Why young workers are posting their before-and-after work routines on Tiktok — and why thousands are watching

Creating TikTok content before and after work shows one Gen Zer that he has more to offer than just a nine to five.

• Content creators are sharing their routines before and after work on TikTok.
• A sense of productivity and motivation has driven tens of thousands of followers to their pages.
• Filming content reminds creators that there is more to life than their 9 to 5, they said. 

Jocelyn Kakalecik makes her bed, opens her blinds, and fills her trendy Hydro Flask water bottle. Then she commutes to Barry's Bootcamp before taking a shower, grabbing Starbucks, and swiping into her New York City office.

That video attracted more than 13,000 views, 900 likes, and 40 saves on TikTok last month — part of her "morning routine" series on the app.

Kakalecik has more than 16,000 followers on TikTok and is part of a growing number of 9-to-5 workers sharing their daily routines. The actual tasks filmed in the videos are oftentimes, quite frankly, boring. After all, what makes waking up and commuting to work worthy of tens of thousands of views?

Sometimes it's the fast-paced, music-backed editing style in which the creators film and produce their content, other times it's the motivation people feel by watching someone else be productive, several creators told Insider. 

But it's not just attractive to followers; creators find a sense of purpose when filming content, too. 

TikTok users find motivation in mundane tasks

25-year-old Emmanuel Boateng Jr. says it's the inspirational nature of his content that draws people in.

He creates content to show people what life can look like outside of work, partly via videos titled, "my 5 to 9 after 9 to 5 routine," a popular trend on TikTok showcasing what people do after work.

"I wanted to show more mature content to people who have aspirations in life, and be a motivational figure to someone who may need it," he said. "People want to see a life that they want. People want to see the habits you pick up, the books you read, the things you buy, the hygiene products you use."

Boateng started filming content when he was still living at home with his mom, but his page blew up when he moved into his own apartment, which seemed perfectly lit for TikTok videos, in January 2023.

Similarly, Kakalecik said her content lands because it inspires productivity.

"The look of being productive and being in corporate America — that intrigues people," she said.

Kakalecik's fans have even changed their own routines after seeing her content. 

"A lot of people have DM'd me and said that my videos have given them the motivation to get up and go to a workout class before work, find more productivity in their life, and make more time for the things that they want to make time for," she said. 

Productivity sells, and creators are reaping the benefits

This space in the creator economy has a unique ability to influence viewers, the creators told me. 

For instance, Cameron Barbour, a 24-year-old corporate social media specialist, said watching other productivity content inspired him to create his own.

"I definitely used to just go home and sit on the couch watching TV," he said. But "the more that I started just watching everybody's content, it did motivate me to do more stuff."

The content doesn't just inspire others to create, but also to buy.

That's why despite having fewer than 3,000 followers, Barbour has already started landing brand partnerships — including being gifted items to promote on his page and landing an upcoming long-term partnership to create branded content — with cleaning and air purification companies.

"People are always saying that I've influenced them to buy certain products that I bring out of my Trader Joe's bag," said Barbour, who's videos often include clips of him grocery shopping after work.

Boateng also makes money through brand partnerships and said he quickly realized how powerful this niche is for influencer marketing.

Filming reminds creators of their life outside of work

Filming this content isn't just for their followers, however. It's also for the content creators themselves.  

Posting these videos makes the creators feel a sense of fulfillment in simple daily tasks, they said. 

"I feel like it does add some type of positivity to my life," Kakalecik said. "In the moment it doesn't feel great to do my dishes, but when I'm watching it back I'm like, 'This looks so great.' It gives that sense of accomplishment, even if it sounds stupid." 

For Barbour, showing up on TikTok reminds him that there is more to life than work.

Filming content is about "romanticizing very mundane things like having a glass of wine," he said. 

What's more, it's his creative outlet. 

"Five o'clock hits and I start creating content about whatever I do for the rest of that day," said Barbour. "Being able to express my creative side — it's honestly just really fun for me to do. It also shows me that I've got more to offer than just a nine to five."