How I Turn Hotel Curtains Into My Personal Sunrise Alarm

Business trips used to feel like a blur—wake up, meetings, dinners, emails, repeat. But recently, I started treating hotel curtains as my own natural alarm clock. Instead of the usual bleeps and buzzes, I let the morning light sneak in gently, nudging me awake like an old friend.

That soft glow sparks a quick stretch ritual, slow and deliberate, before the rush begins. It’s a tiny pause that makes all the difference—reminding me that even on the busiest days, my body and mind deserve care. I’ve also learned to steal moments for mini meditations, breathing deeply between calls, grounding myself when the pace threatens to overwhelm.

And yes, I’m probably the one at the café with three water bottles, judging everyone else’s hydration game. But hey, it’s part of my rhythm—a way to keep the energy flowing without crashing. I’ve found that mixing these small habits into the chaos makes travel less exhausting and way more manageable.

So next time you’re racing through airports and boardrooms, try letting the sun wake you up. It’s like hitting reset—without the annoying alarm.