The Sacrifice

One thing about me is that I love sleeping in. So when I chose an earlier start time for work, I dreaded it. A bit.

Okay, maybe a lot.

Still, I changed it because it suited my schedule better. Not because I wanted to be on the same schedule as if I were in the office, but because my nights were no longer mine.

When that happened, work went into the night and ate up my night owl time. Working late only feels good when I’m working on a personal project. It’s also a choice, rather than an obligation. Otherwise, doing unfinished work from my job would take time away from my decompression, creativity, and rest.

You’ve maybe wondered if you have to get up at a certain time — especially when no one’s telling you to do so. If you’re wondering if your start time fits your life, here are the questions I asked myself.

Assessing Your Start Time

1. If I start earlier/later, what happens to the rest of my day?

Changing your start time might require you to restructure your day. This small shift can affect your time for rest, meals, and perhaps your patience, too. Do you want longer mornings? Where can you weave in breaks and stopping points during work?

My energy peak is in the morning, which supports my choice to start earlier. I’m the most focused before lunch. Working at night, I remember feeling rushed and groggy, which led to inaccuracies I had to fix the next day. My hard stop is when I get up to make dinner. It’s a great signal that the workday is over, and I can wind down outside the office.

2. Am I flexible, or is the workday expanded?

When you work from home, it can feel like you’re working whenever you feel like it. If there are no boundaries, it can be hard to set and stick to a start time. What tasks can be moved or grouped together in a working block, for example?

My longest tasks were the ones I did last, and those crept into my evenings. With the extra hours I gave myself in the morning, those long tasks are now the first I commit to. My afternoons are busy with light admin, so I can ease into decompression time smoothly.

3. What do my morning and night routines need?

You don’t have to create the perfect start time that’ll stay the same. Workload, life, and stress may have you looking for a better one in the next few years. So, adjust for the now. What’s feeling rushed right now? Where do you want more space?

My choice to start work earlier has helped me create a morning routine. I didn’t have one before, and was content to get more sleep instead. My nighttime routine is about the same; I find it already works well for me.

4. What will I gain/lose?

It’s good to weigh the pros and cons of your adjusted start time. Be honest about what you’re trading in. Do you value your mornings more than your nights? What are you trying to preserve with this change?

For me, an earlier start meant less time to sleep in. I thought my mornings were more valuable because of that. However, my nights are more leisurely than lazy, and that made the change best for me.

Logging Off Resentment-Free

It’s been a few weeks on my new schedule, and it was much needed. Work ends earlier (and before dinner!), and I feel refreshed. The nights are long and full of creativity before winding down. It’s a relief that I could quickly make the right adjustment for my life.

Most importantly, I don’t feel resentful when I log off. And honestly, I don’t miss sleeping in as much as I thought I would.

May you find the right time that supports your life — and give yourself permission to re-find it when life throws a curveball. You can always change your schedule again if need be. Working from home allows you to adjust it until it makes sense to you.

Have a cozy workday, dear — and happy holidays.