Springing Forward: How to Reset More Than Just Your Clock
- Santina Wheat
- Mar 9
- 5 min read
This week, we all lost an hour of sleep as the clocks sprang forward. I’ve never liked this time of year—especially when my daughters were babies and toddlers. They certainly didn’t understand that the clock had changed, and their sleep schedules didn’t adjust just because the world around them did. The only time I appreciated daylight saving time was during a 24-hour shift when that one hour shaved off a bit of the exhaustion. Of course, for every 23-hour shift, there was a 25-hour one waiting just around the corner, balancing out any perceived "gain."
But this seasonal shift isn’t just about losing an hour of sleep. It’s a reminder that small changes can feel disruptive—even when they’re predictable. And that disruption is often what holds us back from making changes that could actually serve us.
Just like adjusting our clocks, sometimes our lives need a reset. But instead of just changing the time, what if we used this as an opportunity to adjust our mindset and priorities? We often get stuck in routines that leave us drained, where even a small shift feels impossible. But that same shift—if approached with intention—can be the key to reclaiming control and moving from chaos to calm.
This time change is a signal that spring is coming—a time of renewal, growth, and longer days. What if we used it as a cue to reset, refocus, and step forward into a season of intention rather than just reacting to what life throws at us? For healthcare professionals who feel like they’re barely keeping up, this is an opportunity to take back your time, your energy, and your well-being.
The Hidden Impact of “Losing an Hour”
It’s easy to dismiss daylight saving time as just an hour. But many of us feel the impact in real, tangible ways—disrupted sleep, mental fog, and a sense of imbalance that lingers for days.
This year, both my husband and I woke up feeling hungover—despite not having a single drop of alcohol the night before. That single hour shift threw off our sleep cycles, affecting not just how we felt physically, but also our mood, patience, and focus. For many, the loss of an hour leads to:
✅ Trouble falling asleep and staying asleep
✅ Increased irritability and anxiety
✅ Feeling emotionally off-balance or even depressed
✅ A general sense of fatigue that lingers throughout the week
Sound familiar?
As a physician, I can’t help but notice the parallel between this and burnout in healthcare. The exhaustion, the irritability, the feeling of constantly losing time—it’s all too familiar. Over the years, I’ve worked with so many healthcare workers who feel like they’re losing more than just an hour. They’re losing themselves in the grind of long shifts, constant demands, and the impossible pursuit of doing it all.
If we don’t intentionally reset, we risk staying trapped in an endless cycle of depletion.
But what if we used this seasonal shift as a wake-up call?
What if, instead of just pushing through and letting this change throw us off, we used it as an opportunity—a reminder to step back, assess what’s draining us, and take action to reclaim our time and energy?
Time Change as a Call to Reset Priorities
This week could just be another frustrating time change. But it could also be something more: a catalyst for resetting your priorities. We can’t create more time, but we can use the time we do have more wisely. The key? Intentionality. Think of this as an opportunity to take a breath, reflect, and ask yourself some key questions about where your time and energy are going. Instead of just rolling with the disruption, take charge of your own reset.
3 Areas to Reset Right Now
When life feels chaotic, it helps to focus on just a few key areas. As you think about your own reset, consider these three:
1. Boundaries – What are you saying yes to that no longer serves you?
Are you overcommitting out of obligation?
Do you struggle to say no—even when you’re overwhelmed?
Are you sacrificing your well-being to meet unrealistic expectations?
2. Energy – Where are you spending your time vs. where you want to?
What parts of your day fuel you? What drains you?
Are you giving time to things that matter most, or just reacting to demands?
Do you ever carve out time for yourself, or does work consume it all?
3. Perspective – How can you shift from reacting to leading your time?
Do you feel in control of your schedule—or does it control you?
Are you stuck in a perfectionist mindset, delaying action in pursuit of the impossible?
How would your day feel different if you prioritized progress over perfection?
Taking just a few minutes to reflect on these questions can help you start shifting from chaos to calm.
3 Practical Ways to “Spring Forward” in Life
Once you’ve thought about where you are, it’s time to take action. Here are three small but powerful ways to spring forward in this season of change:
1. Audit Your Time
Just like adjusting your clock, take stock of where your time is actually going.
Keep a simple log for a few days—how are you spending your time?
Identify one thing that feels like a time drain or source of stress.
Make one small adjustment to reclaim that time.
2. Set One Micro-Goal for Balance
Small, consistent changes lead to big shifts over time.
Choose one small but meaningful action:
→ A 5-minute mindfulness break
→ A protected break at work (no charting, no emails—just breathing)
→ Leaving work on time one day this week
Commit to it for a week and see how it feels.
3. Embrace Imperfection & Keep Moving Forward
The clock doesn’t fight the time change—it just moves forward. What if you did the same?
Stop waiting for perfect conditions to make a change.
Accept that done is better than perfect.
Give yourself grace and celebrate progress, not perfection.
Time Is Yours to Take Back
Change—whether it’s losing an hour or making a mindset shift—can feel hard. But within that challenge lies opportunity.
You don’t have to stay stuck in the cycle of depletion and overwhelm. You have the power to shift, reset, and move toward a life of greater balance, energy, and joy.
Start with just one intentional step.
👉🏽What’s one small action you can take toward more balance this week? Then this month? Then this season?
I’d love to hear—drop your step in the comments or send me a message. And if you’re looking for support on your journey from chaos to calm, reach out—I’d love to help you get there.
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