Spring Into Brighter Days: 62 Months Sober, DST, Sunsets, & What's Lighting Me Up ⏱🌇🤩
DST is here! ⏱
Learn how the time change effects your health + my sunset ritual 🌅 & what's lighting me up in 2026 ✨
Wow—I can't believe it's already time to spring forward for Daylight Saving Time (DST)!
How has 2026 been treating you so far? Mine feels like it's moving at warp speed! 🤯
Speaking of the time change, it's more than just an inconvenience—it's a real disruptor for our nervous systems. The "spring forward" shift (losing an hour) throws off our circadian rhythms, sleep patterns, and stress responses more intensely than the fall change.
Research shows it can lead to short-term sleep deprivation, spikes in cortisol, delayed melatonin production, reduced heart rate variability, heightened sympathetic activation, mood dips, cognitive fog, and even increased risks like migraines or cardiovascular strain in the days following.
If you're curious to dive deeper, here's an overview from Johns Hopkins on how DST impacts health and sleep.
Like I shared in my February 19th newsletter, I've truly galloped into this Fire Horse year 🔥🐎🧧 and I'm very excited about a big new creative project that's lighting me up! 🤩💖
I can't wait to reveal more soon (Stay Tuned!). It feels like the beautiful culmination of over five years of stretching, growing, healing, and showing up fully in this incredible Alcohol-Free life. 🥰🙏
Every year, I push myself beyond my comfort zone to expand my wisdom and accomplish new goals, and 2026 is no exception. Right now, I'm working closely with two incredible coaches:
Tawny Lara: Author of Dry Humping* and co-founder of (parentheses), a Non-Alcoholic artisan drink company.
We first connected IRL in 2023 at a book signing at Hekate, the sober bar in NYC. Our paths kept crossing in the soberverse, and after attending her powerful Sober Hive workshop in January, I knew I had to work with her 1:1! She's helping me sharpen my voice and vision in transformative ways. 💫
Left: Recent images of Tawny Lara’s beverage brand (parentheses)
Right: Meeting Tawny and Sam Bail (Formerly known as Third Place Bar, now called Bright Nights Social) at Hekate NYC in January 2023
Stefanie Faye: Neuroscientist and host of the Mindset Neuroscience Podcast.
I've been a fan since discovering her work in October 2022! After I started binging her episodes, I became a regular at her various webinars over the years and then in 2025, she invited me into her elite Neuro-Leader Academy (a moment of pure pride that will warm my soul for years to come 🥰). This year, I'm thrilled to be in her Neuro-Aligned Leadership Program, an immersive, neuroscience-backed training tailored for coaches, leaders, helping professionals, and consultants. It’s truly elevating my work as a coach and educator. 🧠🙏
I'm also enrolled in The Art of Meeting Facilitation, an interactive course with This Side Of Alcohol* author, Peggi Cooney! We're mastering true facilitation vs. just "running" a meeting—asking powerful questions, avoiding the advice trap, and holding space for group dynamics with calm confidence. I’m excited to bring my new skills into my work as a ZPE Connect* facilitator and beyond! 👩🏫
When Peggi Cooney and I met IRL for the first time at Sober In The City: Portland, ME (September 2023)!
With these big career leaps, staying regulated is non-negotiable. I need my rational brain firing on all cylinders! (A concept I dive into in this 5 minute mini-"Ted Talk”: Emotional Sobriety: Using Neuroscience To Brighten Your Life.)
My mini “Ted Talk” for Stefanie Faye's Neuro-Leader Graduation Showcase (September 2025)! 👩🏫
To keep myself sharp, calm, and centered, I’m carving out time to chase my sunsets. Next to walking, it's the most regulating practice I have—and since they usually pair together, it's a wonderful double dose of nervous system magic! 🌅🏃♀️
In fact, more than 62 months ago, I started chasing sunsets instead of cocktails and it led me on a path of finding the best version of me. 😌🙏
I love that after all these years, the sight of a vibrant sky still makes me giddy. And the brighter and bolder the colors are, the more likely you'll catch me frolicking around like a kid! 🤸🏼
What's amazing about this kind of “happy hour” is that it lasts all night, I get to actually keep my memories, we watch them as a family, and it's free!!
Here’s a short reel of a recent sunset that had me gawking in awe. 🤩
👇👇
62 Months Of ChasingSunsets Instead Of Cocktails 🤩🌅🏃♀️🚫🍹 (March 1, 2026)
It means a lot to me to have you on this journey with me, so thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. 🙏
As always, I'm Rooting For You! ❤️
With love and gratitude,
Kristin 💕
Btw, if you’re tired of alcohol (or any habit for that matter) dimming your light, then let’s work together to Brighten Your Life™ so you can regulate your nervous system, live alcohol-free with ease, and elevate your life instead of escaping it.
You can book a free Discovery Call on my calendar here: www.kristinhorstman.com/contact.
There's no pressure to sign up, we'll just have a confidential, judgment-free convo to see if 1:1 coaching is right for you. 😌💖
And remember, Sunsets Are The New Happy Hour™
*All affiliate fees from my ZPE Connect & Bookshop links go toward creating amazing free resources for you!
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