Early to Bed

"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." – Benjamin Franklin

It's that time of year again: dark by 5 PM, and life starts to feel like a time loop—wake up, work, back to bed. It’s a rough adjustment, but if I’m honest, I secretly love the early nights, brighter mornings, and the anticipation of family time. Daylight saving time? I'm not a fan, but I’m trying hard to combat the seasonal blues.

I can feel it creeping in—a light gray cloud hovering just behind me, moving closer each day. It’s triggered by the chill in the air and those early sunsets. It brings memories of falling behind and the weight of winter's past. But I’ve been working on changing my internal narrative.

Okay, that got dark—let’s pivot to some good things I’ve been doing to stay ahead of the gloom. First up: morning affirmations. A few weeks ago, Noele talked about the power of repetition and positive reinforcement. I found a playlist on Spotify that’s perfect for this, and now it’s the first thing I turn on each morning. Starting the day with intention has been a game-changer.

On those cold, rainy, gross days when it feels impossible to leave the house, I’m working on flipping the script. Can’t go outside? Fine—let’s use the rain’s quiet as a source of calm and focus. Lean into the stillness and knock out some work. And yes, I’m fully leaning into Benjamin Franklin’s wisdom. Some nights, I’m showered, finished with dinner, and in bed by 8 PM. Who am I? I’ve always struggled with sleep—naps are hard for me—but this year, I’m embracing the forced hibernation. No guilt for going to bed early, brown noise going and phone on do not disturb.

How are you all working through this time of year? Do you have tricks for staying motivated when it’s dark before the workday even ends? Let me know!

Okay, love you! Bye!