreneur Ashton Hall, known for his highly stylized self-care content, is now at the center of a viral conversation—one that’s sparked both admiration and ridicule in equal measure.
Though Hall didn’t post the now-viral clip himself, a breakdown of his elaborate morning routine—shared by the X account @tipsformenx—racked up millions of views in just days. And the internet had a lot to say.
Some users questioned whether this is wellness or performance art. Others defended Hall’s commitment to health, calling his practice “disciplined” and “inspiring.” Either way, the video touched a nerve and raised broader questions about the line between authentic self-care and the spectacle of online optimization culture.
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Who Is Ashton Hall?
Ashton Hall has built an empire out of personal health.
With 8.8 million followers on Instagram and 4.8 million on TikTok, Hall’s audience has grown rapidly thanks to his ultra-disciplined, often extravagant lifestyle. His content often combines luxury wellness, high-end fashion, and hardcore fitness—a cocktail that resonates with millions aiming to “level up” their lives.
He’s not just another gym rat with a ring light. Hall is also a business owner and content strategist who’s turned his personal brand into a lucrative online presence. But it’s not the business that has people talking—it’s the bizarre, meticulously time-stamped morning routine that has everyone debating.
A Play-by-Play of Hall’s 3:52 A.M. Routine
Starts Before Sunrise: Mouth Tape and Spring Water
Hall’s day kicks off at exactly 3:52 a.m., peeling off mouth tape—a sleep trend that gained traction for its claimed benefits in reducing mouth breathing.
Mouth taping has drawn both praise and concern in the medical community. Some experts, like those cited by WebMD, note it can help promote nasal breathing, which supports better oxygen flow. But others warn it’s not for everyone, especially those with certain respiratory or sinus issues.
After removing the tape, Hall brushes his teeth and rinses with Saratoga Spring Water, a luxury bottled water brand he carries around throughout the morning like a sidekick.
4:00 a.m. — A Quick Pump Session
Still under cover of night, Hall heads outside with his Saratoga bottle to do push-ups. The video captures him squeezing in a short upper-body session, lasting about 20 minutes total.
By 4:30 a.m., he’s back inside, journaling and reading by soft light. A spiritual podcast plays in the background. Then, without skipping a beat, he returns to his notepad for another round of journaling.
5:46 a.m. — Ice Bowl Facial #1
At just before 6 a.m., Hall fills a bowl with ice cubes and spring water, then massages his face with the frozen mixture before submerging his face entirely. The cold plunge lasts roughly three minutes.
Cold therapy like this is known to help reduce puffiness and stimulate circulation, though doing it daily, let alone twice a morning, raises questions about its long-term effects.
6:30 a.m. — High-Intensity Cardio
After putting on gym gear—plus a $4,600 Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet—Hall hits the treadmill for a 20-minute sprint session.
Then he transitions straight into the pool for a 15-minute swim, followed by a cool-down in a second, more serene pool space.
8:20 a.m. — Shower, Banana, Repeat
Post-workout, Hall showers before beginning one of the strangest parts of his morning ritual.
At 8:45 a.m., he eats a banana, then proceeds to rub the inside of the peel across his face—a DIY facial technique some TikTok users have embraced for its supposed antioxidant properties.
Though banana peels contain vitamin C and potassium, dermatologists generally recommend caution. While natural remedies aren’t inherently bad, many lack peer-reviewed evidence and can irritate sensitive skin.
He rinses his face again at 8:55 a.m., but he’s not done with the cold.
9:06 a.m. — Ice Bowl Facial #2 and Breakfast
As Hall begins his workday, an assistant brings in another bowl of ice water. He dunks his face again—same method, same brand of spring water.
Breakfast is served shortly after: scrambled eggs, two slices of avocado toast, and bacon, with a tall bottle of Saratoga by his side.
And just like that, his 6-hour morning routine is complete.
The Internet Reacts: “How Is This Productive?”
Social media exploded with reactions—many of them sarcastic or skeptical.
“Imagine waking up at 3:45am but literally getting nothing done by 9am apart from exercise and eating,” one X user commented.
Another joked, “When I see vids like this, I think about how many times it took to start/stop and set up the camera.”
Others mocked the timestamp precision: “What got me is how it took him 1 whole minute to walk outside.”
But beneath the jokes lies a more serious critique—about influencer culture, performative wellness, and the pressure to optimize every waking hour.
Supporters Defend the Routine: “This Is Discipline”
Not everyone was critical.
Some users praised Hall’s consistency and control. One wrote, “All the people hating don’t get a tenth of this done in their entire day. Think of yourself first before criticizing someone who clearly is disciplined in the way he lives.”
Another added, “This trend of laughing at people who are doing better with their lives is what’s really cringy. This dude has 7 million followers doing what he loves and making millions off it.”
For fans, Hall’s routine is less about the specifics and more about the mindset—extreme dedication, attention to detail, and prioritizing health above all else.
A Bigger Conversation: Self-Care or Spectacle?
This viral moment has reignited conversations about the limits of wellness culture and the rising popularity of extreme morning routines.
More influencers are sharing detailed “rise and grind” content, often filled with luxury items, time blocks, and carefully curated self-care rituals. But experts warn this can create unrealistic expectations for viewers.
There’s also the question of authenticity. When routines are crafted for millions to watch—and monetized through products, sponsorships, and personal branding—how much of it is really for health?
And is waking up at 3:52 a.m. sustainable? For most people, probably not.
But that might not be the point.
As Ashton Hall’s now-viral video proves, in the world of wellness influencers, spectacle often gets more clicks than science.
