The Reset: How One Early Morning Shifted My Week
Welcome back. I’m so happy you’re here.
Let’s talk about sleep. Are you a morning person or a night owl? For a long time, I had no idea—and honestly, I’m still figuring it out. What I do know is that waking up early doesn’t come naturally to me. And from what I’ve seen, it doesn’t for most people either.
But here’s the thing: through trial and error, I’ve learned that I’m a happier, more energized person when I start my day earlier. That doesn’t mean I bounce out of bed with a smile as soon as the sun comes up—but I’ve learned that on the other side of that discomfort is something really worthwhile.
I want to be transparent: it’s not easy. And when you fall out of your groove, it can feel almost impossible to get back into it.
This past week, I’ve been in a funk. I’ve been working from home every day—a luxury I’m deeply grateful for—but it’s made it too easy to stay in bed until 9:00 a.m., roll over to my desk in pajamas, and just coast through the day. There’s nothing inherently wrong with sleeping in, but I realized it wasn’t working for me. I didn’t feel like myself.
So last night, I decided to do something small but significant: I set my alarm for 6:30 a.m. and booked a 7:30 yoga class. When the alarm went off, I wanted to do anything but get up. I thought about canceling. I tried to justify staying in bed. I reasoned with myself for a solid 10 minutes. But eventually, I got up and (very reluctantly) walked to the gym.
Less than five minutes into class, I already knew I’d made the right decision. I felt awake, present, and—for the first time all week—motivated. That one early start shifted my entire outlook.
I started to notice the beauty I’d been missing earlier in the week:
Three women in class were getting married that weekend.
The class ended with my parents’ wedding song.
On my walk home, the sun was out, flowers were blooming, and the streets were full of people walking dogs, sipping coffee, and soaking up the spring air
What could’ve been just another Wednesday turned into something to celebrate.
Why Sleep (and Timing) Matters
Your brain is a powerful filter—it shapes your entire experience of the world. But it can only receive what you allow in. When you’re tuned out, tired, or disconnected from your rhythm, it’s easy to miss those small but beautiful moments. Taking care of your brain starts with giving it proper rest—and that starts with understanding your sleep.
Each of us has a natural internal clock. Some people genuinely thrive waking up early; others do better staying up late and sleeping in. The trick is figuring out what actually works for you.
Sometimes the answer isn’t obvious—it takes a bit of experimentation.
I recently heard author Anne-Laure Le Cunff talk about this in relation to her book Tiny Experiments. After a near-fatal health scare she nearly dismissed because it didn’t fit into her meeting schedule, she realized just how filtered her worldview had become. Everything was about work. Her health barely registered. That shook her into a mindset shift: what if we approached life like a scientist? Instead of aiming for perfect routines, just try small experiments. See what sticks.
Your Reset Experiment
If you’re not sure what sleep schedule is right for you, start there.
Try waking up an hour earlier—or going to bed earlier so you can still get enough rest.
Stick with it for two weeks.
Don’t attach value to it—just observe how you feel.
It’s not about chasing an “ideal” schedule. It’s about finding your sweet spot—the rhythm that helps you feel alive, alert, and in sync with your day.
If you had told me three years ago that I’d feel better waking up at 7:00 a.m. than 11:00 a.m., I would’ve laughed. And no, 7:00 a.m. wake-ups still aren’t easy or glamorous. But learning to work with my body’s clock—rather than fight against it—has made a world of difference.
So this is your reminder: try something small. Tune in. Let your body guide you. Give your lifestyle a reset, and see what opens up for you.
