9 Minutes Before the Chaos

I don’t know about you, but there are many mornings when I wake up and, for a moment, I’m not exactly sure where I am.

This isn’t as alarming as it sounds - it usually has more to do with how much I travel. Sometimes, before I even open my eyes, I try to guess: Am I at my mum’s? Santa Barbara? My mother-in-law’s place in the English countryside? In London ? Or perhaps at a friends’ home somewhere in Europe?

Now, let me be clear—this is what some would call a “high-grade problem.” I’m not complaining. But it does leave me, every so often, a little disoriented.

The other morning, it even happened in my own bed at home. I’d slid down at a strange angle, the light was that odd in-between of sunrise, and for a few confusing seconds I thought: Wait, where am I?

That moment reminded me: the way we wake up shapes the whole day.

I’ve never understood people who wake up to blaring alarms. In a way, I envy them – it means they can sleep deeply until the very last second. I, on the other hand, have an internal clock that wakes me about thirty minutes before I need to get up. If I do set an alarm, it’s never a shrill ring. I choose something soft and gentle.

Mornings can be peaceful, or they can be heavy. They can be the time we lie in bed worrying – about what’s coming, about the news, about the messages already pinging on our phones. One glance at the headlines and suddenly you’re in a spiral before you’ve even brushed your teeth.

I’ve been asking myself: what can I do to soften that moment, to step into the day with calm instead of chaos?

One thing that’s helped: removing Facebook and Instagram from my phone. The temptation to scroll in bed has dimnished. (The news is still there, I have to admit, and sometimes I go straight to it.)

The other practice that’s grounding me is Insight Timer. I’ve started listening to meditations there in the morning – and now, I’ve begun creating my own. Short, nurturing guided journeys to help us ease into the day with intention.

Usually, I share these audios with my paying Substack subscribers. But today, I want to give this one as a gift to all of you.

It’s called “9 Minutes Before the Chaos.”

Think of it as a pause button between sleep and the rush of the world. A chance to gently return to your body, breathe, and center yourself before the day begins.

You can listen on Insight Timer (it’s free to join, though sometimes the app takes a little persistence). If you do listen, I’d be so grateful if you left a rating, a review, or even shared it with friends who might need a softer start to their mornings. There’s also an option for donations there – completely up to you.

So, tomorrow morning, before you reach for the phone, before you dive into headlines or emails, try giving yourself those nine minutes.

Nine minutes of breathing. \nNine minutes of presence. \nNine minutes of remembering that you are here, safe, and ready to step into the day.

Let me know what you think—I love hearing your reflections.

With love, \nPriya